A friend, my son, and I hiked to Garfield Ledges from the Middle Fork Trailhead via the Middle Fork Connector Trail on a sunny but chilly day, with temperatures in the high 30s.
We arrived at the Middle Fork Trailhead parking lot around 9:30 a.m., and it was empty at first, though another car pulled in shortly afterward. The restroom was open and stocked with toilet paper, but the lock was not working.
We began hiking on the Middle Fork Connector Trail. A few trees were down along the way, but they were easy to step over. We also noticed several fallen branches covered with delicate hair ice, a beautiful winter phenomenon. We stopped at a viewpoint by the Taylor River to take a photo, then reached the Garfield Ledges Trailhead in about half an hour. The Garfield Ledges Trail itself was in good condition.
After another half hour of steady climbing, we arrived at a scenic viewpoint where we paused to take photos and enjoy the sweeping views. While we were there, another group of three hikers joined us, adding a bit of friendly trail camaraderie to the morning.
On the way back, we crossed the bridge over the Taylor River. From there, my son and I continued to a picnic shelter at Middle Fork Campground for lunch, while my friend explored the Pratt Connector Trail on her own. We later rejoined at the parking lot.
All in all, it was a crisp, beautiful, and thoroughly enjoyable day on the trail.
Stats:
Distance: 4.1 miles
Elevation Gain: 730 ft
Highest Point: 1,770 ft (The Grafield Ledges viewpoint)
Total Time: 2h 40m
Moving Time: 2h 12m
Our GPS track is in the link below.
Comments
I like that loop to the campground. I'll try that next time.
Posted by:
Maddy on Feb 12, 2026 03:38 PM