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!!!