I first visited Towell Falls in late February 2025 and took the photo featured in the hiking guide with a torrent roaring over the falls. I thought it'd be interesting to go back and see what it looked like after a long, hot summer. I hadn't realized that the series of falls I was able to get close to last time was in a side channel. That entire channel is now dry, and the only waterfall is in the main channel, which is not easily accessible due to topography and vegetation. You can see it from a distance as you approach, but you can't get close. 

TiffH was correct in her recent trip report -- weeds have taken over the camping/picnic area. The toilet was clean and stocked but you had to tramp down weeds to get to it. Even so, it's a lovely place to spend the night (Escure Ranch, not the toilet) -- quiet, starry, and peaceful. A coyote chorus was singing all around. 

Parts of the trail to Towell Falls are overgrown by native grasses and other weeds. Best wear long pants and long sleeves. Some years that road is open to vehicles seasonally, but not this year, so perhaps that's why it's so overgrown.

I spoke to some fishermen who said Rock Creek has surprisingly large trout in it. One guy was out looking for pheasant and plans to go back hunting soon.

Entered at the main parking lot before the bridge. Needs maintenance. Trails were not maintained, had to turn around shortly after a mile in because of pokey bushes and weeds taller than us for as far as we could see. Huge disappointment after traveling all the way up there not to access any water. Weeds all the way up to the bathroom. Yes I realize we’re outside but none of the picnic areas were maintained either, didn’t want to sit in the weeds to eat my lunch. Give me a weed whacker and I’ll go up there ;) better yet a machete 🔪 On the plus side, we did see lots of deer, cows and hawks. Even saw a porcupine. 

This was my second daylong hike at Escure Ranch in the past week. My goal is to explore as much of the area as possible. I parked at the bridge on Jordan-Knott Road where it crosses Rock Creek for both hikes. Maps show a gap of private land between the bridge and Escure Ranch to the west, but I was informed recently that access is possible because of a land purchase, eliminating the gap. But this access is along the north side of Rock Creek. The south side is still private land.

I used this starting point instead of the old ranch homestead because my goal was to explore the northern and central parts of the area. I started my hike following Rock Creek and soon came across a flock of pelicans. Vegetation is still just coming up and I found game trails and cow paths to make walking easier in a lot of stretches. As the vegetation grows, hiking may not be as easy.

Came across a waterfall I didn't know about - Breeden Falls. My map shows Breeden Road crossing here, and there's a bridge and road, but I've yet to see a vehicle on it. Breeden Falls looks as pretty as Towell Falls, which is the main destination for most hikers at Escure Ranch.

Both times I made my way to the top of coulee walls overlooking Rock Creek and headed west and south. Great scenery along here. On my second visit, I made my way to Perch Lake, Wall Lake and Turtle Lake, which I noticed, unlike the first two lakes, had a bunch of turtles. It was fun locating these lakes using a paper map and my sense of direction. Not having a device makes this a fun challenge.

Catching sight of a badger used to be a rare thing, but on my two hikes, got good looks three times. Saw a couple coyotes that weren't too far away, and as always, a ton of mule deer. I got ambitious and walked a long way to explore some stands of cottonwood trees at the southern end of Escure Ranch which really stick out on this nearly treeless landscape. Separated by roughly a quarter mile, the three stands of cottonwoods each had a resident owl with a very white head and mostly white body with brown spots. Got some good looks—I thought maybe it was a snowy owl, but after reading they're fairly rare here, it might be a different type.

Had to pick up the pace to get back to my car. Hiked to the ranch buildings at the camping area, crossed the bridge over the creek and then climbed the ridge between Rock Creek and Jordan-Knott Road, heading north. Took different, but parallel routes on my two hikes through here. It's very pleasant late afternoon/early evening hiking. My explorations both times were all day endeavors. Since the Escure Ranch/Rock Creek Recreation Site is so big, I believe I'll be doing more.

I hiked Escure Ranch to Towell Falls on a Friday and there were not many people around, just a couple of small groups. The road to the trail is a bit rough. Gravel road most of the way which was ok, but the last two miles it's a dirt road which pretty much consists just of potholes. There is a decent vault toilet at the trailhead. Trail was in good condition, mostly dry or a bit moist with just one section which was muddy with water but can be easily circumvented. To the falls and back it's pretty much 7 miles, but it's an easy trail mostly flat with just a few small hills. There is no direct trail to the falls, so you have to just find your way across the meadow to get closer to the falls. There is actually 3 falls, but only the major one can be accessed. It's a nice little fall surrounded by basalt columns. There are already quite a few wildflowers. A lot of balsam root (absolutely gorgeous), biscuit root and the first shooting stars and prairie stars. And if you like ice age flood geological features, you will enjoy this hike very much! 

The BLM access road was very rough -- big potholes, giant puddles, and mud. However, with determination and care, I managed it in my sedan. It was worth the trouble! I had the entire ranch to myself on a glorious, sunny day. The creek was running high and muddy, as we'd had snow and rain in the preceding weeks. The trail was generally in good condition. There were a few muddy stretches (and some meadow muffins from the grazing cattle), but not at all hard to hike. 

The waterfalls were really roaring! There were four distinct falls (though I couldn't see the lower one very well). I haven't been to this area before, so I'm not sure if all of them are present in the summer and fall when the creek is lower.

I didn't see any wildlife other than cattle. Saw a couple of them high up on a mesa, apparently right on the cliff edge. Daredevils of the bovine world!