Adams Falls, RMNP, Colorado

The first area of the Rocky Mountain National Park that we explored was Adams Falls.  We made our way to the East Inlet Trailhead off West Portal Road just east of Grand Lake, Colorado.  There is parking and restroom facilities available at the trailhead. 

Map of area

We began our hike at the East Inlet Trailhead.  This trail uses natural materials from the area to give it a harmonious appearance.  The East Inlet Trail was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.  After hiking through pines and aspens, for about one-third of a mile, we reached the Adams Falls Trail.

Adams Falls from overlook
The Adams Falls Trail is a semi-lop that reconnects with the East Inlet Trail in less than two-tenths of a mile.  At the connection we turned right and hiked the short distance to an overlook of the falls.

Adams Falls from overlook

Adams falls if an impressive waterfall that drops roughly 55 feet in a series of steps through a narrow rock gorge.  From the overlook we hiked up to the top of the falls where we had an other impressive view of the falls from above.  From this point we could see Grand Lake in the distance.



Unlike the Adams Tunnels (see earlier post) the falls and nearby Mt. Adams were named after Jay E. Adams, an early settler of Grand Lake who arrived in the late 1800s.


View of  Mt. Adams

From the top of the falls our hike continued a short distance and hooked up to the East Inlet Trail once again.  We turned left at the junction and headed back to the parking lot.  If we had enough time and energy we could have turned right at the junction and hiked  about a half-mile to the confluence of the East Inlet Creek and Echo Creek. We understand that there is a beautiful meadow of wildflowers near the confluence and moose are frequently spotted in the area.
 
 

POPULAR DESTINATIONS >>

Image

Ballard, Washington

Leaving Pike Place Market we headed to the neighborhood of Ballard . Ballard is located in the northwestern part of Seattle. To the north it is bounded by Crown Hill, (N.W. 85th Street); to the east by Greenwood, Phinney Ridge and Fremont (along 8th Avenue N.W.); to the south by the Lake Washington Ship Canal; and to the west by Puget Sound’s Shilshole Bay. The neighborhood’s landmarks include the  Hiram M. Chittenden Locks  (known locally as the "Ballard Locks"), the Nordic Heritage Museum, the Shilshole Bay Marina, and Golden Gardens Park. Entrance to Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Gardens and Hiram M. Chittenden Locks The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, or Ballard Locks, is a complex of locks at the west end of Salmon Bay, in Seattle, Washington's Lake Washington Ship Canal, between the neighborhoods of Ballard to the north and Magnolia to the south. We wanted to know and followed the fish but didn't realize it was across the locks until we were on our way
Image

Caddo Lake State Park, Texas

While visiting the historic town of Jefferson we could not pass up the opportunity to make a short visit to Caddo Lake State Park .  The park sits near the small town of Karnack, in east Texas.  The name of this park is a bit deceiving as the park doesn't sit on the shores of Caddo Lake (the only natural, fresh water lake in Texas) but on Big Cypress Bayou. Entrance sign Entrance signs to Caddo Lake State Park Big Cypress Bayou from boat ramp (west) Big Cypress Bayou looking east.  Follow the bayou east to reach Caddo Lake. Like most Texas state parks the structures within Caddo Lake SP were built by the  Civilian Conservation Corps . Company 889 began the work, in June to November of 1933. Company 857 continued construction from October 1934 to March 1937. One of the cabins that can be rented at the park CCC workers converted 15 U.S. Army barracks and an Army mess hall into the nine log cabins and group recreation hall that can be used today.  
Image

Twilight Eagle Santuary, Oregon

Sadly, we left Astoria and traveled east on the East Columbia Highway (Highway 30) back to Portland to catch the red eye back home.  When we passed the sign, we knew we had found what our trip had been missing so we turned the Blue Devil around and headed to the Twilight Eagle Sanctuary. The Twilight Eagle Sanctuary is located within Cathlamet Bay , 2.5 miles east of Astoria, Oregon , and just downstream from Settler Point.  This wetland Sanctuary was established in 1992, and along with Columbia Land Trust acquisitions in 2009, now totals over 100 acres of old growth forest, tidal wetlands, and shoreline, and stretches nearly a mile along the Columbia River. The Sanctuary is just off of U.S. Highway 30. A viewing platform overlooks acres of mudflats, tidal marshes, open water, and islands. It is an excellent location to observe birds and other wildlife living on the lower Columbia River estuary. The viewing area has several interpretive panels about the wetlands, bald eagles,