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Anyone ever done the hike from the Falls parking lot to the old dam?
The brochure says only 1/3 mile, which I find very hard to believe, based on the road...which is dangerously narrow for a 2 lane road and once you get to the dam by car you may not park anywhere. Really weird.
We haven't done the hike from the falls parking lot to the dam, but we have taken the hike from the southern entrance many times (the road in is a two-lane paved road and the parking lot has plenty of space). We've used the brochure for information about the area, but haven't worried about the exact measurements of the hikes. After all, we're there to enjoy the flora and fauna and learn a little bit of history. It's a wonderful area and one of my favorite places to get out of the city and take a hike.
You've complained so far about not having signs directing you to the park, and now you are complaining about the brochure and the condition of the road. Maybe another park would be more to your liking???
We haven't done the hike from the falls parking lot to the dam, but we have taken the hike from the southern entrance many times (the road in is a two-lane paved road and the parking lot has plenty of space). We've used the brochure for information about the area, but haven't worried about the exact measurements of the hikes. After all, we're there to enjoy the flora and fauna and learn a little bit of history. It's a wonderful area and one of my favorite places to get out of the city and take a hike.
You've complained so far about not having signs directing you to the park, and now you are complaining about the brochure and the condition of the road. Maybe another park would be more to your liking???
1. You don't think that it's a little strange that no sign on route 86 let's you know where that area's entrance to the park is? That the sign about the entrance is actually more than a quarter mile off the highway??? That, in fact, the only entrance sign on route 86 directs drivers to the entrance several miles away on route 83, which does not connect with the other end of the park?
2. I'm an older man with physical disabilities. I can do some hikes, and enjoy doing so, but because of my physical disabilities the distance of the hike and the ruggedness of it is a significant limitation. Hence the question.
I see where you got confused. The Dam Trail is the trail around the Dam. You have to hike another trail (Creek Bottom) which is at least a mile to get to the Dam Trail from the west entrance. Bottom line is if you want to walk around the dam, you will have to hike to get there. That is unfortunate for people with disabilities.
I agree that the trail map is confusing. It does not say how far it is from the trailhead to the dam, since Creek Bottom trail includes portions before and after the trail. I'm guessing a mile. You can always try it and turn back if it gets too hard.
The area is absolutely gorgeous. I grew up back back there on the Lake Gulch side. My mom was at the Winkler palce when the Dam broke. Hell of a story.
If you go down the Canyon Road to where it curves around the old dam bottom there's room to park and you may be able to get to the creek allot easier and just as good a walk. You do have to walk up the road some. Just before the old house at the bottom of the hill on the west side, across the road there's a cow path. You see the hay pasture fence line and you can walk on the park side of that. It will take you to the creek and from there your on your own where you want to go.
Just for kick if you drive towards Lake Gulch you see a drive way with 3 pillars. Across the road from that there's a old Grave from a Colonel that was killed. If you look up at the cliff to the NW you'll see his grave marker carved into the cliff .
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