Hiking Colorado by Sandy Heise

Author:Sandy Heise
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Falcon Guides
Published: 2016-03-25T23:03:47+00:00

The cliffs that create the falls are made of calcium carbonate from creeks flowing underground in limestone deposits upstream. Thousands of years ago, the creek ran over some obstacle, which geologists believe was a giant beaver dam. The water left deposits that developed into today’s cliffs. You can approach the falls from various sides, getting sprayed no matter which way you choose. To the right of the falls, Coyote Trail winds past limestone caves, created by water eroding the cliff from the inside out. Some are shallow, while one is large enough (90 feet) to need a flashlight to explore. Bats live in these caves, so be respectful if they are hanging out. The caves contain interesting formations such as flowstone, popcorn stone, and stalactites hanging from the ceiling. Watch your head as you hike from cave to cave. One place in particular has very low clearance.

Outside the caves, cottonwoods, box elders, chokecherry trees, hawthorns (emphasis on thorns), coyote willows, and a little stream line the trail. Blue Steller’s jays squawk overhead. The trail curves around and up until you are on top of the cliff. The Bobcat Trail to the Rifle Fish Hatchery branches to the north just before the falls. The hatchery was completed in 1954 as the largest trout hatchery in the state. Old metal pipes and wooden water diversions still remain from the hydroelectric plant days. The quickly flowing water disappears over the cliff in a white froth as it takes the plunge. Observation decks hang beyond the cliff for a bird’s-­eye view and a potential adrenaline rush. The trail down is steep, but stairs make the trek a little easier. The riparian area around the falls creates wildlife-­watching opportunities.

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