Hiking the Trails

Upper Falls Hike (Trail 7 - moderately rugged)

This loop hike 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. Cross-canyon views best in late fall to early spring. Spring and summer wildflowers excel on the east side.

The route as described is about 1.1 miles. 

West Canyon Rim Hike (Trail 8 -rugged)

This out-and-back hike 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 possible: (1) take the steep Trail 8-2 connector down to the creek for a look at the canyon floor and (2) continue on Trail 8 down to the creek bed at the south end.

The one-way route (no spurs) is about 2.3 miles. 

Upper Canyon Loop Hike (Trails 8, 2, 5, 6, 7 - rugged to very rugged)

This loop hike is a mini version of the rim-to-rim hike in that it just rims the upper canyon and makes more use of Trail 2. You can start on the west side at the Trail 8 parking lot (moderate part first), cross the canyon via Trail 2, then hike up Trail5 to use Trails 6 and 7 back to the parking lot. The hike is steep and rugged in places. You can also start with Trail 7 at Big Clifty Falls (harder part first).

The route (excluding parking lot section) is about 2.8 miles. 

Brough’s Folly Hike (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 for a grand tour of the features of this abandoned pre-civil war railroad construction project. You can see much more about Brough's Folly at the Nature Center and pick up a brochure on it. This is an out-and-back hike - return via the park road or the the trails, or a combination of both.

The one-way route is about 2 miles. 

Rim to Rim Hike (Trails 1-8 – moderately rugged to rugged)

The rim-to-rim loop hike 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 2, 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 7 mile hike. The best times are fall to early spring when the foliage is gone and the views are best. Two alternative routes are given. The south end alternatives are to take Trail 3 straight across the canyon wall to join to Trail 4 and Trail 5 - or - take Trail 1 up to Trails 3 and 4 to join Trail 5. The first is probably the best unless the restroom at Poplar Grove is calling to you.  The north alternative involves Trail 7 after Lookout Point - either take the longer (but fewer stairs) upper loop around the rim of Little Clifty Creek or the lower loop crossing Little Clifty Creek and heading up to the Big Clifty Overlook. 

The complete route (excluding parking lot section) is about 6-7 miles.