July 17, 2024 Lisa Falls

 Lisa Falls

distance: just under .5 miles

elevation gain:  75 feet

hikers: Grandpa, Nana, and 6  grandchildren!

After our hike to donut falls last week I knew a hike with these kids and only 2 adults had to be a short one and this fit the bill for our grandchildren's day activity!  Everyone made it and there were few complaints.

I knew it was a short hike but I had forgotten it is steep!  

Over or under, take your pick.  

We made it to the falls!

Beautiful view.  I didn't take many pictures because my focus was on supervising the kiddos not photography.  This is such a great hike when you need something small.  The reward at the end pays off and there are rocks to climb on and to eat lunch on.  

July 10, 2024 Donut Falls

 Donut Falls

hikers:  7 kiddos (ages 16 months to 9 years) and 4 adults

length:   1.5 miles

elevation gain:   291 feet

# of other hikers:   parking lot was overflowing and lots of people at the falls

temperature:   over 100* in the valley so definitely less in the canyon!

fun rating:   depends on who you ask.  "good hike"  "this is long"  "I'm sooo tired"

After parking someone warned us the bridge was out and we could get wet or take the alternate route.  We decided on the alternate route but the trail would have worked also.  You had to cross the creek on a log and yes, some of us would have gotten wet!  

The alternate route was on a maintenance or access road for a while.  It was still a pretty hike and we could hear the rushing water in the creek.

This colorful butterfly was one of the wonders of nature we ran across.

This was the makeshift bridge we could have crossed.

Near the falls there was a rope to get down some rocks.  I don't remember it being there before but it was really helpful.  I don't have a picture of it but all the kids made it one way or another. 

After the hike we decided to have our picnic at the trailhead instead of driving somewhere else because the kids were pretty tired.

It was a fun hike, even though some of the kids were tired.  With little ones this small it was good to have a high adult to kid ratio.  We learned we can keep going even when it is hard.  We did it!!!

July 6, 2024 Rocky Mouth Fall

 Rocky Mouth Falls

hikers:  6 of us,  3 kiddos, 3 adults

elevation, length of hike: same as usual, .7 and 282 feet.   This was the first time we have been up there this year and part of the trail near the falls has been washed out so it looks a little different than usual and near the falls you hike thru the water.  Wasn't expecting that but just be prepared to walk in the water for a short way. 

Halfway there by the time you get to this trailhead.

Lots of water this year and because part of the trail 

has been washed out you will be getting your feet wet!

The water and rocks got a little tricky for this one.

But luckily Grandpa had his pack and was on first aid duty.

Lots of people at the falls.

Our explorer!

 

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