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Introduction
Trail 7 surrounds Little Clifty Creek canyon then crosses over into Big Clifty canyon. The trail is accessible from three points – the Big Clifty Falls overlook area, the road behind the Big Clifty playground, and Lookout Point.
The description used here starts behind the playground (A), then heads to Lookout Point (F) by the upper section of the trail, then returns by the lower section (H) to view both falls. The aerial view does not show the sidewalk/roadway section.
The Park property map classes Trail 7 as ~1.25 mile moderately rugged trail. The complete route described below is about 1.1 miles.
blue = trail, yellow dots = approximate locations of some features as described in the text
Along the Way
The trailhead is nestled between trees (look hard) behind the playground (A). You will hike down and to the left with Little Clifty Creek on your right and the hillside on your left. The trail descends gradually to a crossing point at a large relatively new footbridge.
As you approach the footbridge area (B), take the time to note the creek – a small waterfall is there. Note the Canyon Road's stone bridge just upstream. At its core, it is a CCC structure from the 1930s. Note, though, it has been remodeled over the years. The “stone” sides you see are a façade.
entrance to Trail 7 behind playground
Trail 7 with footbridge in distance
footbridge over Little Clifty Creek with Canyon Road bridge in background
modern face of old CCC-era bridge
view down Little Clifty Creek from footbridge
Leave the footbridge and hike down the trail (C), with the creek on your right. Very shortly, turn around to see a small waterfall along the creek.
As you hike along, you will cross a few small ravines and footbridges. A few have dramatic drops into the ravine, made more so if you are there after a heavy rain.
This entire passage of Trail 7 around Little Clifty Creek is a delight in the springtime when wildflowers are abundant. Even along rock ledges, seen later along the trail, there will be wildflowers clinging to crags in the rock.
small waterfall on Little Clifty Creek with footbridge in background
footbridge over one of the ravines with old stone supports
crossing over another ravine
old stonework from an older version of the current footbridge
Tree falls occur along this and other hillside trails. One notable one left a large tree upended. Repairs and new railing allowed hikers to continue.
A bridle trail once ran just uphill from or on the same path as Trail 7 (known as Trail 1 in 1950). Not long ago, a horseshoe was found partially exposed along the trail.
Trail 7 along the way
large tree fall partially blocked trail until trail repaired
Trail 7 along the way
old park map showing bridle trail (A) and Trail 1 as Trail 7 was numbered then
old horseshoe found on Trail 7
The trail continues until it rises a bit to meet the top of the staircase (D) that leads directly down to Little Clifty Falls. Don’t take the stairs, but continue on the trail which will skirt the roadway in a few places.
the upper loop here passes the steps down to Little Clifty Falls - note the lower loop entering from left down below and the fencing on the other side of the creek
view down from top of stairs to Little Clifty Falls
Further on, the trail turns left into a small side ravine where there is a junction near (E). The left is a spur to Lookout Point and the right heads down steps (G) to complete the lower section of the loop.
looking down trail at the left turn, see the steps down and the path forward to footbridge headed to Lookout Point
closer to the steps down and way forward to the footbridge and Lookout Point
Take the left route and cross the footbridge heading up to Lookout Point (F). It is a great place to view Big Clifty Falls and its valley from a distance. Trail 6 also intersects at Lookout Point.
footbridge over side channel on Trail 7 on way (to right) to Lookout Point
looking downstream from footbridge to Lookout Point
looking downstream from footbridge with steps that lead to point G at right
view from Lookout Point - Big Clifty Falls in distance left-center
entrance to Trail 7 from Lookout Point
After enjoying the view from Lookout Point, reverse course back down the trail, cross the footbridge again, and find yourself at the junction you came to earlier at (E). Now, head down the stairs (G) – watching your head, as you walk under an overhang. At the far side, you will climb some steps and head further down the trail towards area (H).
from across the ravine, the steps that lead to point G
returning from Lookout Point - the upper loop goes right but you take the lower loop to the left down the stairs
down the stairs - watch your had at the bottom
bottom of steps and the overhang
Trail 7 under the overhang, stream channel to left
stream channel next to trail under overhang
view of bottom of stairs towards point (E) and footbridge in distance - Lookout Point is up the trail to the right
pathway leaving overhang and headed up to Little Clifty Falls - nice wildflower spot in spring along the wall
topped out here at point G and headed down to Little Clifty Falls by the lower loop
As you head down the trail towards the falls, you will get the best views of Little Clifty Falls (H). Heed the signs and watch your footing.
Walking on past this side view of the falls, use the steps across and down to the footbridge over the falls. You will pass the staircase headed upward - you saw these stairs earlier from the upper loop.
looking back from the base of the climb down
Trail 7 runs along the cliff side of a ledge and on to the falls, seen at the left center in the distance
one of the best views of Little Clifty Falls
the stairs leading down to footbridge over the falls
Little Clifty Falls from Trail 7
At the bridge over Little Clifty Creek (I), note the creek below the falls and the tight curve upstream with the large timbers to the left, designed to deflect the flow and protect the hillside. Now, head up the stairs and follow the trail to the left (not straight ahead).
view coming down steps from upper loop
view from boardwalk to footbridge
seen from the footbridge: Little Clifty Creek canyon wall upper left, canyon center, and lip edge of the Falls lower right
water deflection timbers to left, looking upstream
steps leaving the footbridge and headed up to the Cake Rock loop
looking back down steps to Little Clifty Falls
The trail here at area J rims an old sink hole. If you look at the map, it is a mini-loop of sorts. The first stop is an overlook back to Little Clifty Falls (not pictured).
If conditions are right (leaves and rain), you can see smaller hillside waterfalls across the Little Clifty Creek canyon to the left.
As you walk around this rim, remember that you are on a ridge between Little Clifty and Big Clifty Creeks. If there has been heavy rain, you may see the confluence of both creeks in the landscape below.
Soon comes the famous Cake Rock - called "Slice of Cake" in the 1950 park property map. The rock was likely separated by fractures and left behind when the rest of the rock eroded away. Look for wildflowers in season in the crevices of the large chunks of fallen stone along the trail here.
After Cake Rock, the trail turns right. As you follow, note the old stone structures that were once used as fence posts for a trail that skirted the edge of the canyon here.
view of confluence of Big and Little Creeks under high flow conditions - seed from near Cake Rock
the famous "Cake Rock"
old rock post holders from older trail
old rock wall from older trail
When you get to facing the hillside at the other end of the rim, go left (not right) and head down to the “Underlook” (K). This gives a great view of Big Clifty Falls. Note the cinder block wall ahead. At one time, the trail here continued further and descended into canyon just in front of the falls. A landslide destroyed this pathway and, as well, hiking to under the falls is now off-limits.
Turn around and head back up, walking along the ledge (look for wildflowers there) and head for the staircase up to the top.
the Underlook to Big Clifty Falls was once part of trail to the bottom
view of Big Clifty Falls from the Underlook
looking to the entrance to the Underlook
vintage post card of old steps down to canyon floor - note the start up top at the present-day Underlook
Leave the Cake Rock mini-loop and Underlook behind, and climb the steps to the top. Then follow the paved trail up to the Big Clifty Falls Overlook (L) and enjoy the view and memorials there.
At the Overlook area, there are two memorials (State Parks Founding, Indigenous Peoples) and two information panels (100 Years of State Parks, and Big Clifty Falls).
When you are done, head out to the parking lot and pass the Clifty Restrooms (open in season) and the Clifty Shelter. Both are CCC-era structures.
the stone steps from the Underlook
the path between the Underlook and steps to Big Clifty Overlook - the rock face is great for wildflowers in season
part of old trail down from the Big Clifty Overlook
Big Clifty Overlook area with memorials and information panel
Big Clifty Falls from overlook
Using Trail 7
Trail 7 is best done and enjoyed as the loop described here – delaying the big falls to the last. Starting a loop at Lookout Point is also a good option. But if you really want to see the big falls first, you can do it in reverse.
Many people, if short on time, start at Big Clifty Falls and go down the stairs to see Little Clifty Falls and do the Cake Rock mini-loop around the sinkhole.
Trail 7 is a part of these interesting hikes described at our Hiking the Trails page:
Rim-to_Rim Hike
Upper Canyon Loop.
carousel of Trail 7 spring wildflowers
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