Trails
There are 10 marked hiking trails in the Park. They vary in length from 0.5 to 4.5 miles and most are moderately rugged or more (list below from the Park map).
APPROX.
# TYPE MILEAGE
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1 Rugged 0.75
2 Very Rugged* 3.0
3 Rugged 1.0
4 Very Rugged 0.75
5 Rugged 0.9
6 Moderately R 0.5
7 Moderately R 1.25
8 Rugged 4.5
9 Moderate 1.0
10 Easy 0.75
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*Impassable if high water. No entry/exit at its north end.
These stand alone as trailways to follow and, in some cases, putting them together is a good idea for an extended jaunt. Following here is a description of four such trailways - after a caution about safe hiking.
Stay on marked trails; Carry and use the official park map; Areas above and below waterfalls are off limits; Wear trail-worthy foot gear; Evaluate your hiking skills and health as all trails have challenges and can be steep and composed of rocks, loose rocks, exposed tree roots; Avoid dehydration, bring water; What you carry in, carry out; Supervise children and keep pets on a leash; Trails close at dusk – plan to be off the trail before then.
West Canyon Rim Trailway (Trail 8)
This trailway follows Trail 8 from the trailhead in the parking lot at the Park’s north end until it starts to descend to Trail 2 near the south end, then returns. Two add-ons are noted: the trail 8-2 connector down to the creek and continuing on 8 down to the creek at the south end.
Download flyer describing this trailway.
Little Clifty Canyon/Upper Falls Trailway (Trail 7)
This trailway starts at the Trail 7 trailhead (past the playground at Clifty Shelter) and works around Little Clifty Canyon staying on the upper trail onto Lookout Point, returning on the lower loop to view Little Clifty Falls, over the bridge around the rim on the hillside shelf, past Cake Rock to the ”underlook” for Big Clifty, then to the Big Clifty overlook. The staircase from lower 7 to upper 7 is not used.
Download flyer describing this trailway.
Hoffman Canyon Trailway (Trails 1,3,4)
You loop features Hoffman Branch Canyon and part of the Big Clifty Canyon wall. You can start at the Hoffman Falls parking area, Poplar Grove, or the Nature Center. The route described here starts at the Nature Center.
For a short diversion, take the short hike up from trail 4 to the parking/picnic area and finding the abandoned shelter/chimney.
left split. Return to the Nature Center via Trails 3 and 1.
Download flyer describing this trailway.
Brough’s Folly Trailway (Trails 1,3,4,5,6)
Remnants of what became known as “Brough’s Folly” are found in the park along Trails, 1, 3, 4, and 5. You begin at the Nature Center with Trail 1 and end up at Trail 6 past Tunnel Falls. A grand our of the features of this abandoned pre-civil war railroad construction project. You can see lot's more about Brough's Folly at the Nature Center and pick up a brochure on it.
Download flyer describing this trailway.
Rim to Rim Pathway (Trails 1,3-8 – rugged to very rugged)
The rim-to-rim is all around Big Clifty Canyon starting at Trail 8 at the north end, working your way south on the west side, crossing Trail 2, then heading up the east side on Trails 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, ending up at the north end parking lot near the Trail 8 start. It is a whopper almost mile hike. The best times are fall to early spring when the foliage is gone and the views are best.