Podcast – Clifty Falls State Park Canyon Rim Hike

Clifty Falls State Park Canyon Rim Hike
today we will hike a trail I call the Canyon Rim Hike at Clifty Falls State Park.
From the Book
Clifty Falls State Park

Transcript:

Greetings, today we will hike a trail I call the Canyon Rim Hike at Clifty Falls State Park.

A favorite hike of ours is one I like to call the “Canyon Rim Hike”. This is my name, you will not find it on any park literature. We usually start this hike at Clifty Falls Shelter. We hike the east rim of the canyon, descend into Clifty Creek canyon, cross the creek and hike the west rim. This hike is just at eight miles long and takes us usually just under five hours.

Before we start, I would like you to know that this episode is based upon my book, Clifty Falls State Park, available on my web site, http://www.mossyfeetbooks.com. While visiting the web site you can subscribe to it and receive email notifications of when I publish a new book or other content, like this video and podcast. You can also subscribe to the Mossy Feet Books You Tube Channel to ensure you don’t miss any of my content.

The hike entails several different trails to form a loop. The eastern portion is extremely rugged. It is one of the roughest trails we have hiked anywhere. The western portion, across the creek, is not as rugged, but there is a long “pull” ascending from the creek bed to the canyon rim. This loop returns to Clifty Shelter
Starting at Clifty Shelter, hike along the fence that edges the canyon rim. There are picnic tables all along here and modern restrooms just north of the shelter. A large play field is to the east of the shelter on the other side of the park road. Two lookouts offer a fabulous view of the falls. In the spring the cascade can be quite impressive, however later in summer and fall the water slows to a trickle. This can be the busiest part of the park during weekends in spring and summer. We take Trail 7 at the trail head. From this trail the hiker next encounters Cake Rock. This huge limestone slap, from the right angle, resembles a huge slice of chocolate cake. An early spring hike finds this formation covered generously with heavily blooming orange columbines. They cling to the rock in just about every crevice in an unbelievable show. This trail loop, taken in April or May usually provides a bountiful show of spring wildflowers on both sides of the rim.
From here the trail passes down a steep set of stairs to a bridge which crosses just above Little Clifty Falls. From here on it is pretty rugged. Up wooden or stone steps, in some places it clings to a rock face, the canyon just a misstep away on the right. Wild geraniums, columbines, shooting stars, fleabane, several species of violets and wild delphinium color the canyon wall in the spring. The rugged beauty of the canyon below is really wonderful.
Trail 6 intersects Trail 7 at Lookout Point. Trail 6 ends, Trail 7 continues the southward trek along the rim to Hickory Grove Picnic Shelter. From there the hiker must hike the road for a one-half mile stretch, to Tunnel Falls. At the Falls, take Trail 5. Trail 5 passes the Railroad Tunnel. If you wish to explore the tunnel, you will need a flashlight and follow the instruction at the tunnel entrance for White Nose Syndrome, to protect the bats inside. The nearly one-quarter mile tunnel is pitch black about one-quarter of the way in. As the tunnel’s south entrance is passed the trail becomes much prettier. Majestic limestone cliffs tower over the trail on the right. On the left the heavily forested banks fall steeply into the canyon. The forest floor is blanketed with geraniums, wild phlox, and other flowers in the spring.
After the tunnel the hiker passes the final waterfall, Hoffman Falls. Here the rock cliffs are again heavily covered with columbines. A bridge crossing the creek just above the falls provides a good spot to stop and enjoy the wild beauty that surrounds you. Just past Hoffman Falls Trail 5 ends at the Lily Memorial. Trail 3 continues past the Falls and hugs the canyon wall as it passes behind Poplar Grove Picnic Area. Just past Poplar Grove it joins Trails 1 and 2 and the three trails run in conjunction until Trail 2 splits off to the right and descends into the canyon. This is the direction to take to continue this loop. At this intersection Clifty Inn is about a mile distant on Trail 1, straight ahead. The Observation Tower is on that trail, which allows a nice view of the river.
The trail which descends to the creek in the spring is a riot of color. Wild geranium, delphinium, violets of many colors paint the hillside is a myriad of colors. The air is scented with the earthy fragrance of spring in the forest. The trail descends impatiently at this point, it is in a hurry to reach the bottom, and the hiker is propelled into a land of sky-blue violets, waterleaf and pink geraniums. Clifty Creek cascades over rocks as it moves hurriedly on to the nearby Ohio River.
To cross you may have to remove your shoes and move gingerly over the sharp, slippery rocks to the other side. On the other side it is nice to sit on a rock, allowing the feet to dry in the warm spring sun. It is peaceful here, a wild landscape through which the creek flows through the heavily forested canyon. During periods of high water this creek may be impassable. Do not try to cross if the water is too high, as the waters may sweep you into the Ohio River.
As you ascend the canyon, the lower woodland flowers, in the moist environment of the creek are replaced by more delphiniums. Higher up, bright yellow wood poppies splash color along the hill. It is nice to take your time here, admiring the rich green and yellow woodland floor.
It is about a twenty-minute huff up the hill. There is a large, dead log near the trail for the weary to rest. Here the forest is dryer and the flowers are sparse. The woodland is open, allowing a good view of the surrounding forest. The trail is fairly level, and progress is good. The trail crosses three small streams, which create waterfalls as their beds fall away, the water tumbling to the rocks far below.
Finally, near the end you can hear Clifty Falls in the distance through the trees and the trail is now only twenty feet above the creek bed as you pass the falls, still traveling upstream. It is quite beautiful here and the trail is easily hiked. After crossing the creek again, the hiker ascends a steep wooden
stair to the parking area. Here it is just a short distance to the parking lot.

I am not sure what the next topic will cover, however it will be an episode based on one of the books in my Indiana State Park Guidebook series, available on my website, http://www.mossyfeetbooks.com. The books contain interesting information about the history, geology and features of the parks as well as tons of information about day trip destinations in the area of the park. I encourage you to visit the web site and subscribe to it.
I hope you enjoyed this podcast and thank you for listening.