Twin Falls Sunday

My son and I hiked into the falls from the campground. I didn't expect any water, but I did want to get familiar with the area. I have to say, the hike was long and technical in places. My gps measured 3.3 miles one way. Please tell me the hike in from the cemetary is not so taxing. When we got back to the truck, we found some foreign nationals needing help. They were in a rental car trying to get to Little Rock. Needless to say, we led them back out to Hwy. 7. The color along the creek was disappointing, but what a wonderful place to spend the day.

Jan, Tim Ernst shows the hike as 5.6 miles roundtrip from the cemetery. Either way it is pretty good hike! Would you say the color is past peak or not there yet?

As you stated it is a great place to spend the day with or without water.

Jan,
I have made it ALMOST there the night that Ed Cooley fell and then the next weekend I made it...both times from the cemetary. There is an old logging road that When you can find it and stay on it helps quite a bit..I have trouble finding it on the initial drop down from the cemetary..and then when you get above the falls you really have to drop down. Even with the logging road there are lots of blow downs that make you detour enough to have a bit of trouble finding the road again. The night we pulled Ed out Glenn Wheeler and I put safety tape all the way back and by the next week most of it was gone..either pulled down by others or we did such a poor job that it fell off(I doubt that one). I have never made the trip up from the campground but I look forward to it one day. I was hoping that Rock Creek would have some water and color this fall and we could go again but that will probably not happen..maybe next year.

You must have gotten off the trail somewhere along the trip, Jan. The campground route is shorter and has less change in elevation, staying along the creek for much of the hike. But it's also dangerous if not impossible to cross Falling Water Creek first, then Richland later when the water is high. I've always liked the cemetary route, but it's really helpful to have a GPS if you're not sure where/when to drop down to the falls. I think it's probably a little more strenuous because of the greater distance and relief, but both routes take you through some beautiful wilderness.

Tom, I am not sure if the color has peaked or not. I didn't see much potential. No reds to speak of, and a lot of leaves are off the trees along the creek. Bill, our route did hug the creek, in fact many scrambles up and down the bank. I shot the co-ordinates from the gate, and it was 2 miles as the crow flies. So many up and downs, and even some stretches in the creek bed itself. I can't imagine a shorter route unless it cuts more of a straight line, and is way up above the creek. Certainly a dry weather route. One place was a rock ledge, with a root to steady yourself. The trail was faint, but someone had placed some orange tape along the way. We may try the cemetary route this weekend just so we know how to get in there when the water is right. My son is a kayaker and has shot the falls at Falling Water, and then on down to Richland. And Bob, we will do Rock Creek again when the time is right.