Standard riverside hike

M High has not uploaded any photos with this log entry.
User: M High - 11/5/2009

Location: Chalk Ridge Falls Park

Rating: 3stars
Difficulty: 3stars  Solitude: 3stars
Miles Hiked: 4.00 Miles  Elapsed Time: N/A

Comments:

With recent rains, the Lampasas River was running a few feet high and very swift.  Only saw about ten people in three hours.  The side trail leading to the small falls on the creek leading to the river was the most scenic - make sure not to miss the side-trip before the main falls.  The suspension bridge has been out for a couple of years now, and a sign leading to the bridge says trail closed - so to continue along the 'red' trail you pretty much have to get your feet wet crossing the stream, which can be several feet deep in places - the best and safest place to cross is 10-20 feet downstream from the little dam above Chalk Ridge Falls, where the water is less than a foot deep.  It appears that the red trail has not been maintained since the bridge fell, so there are plenty of fallen trees, overgrowth and a couple of places where the river has washed out the trail.  The further you go, the more tenuous the trail (since it is not maintained and not getting many visitors) - easy to follow for the first half-mile, but I lost it several times past the last marker - although it's not like you're going to get lost, since you're walking along the river's edge the entire way.  I went about a half mile past the last marker before turning around, before the second waterfall, at that point the trail was almost completely overgrown.  One very big minus - tons of trash all over the trail, everywhere -- both on the front (open) part of the trail, as well as the back (closed) part of the trail.  It needs a SERIOUS cleaning.  Lots of fall color.



Area around Chalk Ridge Falls Park