Short Roadtrip Day 2...Back to Cloudland Canyon

 Day 2

Wednesday 10/18/23

      Today was all about Cloudland Canyon State Park.  This is my fourth time visiting the park and I never seem to hit it at peak fall colors.  I also keep forgetting how tough this park is on the legs.  No complaints, it was still a really good day on the trails.

     From Trenton it's just a couple of miles to the park entrance.  I ditched the car in the parking lot and started walking.  It was 8A when I pulled in and forty degrees.  Perfect.

     While the colors down in the canyon were only starting to turn, up on the rim, the leaves were plenty vibrant.  I walked past these on the way to the canyon rim. 

     From the overlook trail.  They don't call it Cloudland for nothing...

      A short walk along the rim brings you to the trails either down into the canyon or out to the rim trail on the opposite side.  As usual, I chose to head down towards the two waterfalls first.  It's a lot of stairs...

     Considering the lack of rain, it really wasn't that surprising to see no water coming off Cherokee Falls.

     Nor was I surprised to see no water flowing over Hemlock Falls.

     So, it was back up all those stairs to the five mile loop of the West Rim Trail.  It starts with a steady ascent with plenty of stone stairs and roots to step over.  

     This is from a stream that normally would be flowing.  Instead, it made for a nice reflective pool.

     The first big overlook from the western rim...

     Since my last visit, the state park service has really stepped up their game.  There are more colored blazed on the trees, and these posts at trail junctures.

     This is the first time I've seen one with a scannable QR code.  It gives you a trail map  with WR03 clearly labeled.  This is a great idea!   You get the full map, not just this section.  

      The city of Trenton from above...

     Since I started nice and early, I chose to take the loop clockwise.  This way, by the time I worked my way around to the overlooks again, there was a better chance the canyon floor would be in the light.  

      Eventually, the loop does bring you back to the rim trail by the parking lots.   Just the loop trail is five miles.  But, you definitely earn it.  It does take a toll and it felt good to ditch the pack in the car and put my feet up for a few minutes.  

      Before I left, one last overlook to hit...