Salado Canyon Trek

Salado Canyon Trestle

Dr. K, Becca and I set off this morning fully intending to hike the Bridal Veil Falls Trail, but when we got to the parking area it was already completely filled with vehicles.  So we continued down Fresnal Canyon Road to the Salado Canyon trailhead where there were no other cars.  We hiked the trail back along the creek into the canyon where we encountered a group of hikers at Bridal Veil Falls (undoubtedly the same ones whose cars were parked at the upper trailhead).  Becca had a playful meet-and-greet with one of the trekkers' dogs (either Tass or Tazz), a young Lab/English Pointer cross who was very energetic.  On our return leg we decided to extend the hike down to the restored train trestle.  As we crossed it we were pleased to see they had repaired some of the dangerously rotted planks with sturdy new ones.  We probably logged about 3.5 miles on our outing today.

Becca and the 39 Steps

Midway pause

Topping out

Dr. K ascending steps

Look back at the canyon

Another look back

Slight rise on the way in

300 million years ago this was the bottom of a deep sea

Much deeper in the canyon now

Local weed

Getting close to the falls

Perennial creek

Soaptree Yucca in the high desert

Victim of a long-ago flood

Getting close

Creek just below Bridal Veil Falls

Dr. K with Becca far in the lead

Approaching the gate

Who's this watching from the forest?

Riparian area in Salado Canyon

Heading back

Some steep drop-offs here

Why bother with switchbacks when you can climb a stairway to heaven?

Shall we cross the trestle?

The creek that runs from the falls

Crossing back

A look at the creek from below the trestle

You can almost hear the burble from this small falls

Rippled creek water

Not sure which sparrow this is

Pool of creek water

Where we parked the Jeep