Snoquera Falls Two Ways

We hike with lots of different groups with lots of different abilities and goals. On Saturday 5/10 we hiked the Snoquera Falls loop with a friend who is new to hiking and had open heart surgery 7 months ago so we took the falls loop only for a goal and headed out.

The trail was in great shape and the falls are running heavy this time of year so we had a great hike with some spectacular views even though it was overcast.

On Friday Pam and I set out to hike the area on our own and saw a report of a loop that we thought was 13.7 miles and 2600 feet of elevation so off we went.

We began with the same trail past Snoquera Falls and then took the trail down to the White River Trail and then to the Pallisades Trail and eventually around to the Ranger Creek Trail and back to the White River Trail and our original trailhead at Camp Sheppard.

The Pallisades Trail gives you another waterfall and some great elevation gain. You gain over 700 feet in the first mile of the trail and then you reach the stairs and keep climbing. The trail takes you to the ridge, but not before you find some snow to navigate. We handled it without traction devices and had no route finding issues.

Once on the ridge it stays close for quite a while. It was overcast so the pictures aren't of the sweeping views you would get on a clear day. The trail eventually turns back in and takes you to the Ranger Shelter where the junction with the Ranger Creek Trail is.

In the first mile down the Ranger Creek trail there were 9 significant blowdowns to negotiate. Some were good head scratchers.  The remainder of the trail was easy and in great shape. We made the junction with the White River Trail and the last 1.6 miles to the trailhead.

The total mileage was 16.69 miles and the total elevation was 3729 feet which made for a great - longer - day hike in 6:30 total time.

Be very well and more soon....