As I approached the falls, I didn't hear the thundering sound of falling water. I wondered. “Has Elvis left the building?” I thought I might be too late, and I almost was. By the time I reached the upper tier, there was still water flowing, but a mere trickle compared to what had been a torrent, a massive and furious cascade earlier in the year. The upper falls plunge into an intimate amphitheater of scattered granite boulders and weathered deadfall. The site is visually arresting, magical in its disheveled wild beauty, even when the big show is mostly over. I was glad to be there and vowed to come again, at least a month earlier next year.
The trail up to the switchbacks is broad and well groomed, providing an easy woodland walk. As soon as the switchbacks begin, the trail transforms into a narrow, rocky path that climbs more steeply. In some sections, it presents as a talus trail. In the upper switchbacks, it is easy to mistake the old boot path as part of the trail. If the terrain gets steep and loose, you are off-trail. Well-constructed switchbacks lead all the way to the falls. Today, the early switchbacks in rocky sections were flanked by vigorous pockets of foxglove. And many other wildflowers were still present along most sections of the trail.
Instead of taking the Teneriffe Falls Trail out and back, I took the new connector on my descent, making a lollipop loop with the Mount Teneriffe Trail back to the Teneriffe Falls trail junction and then back to the trailhead. The loop adds some distance and more interest as the Mount Teneriffe Trail crosses several bridges and small streams.
Since it is challenging to convey the falls site with a single camera image, I took two spherical panoramic images at the falls, one from the creek bed and another at a nearby overlook. This place is made for a spherical panorama. Though the site is shrouded from direct light by towering trees, the images still capture the drama of the site. Note the two hikers in the second 360 as they effectively convey the scale of the place. I have posted links to my two spherical panoramas below. I encourage you to check them out to see the dimensions of the place. For the most immersive viewing, open to full screen and scroll around and up and down.
Parking: The new lot is gated. I arrived about 6:50 am and waited until the gatekeeper arrived at 7:10 am, apologized for being a bit late, and unlocked the heavy metal pipe gate. Three vehicles pulled in. When I returned just before noon, I counted only 16 cars in the 118-car lot. I guess everyone heads to Mailbox Peak. And that’s okay.
From the ‘Department of Thoughtless People’
Infraction 1: All at the upper falls. Crumpled Coke can by streambed log. A banana peel was displayed dead center on a large log fallen across the streambed. A fragment of Mylar snack packaging in the streambed rocks. Do you think your trash enhances the wilderness experience of others? Well, no, it does not. If I can pack out your lunch debris, so can you!
Infraction 2: Numerous crosscuts of upper trail switchbacks. C’mon, folks, are you really in such a hurry that you think nothing of destroying the trailside environment by cutting switchbacks? Leave No Trace.
Infraction 3: As I was descending, a guy suddenly appeared riding a clunky electric bike/motorcycle with large knobby tires up the Teneriffe Falls Trail. Gee, there are signs everywhere clearly stating that the only activity allowed on the trails is hiking. He passed me so fast I did not have time to tackle him, wrestle him to the ground, and give a piece of my mind. Just kidding. But I did not like it and would hate to see more.
Comments