Hidden Falls Overlook - 7/30/20

Hidden Falls Overlook Ridge

View down Kyle Canyon from Large Campsite at Overlook

Cathedral Rock and Harris Peak from the west end of Kyle Canyon

Cuteness!

This hike is only vaguely game-trailed. There are a few cairns. That said, it is the most exciting new (new for the club) moderately strenuous hike that I have done in the Spring Mountains for a couple of years. Jerry and Cheryl happened upon the trails one day when they were headed toward Mezzo Canyon for a climb. They surprised themselves when they arrived at an overlook that ... yes! ... That's Hidden Falls Canyon just beyond the next falling ridge. If Hidden Falls had water flowing, you would see the lower part of the waterfall. And, you can certainly see the trail that climbs up to it. They dumped Mezzo Canyon that day due to the unexpected circuitous route they would have to hike to get to it from that point. But, a great hike was born for the club.

Climbing Cathedral Rock Trail (The Vatican Above)

Today, Jerry and Cheryl led our small AtBF pod to the "new" overlook and large campsite above it. We had a complete pod of six hikers for the first time in a while!

Side View of Cathedral Rock and down Kyle Canyon

We began at the Cathedral Rock Trailhead in Kyle Canyon. At the first switchback, we were lucky enough to see a doe and her fawn up on the hillside. So cute!

Happy Hikers!

Finally, graffiti I can agree with!

We chose an easy pace and strolled up the steep Cathedral Rock switchbacks without stopping, ... well, except for photos. There were already a few hikers on the trail. As we neared the forest road fork, we saw two interesting things. One (seen in the photo to the right) was graffiti that I agree with but probably should not have been painted on the seat installation. Maybe they will leave that there for a while! The second was a newly fallen tree that demolished another of the seat installations. The tree was cleaned up by the time we returned down the hill after the hike. Onward, we took the left fork at the old forest road as seen in the photo below. This is otherwise known as the Manhole Cover Trail!

Forking off to the Old Forest Road

This is an easy quarter mile out to a spring that helps to feed Old Town below. It is now covered with a locked "manhole cover" as seen in the photo below.

Manhole Cover Spring

Here's where it starts to get interesting. There is a trail that continues to the right going around the drop down into Little Falls below. (This is not the trail that goes up the hill!)

Lovely Day starting out Game Trails

Summer View of Mummy Mountain (above Little Falls)

The first 20 yards of the "trail" is so vague that it is barely there. You must bulldoze through some light brush and go slightly up to a little clearing. Here, the trail becomes more clear and cairns begin appearing. But don't depend on the cairns. They tend to come and go around here! Suffice it to say, the "trail(s)" traverse this area above a small cliff band while climbing gently. Warning: make sure you have your GPS with you so that the return is fault-free! Those first 20 yards were the most difficult to navigate on the way back! The route circles around the western end of Kyle Canyon and the views are from a different perspective than any other hike. There is even a full-on view on the west side of Cathedral Rock as seen in the third photo of the entry.

Traversing across a Small Cliff Band

The "trails" sometimes end then begin again above you. Sometimes you see "trails" coming in from a higher level. Those deer have their own navigation system!

Cathedral Rock and Harris Peak from Game Trail

Therefore, I cannot stress enough that good research and a GPS are irreplaceable tools when hiking a new route. Thus, the disclaimer above right!

First Overlook of Upper Kyle Canyon

Rita amidst the Scramble

So, anyway, after bunches of fun following Jerry and taking photos for about a half mile, we came to a very formidable cliff (300'-400'). Please stop before you get too close!!! DYING is NOT ALLOWED! Just before you get "too close," the route turns up to the left and follows the ridge. It is a steep class 2 or 3 scramble; depending on your choice of route. It is assumed that since there is a very large campsite on a large clearing above, backpackers negotiate this terrain, also. The scramble is around a quarter mile passing 3 separate small cliff bands. With each cliff band, an overlook of the canyon is offered. It is clear that the circuitous route that Jerry and Cheryl faced that first time is a bugger!

Kay and Ralyn amidst the Ridge Scramble

As we stood on one of the last overlooks, we saw two hiker/climbers above the cliffs and heading up. Wow! Kudos for you getting that far! But, from where did you come?

More Cliff Bands to Negotiate

We scrambled up taking the easier routes and arrived at the large clearing. There is one huge and one medium size fire ring in the area. But, they were both located at the base of trees.... What?

Another Overlook (Hidden Falls around distant ridge Corner)

We spotted two hiker/climbers at a difficult spot to get to!!

To dismantle these rings would have been a huge effort. And, we wondered if this campsite was used for the boy scouts. (Even so, right?) We didn't have the energy to take it on. Dismantling the fire rings is a good project for the boy scouts! They are much younger and need the awareness. So, we rested and enjoyed the slight cool breeze.

When we started down, the steepness of the scramble became apparent. The slope was embedded unforgiving hard scree. Plus, the cliff bands were made of crumbly limestone. I felt like a rag doll as I fell 3 or 4 times. Knees, it's always the knees! Regardless, I emerged unscathed except for the big bruise on my left hip! (All in a day's work!)

Enjoying our Break at the Large Campsite

We traversed down the game trails using the GPS and ran into a visitor that thought he was on his way to Charleston Peak. We redirected him back down to the Cathedral Rock / South Loop split and he was not happy.

Large Campsite with South Ridge in View

Anywho, we passed the Manhole Cover and returned to the Cathedral Rock Trail where we turned left and climbed up the rock for a view.

Down she goes! - Descent on one of the Cliff Bands

Some Difficult Terrain

There were several hikers up on the Cathedral Rock Overlook. Some were kids. Although they were not social distancing between themselves, they were very politely social distancing from the adults. Also, today was German Shepherd day! We counted four! Just a few more photos and we were on our way down the trail at a consistent pace. We passed many more hikers on the descent and some even had masks on! Kudos! The temperatures were quite warm by now so we didn't dilly dally. The hike was great! We were all happy to be out in nature once again. This is what we do for fun!

Stats: 5.3 miles; 1500' gain; 4.25 hours

Following a Game Trail

Almost back to the Manhole Cover

Social Distancing on Cathedral Rock