Introduction

Trail 5 is probably the most intensive trail revealing the history of the park and for its hiking experience. It also has the most access points, including (from the north end) the Trail 6 trailhead, Tunnel Falls, Oak Grove area, unnamed picnic area, Lilly Memorial Overlook, and the Trail 4 junction. It is basically a linear trail.

Most people experience Trail 5 in part, starting and ending at intermediate access points and perhaps using the road to complete a loop. The description here covers the entire trail, starting at its south end with Trail 4. Access is assumed from the Hoffman Falls parking area down Trail 4 to the junction of Trail 5.

The Park property map classes Trail 5 as ~ 0.9 mile rugged trail.

Along the Way

Moving up the canyon wall from the Trail 4 junction (A), abandoned railroad bridge abutments are encountered (B) along with an information sign. When you get to the top, after having hiked up along the wall of the largest rock wall abutment, turn back down the hillside to get glimpses of a series of abutments down the canyon wall. These would have connected to the Hoffman branch-crossing abutment that can be seen at the bottom of Trail 4. This would have been quite a gap to cover.

Continuing north, you will encounter the bottom (C) of a series of 154  steps that lead to the Lilly Memorial Overlook.

Further along the trail are two larger falls/ravines to cross between the Lilly stairs and lower tunnel entrance. Imagine, as you walk this section, where the railroad line would have been laid out. Some sections might have been washed out.

The last ravine (D) lays next to a set of steps that lead to a small picnic area up on Canyon Road. The steps are easiest going up, but going down in wet weather is not recommended. As you cross the footbridge you will note signage ahead for the south opening to the Brough’s Folly railway tunnel. The tunnel is now closed due to rock slide danger.

The Brough’s Folly railway tunnel (between E and F) was never completed and the same fate was true for the entire project. You can read more about "Brough's Folly" in our "About the Park" section. 

Both north and south openings of the tunnel are now closed due to rock slide danger. Note that changes in signage may occur after the dates of the images used here.  

As you continue past the falls (I), a staircase rises to the Tunnel Falls parking area, but continue north alongside Dean’s Branch – the creek that creates Tunnel Falls. As you walk along here you are on the probable railroad path, but you will encounter an older vestige!

At one time, before the Park existed, there was a trestle bridge here for vehicular traffic (J). The footings for this county road bridge still exist, as does a retaining wall. The bridge extended from the Canyon Road just north of the steps to the tunnel and across to the Hickory Grove parking area.

Note in the map, that the Tunnel Falls was then called "Dean's Hollow Falls".

As you walk further along the Creekside, you will soon reach a ladder staircase to drop down into the stream bed (K). Look downstream and note the “danger stay away sign” – access is not permitted above the falls!

In the creek channel, look upstream (K) and see, on the right side, a large rock retaining wall that likely served the railroad which passed along up there. 

If the water levels are low, look for old drilling holes (K) in the limestone stream bed and the impressions of blocks that were removed.

Additionally, in the winter, you can see where Brough's Folly railway was going further up stream on Dean's Branch. When you leave Hickory Grove, walk down the Canyon Road towards the bridge over Dean's Branch (a CCC-era structure). Pause carefully to look for a cut in the hillside on the downstream side. That is likely where the railway would have passed and headed northeast, crossing about where you are standing - but in 1850.