Today, I had the chance to do a solo, Cinco de Mayo hike into Tenant Creek Falls, deep in the Wilcox Lake Wild Forest. It's been a few years since I've been here and even longer in soft water season. This is a favorite snowshoe hike of ours, especially after a mid-winter thaw. Arriving at the East Stony Creek Rd. trailhead at mid-morning, I shouldered my pack and signed into the big woods under a rapidly clearing sky and warming temperatures.
1a TH - Copy.jpg
The first mile of the yellow disked trail is very heavily traveled as it traverses the lower slopes of Rand Mt.
1i trail - Copy.jpg
There's one short stretch where you walk through a patch of open hardwoods on a firm foot tread. The singing warblers really caught my attention today as they must have all come back in the last few days. The woods were alive with their calls.
1o trail - Copy.jpg
Not to be outdone, the wild flowers were putting on a show. I passed countless red, white and some giant trillium as well as trout lily and blooming hobble bush.
3v trillium - Copy.jpg
Absorbed in the sights and sounds of the forest, I approached the 1st Falls. The largest of the three falls, this is also the most popular. It's a very nice swimming hole, however, there is a large tree across the deepest part of the pool.
2a 1st falls - Copy.jpg
Upstream from the 1st Falls, the trail becomes rugged and dozens of the trail markers appear to be ripped out. The nails are still in the trees, but the markers are gone. I'm not sure what that's about as this is no secret spot. The trail is extremely easy to follow, markers or not, as it traces the banks of Tenant Creek upstream.
3f Tenant Creek - Copy.jpg
The trail is always in earshot of the creek and mostly right alongside the stream.
3q trail - Copy.jpg
About halfway to the next serries of falls, the trail climbs high above Tenant Creek as it navigates around some steep terrain. The walking is just as magical.
3h trail - Copy.jpg
The 2nd Falls are about a mile upstream of the 1st Falls and although they are not as big, they have a nicer swimming hole (IMHO). While I didn't take a dip today, being here certainly brought back some good memories.
4a 2nd falls - Copy.jpg
The 3rd Falls are just 100 yds. upstream from the 2nd Falls and have another beautiful plunge pool. It was time for a water break and some more pictures at my final destination. Just upstream from here is the boundary between Hamilton and Saratoga Counties and private land. 100 yds due south of here is an old road that connected Tenant Lake with Hope Falls. The road starts and ends on private land, but is a neat place to explore and an alternate route to Rand Mt.
5a 3rd falls - Copy.jpg
After a few minutes checking out the falls and the old road, I headed back down the trail. I made better time on the way back since I wasn't stopping every few minutes to ID a bird song. Just above the 1st Falls, I passed a young man who was headed upstream with a smile on his face and a bounce in his step. How could you not have a smile on this beautiful day in this fantastic corner of the Adirondacks. Perhaps the best thing today, no black flies! 😀
1a TH - Copy.jpg
The first mile of the yellow disked trail is very heavily traveled as it traverses the lower slopes of Rand Mt.
1i trail - Copy.jpg
There's one short stretch where you walk through a patch of open hardwoods on a firm foot tread. The singing warblers really caught my attention today as they must have all come back in the last few days. The woods were alive with their calls.
1o trail - Copy.jpg
Not to be outdone, the wild flowers were putting on a show. I passed countless red, white and some giant trillium as well as trout lily and blooming hobble bush.
3v trillium - Copy.jpg
Absorbed in the sights and sounds of the forest, I approached the 1st Falls. The largest of the three falls, this is also the most popular. It's a very nice swimming hole, however, there is a large tree across the deepest part of the pool.
2a 1st falls - Copy.jpg
Upstream from the 1st Falls, the trail becomes rugged and dozens of the trail markers appear to be ripped out. The nails are still in the trees, but the markers are gone. I'm not sure what that's about as this is no secret spot. The trail is extremely easy to follow, markers or not, as it traces the banks of Tenant Creek upstream.
3f Tenant Creek - Copy.jpg
The trail is always in earshot of the creek and mostly right alongside the stream.
3q trail - Copy.jpg
About halfway to the next serries of falls, the trail climbs high above Tenant Creek as it navigates around some steep terrain. The walking is just as magical.
3h trail - Copy.jpg
The 2nd Falls are about a mile upstream of the 1st Falls and although they are not as big, they have a nicer swimming hole (IMHO). While I didn't take a dip today, being here certainly brought back some good memories.
4a 2nd falls - Copy.jpg
The 3rd Falls are just 100 yds. upstream from the 2nd Falls and have another beautiful plunge pool. It was time for a water break and some more pictures at my final destination. Just upstream from here is the boundary between Hamilton and Saratoga Counties and private land. 100 yds due south of here is an old road that connected Tenant Lake with Hope Falls. The road starts and ends on private land, but is a neat place to explore and an alternate route to Rand Mt.
5a 3rd falls - Copy.jpg
After a few minutes checking out the falls and the old road, I headed back down the trail. I made better time on the way back since I wasn't stopping every few minutes to ID a bird song. Just above the 1st Falls, I passed a young man who was headed upstream with a smile on his face and a bounce in his step. How could you not have a smile on this beautiful day in this fantastic corner of the Adirondacks. Perhaps the best thing today, no black flies! 😀
Comment