Great wildflower trip. The Beargrass was in varying stages of bloom depending on the sun exposure. The Rhododendrons were blooming as well as Indian Paint Brush and Trillium. Well worth the drive and hike.
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Loved the terrain! Challenging but so doable. Incredible views!!!
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We did the big loop on May 10 from the parking lot to North Falls, then back along the trail to South Falls and back to the car. Gaia said 8 miles for this. It was a marvelous day, in the low 80s up top, a bit cooler down below. This is one of our favorite hikes and we do it every year. Trails were unseasonable dry, with just a few puddles to navigate. We hiked counter-clockwise for the first time and it was reinforced why the clockwise circuit is more popular: better views of most falls and the signage is targeted for clockwise travel. Pickup a free map at the kiosk in the parking lot if you aren't familiar with the trails. Tennis shoes work fine, but we like a little more solid footing with light boots. This trail can be very busy on weekends, so we always go during the week if we can. It is a keeper and fills up your waterfall bucket for awhile. Newcomers and new hikers should be aware that there are several shorter loops available.
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Visited 4/29/19 first and only hikers on the trail from 5:30am on a Monday to 2:30pm same day. Small parking area with a porta pottie right now for construction workers. Hiked 9.3 miles in 9.19hrs. 6.5hrs moving time. 3094ft elevation gain. Hiked from Detroit Lake to the base of Dome rock (the snow was too steep and icy for me to continue on with just microspikes and trekking poles). Trail is in good condition with some blow downs on the trail. Before the tumble ridge trail junction is where the snow starts sporadically at first and didn't need microspikes till tumble ridge or the ridge part of the hike covered in icy deep snow. After the ridge make sure you have a map of the area especially when it is covered in snow. We followed boot prints and our maps in the densely forested areas. To the base of dome rock we followed others steps and the map to the ridge right before the base of Dome Rock. There were a couple of cornices at the edge. Snow was nice in the more sunnier areas (a little slippery and slushy, but in the forrests the snow was Icy.) Till the snow is gone you will need ice climbing gear to summit Dome Rock or be more experienced in climbing in this terrain. I would only recommend this hike for experienced children hikers at this time. On the way out we postholed and slipped a couple times in the softening snow. At the trailhead parking area at Detroit lake they were doing road construction right in front of the parking area. Not much room for other cars in the lot with all the construction vehicles in there. This was a great hike and I always love a hike the pushes my comfort zones a bit more.
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Nice walk, the wife and I did it packing our 3 year old. Seems like everyone else in the area were on the trails as well. Was really busy but was a nice hike on a sunny day.
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Great hike with some amazing views. Just be sure to monitor weather. We attempted in mid-October and had to turn around do to high winds.
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November 30th 45• f drizzling rain with more towards the end created for me a misty moody walk in this meandering canyon walk to these 10 falls some you walked towards then get swallowed as you walked under and behind the falls. The river and falls were pumping with energy and sound while the lush green moss covered forest spoke to me of primeval spirits. Marvelous day mellow walking and a hot chocolate at the south fork cafe lodge warming ourselves from the rain and cooler dusk.
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This is a great non-technical trail for folks looking to summit a mountain.
It is definitely a long hike, make sure to give yourself plenty of time.
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Beautiful must do hike. It is less crowded as the weather cools
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Very strenuous hike, but very rewarding once you reach the summit (which was covered in clouds). Very cold for a mid September hike with summit temperatures as low as 6 degrees with 30-40mph gusts. Always expect the worse on high elevation hikes like this and don't forget your trekking poles!!!
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