This hike works as a pick your own adventure, because you may want a quick six mile out and back to the waterfall, the slightly longer 8 ½ mile loop around the lake, or if you are feeling adventurous the horse trails offer the most challenging climbs and the most solitude. If you take the horse hills milage may vary. Our last hike clocking in at 9.5, but we've gone up to 11 (insert Spinal Tap reference here).
To get to the trailhead take the Sly Park Road exit (coming from either direction on Highway 50), turn left on Mormon-Emigrant Trail (it’s a road), and follow the signs to any of a number of parking areas. Tiffany and I always cross both bridges and take the first left to the $5 parking. #Support your parks.
If you are a beginner hiker or otherwise thought my combination of “six mile and quick” complete balderdash, there is parking closer to the waterfall if you take Sly Park and turn left on Lakewood. Drive past all the campgrounds and I’m guessing you can get about a mile from the falls. Warning: this is very touristy in good weather and you may find many Hhumans preening and posing in front of the natural beauty.
The hikes:
Waterfall and/or Loop
| climb | 3-4 | Rolling Hills | ||
| Shade | 8 | 3 | Great to waterfall but not as much on campground side. | |
| Trail | 8 | Well marked and maintained | ||
| Crowds | 3 | 8 | We always see some people, but campground side and waterfall can be obnoxious with people. | |
| Noise | 4 | 8 | We always end up climbing up horse hills to avoid people and noise. | |
| Wildlife | 7 | Lots of different birds, pollinators in the spring, ladybugs, lizards, frogs, squirrels. | ||
| Photography | 9 | Nine for Landscapes and macro photos. Beautiful and interesting. | ||
Loop w/ Horse Trails
| Climb | 7 | I might go as high as an eight if you pick the right horse hill. Drink electrolytes after this one. Also, I noticed I color hard hills red, which in other categories has a negative feel, but here is just a sign of respect. |
| Shade | 7 | Shade much better up on these trails. |
| Trail | 5 | We have gotten lost more than once on these, but never too lost. Also, please respect horses and exit trail as needed. No poison oak on side, so easy to get way off trail. We have yet to see a horse, but this trail is for them. |
| Crowds | 1 | The solitude is magnificent! |
| Noise | 1 | So quiet. You may hear a boat when you first start climbing, but that noise will fade away. |
| Wildlife | 7 | Saw a snake up here, but nothing dangerous. Lots of different birds. |
| Photograpy | 9 | Some of my favorite shots are from this lake, a close up of a ladybug, a bee pollinating a columbine, a great tree named Tullee. |
