I asked photographer Taylor Reilly if he knew any great day hikes I could check out in the Durango area. He told me to hike up Cascade Canyon/Falls and that the views were more than impressive. I took his word and scheduled it for my first adventure of the day. I didn't know exactly what it was going to be like except from my internet sleuthing (and finding there wasn't much info on this trail) I gleaned it was a trail that followed the creek as it worked up towards what seemed like a cliff of some magnitude. That's what I infer from a bunch of lines really close together on a topo map anyways. I also planned to take my mountain unicycle along on the adventure...just in case. I drove halfway up the county jeep road, loaded my bag, strapped on my pads, and began my trek upstream.
I didn't know how steep the trail was but the route upstream had enough dips and valleys to log some decent time on the wheel. The trail weaved through a mix of meadows and piney woods with handfuls of tiny stream crossings. It was very pretty! There were a few small groups of hikers and a fly fishing group.
I didn't know how steep the trail was but the route upstream had enough dips and valleys to log some decent time on the wheel. The trail weaved through a mix of meadows and piney woods with handfuls of tiny stream crossings. It was very pretty! There were a few small groups of hikers and a fly fishing group.
About 4 miles up the trail I casually wandered to the nearby sound of rushing water and I came out on top of a really narrow but relatively tall waterfall (relative to what I'd seen at this point). Cool! I backtracked a hair to get on top of a cliff and snap some shots. Then I precariously made it down a steep slope to get below the waterfall. It was beautiful. A nice sheer cliff, slot waterfall, and some pretty mountains in the background. I felt satisfied with my find. I kept moving along, knowing I was nearing my assumed end of line at said "cliff of some magnitude". The trail got steep and then plateaued. I knew I just climbed the bluff of the cliff but it was important to follow the ridge to find what the creek looked like descending it. Well. It was badass. A nice overhang and 60-80ft waterfall. I uncomfortably tried to scramble down some of the scree and realized I was in the mist of the waterfall. ABORT! It was just a hair to sketchy messing around up there alone. Partially because I know where all of the scree came from (it falls off the overhang!)
I wrapped up at the waterfall and then headed back downstream to find a nice lunch spot. Cinnamon and raisin bread with tuna never tasted and looked so good! I enjoyed everything about that lunch. I packed up and got back on the trail for a stellar 4.5 mile ride back through the valley. All of the hiking/riding up hill paid off immensely. It was a ton of fun and I rode probably more than 90% of it. Once I got through the trailhead I was FLYING through the jeep road as some 4x4s were on their way up and I squeezed by the little room they left me without slowing down. I was dominating that road, and no one could get in my way! I made it all the way back to my car some 10 miles later and felt mighty.
My cousin Victoria mentioned some cliff jumping at Cascade Creek (and advised not to do it after their friend shattered an ankle) that was on the opposite side of the highway. I came down the jeep road I had gone up and literally just crossed the highway into a parking lot and discovered a sweet area. I dropped down to a nice view of the creek that looked like it led to a slot canyon/hallway. I asked a group of three if they swim here and they told me about the series of 8 waterfalls that everyone jumps and that there is a trail to get back up (or down). He told me how to find the trail and I went. I made it to the last waterfall where everyone exits the creek and I jumped in the water because I always tell myself and everyone how much I love swimming. GAH!! It was colder than the ocean in Maine. I don't know how the locals do it. Its gotta be around 50F? I guess? Who knows. It's so cold. I have a feeling this is where the name Cascade Creek comes from, and this must be the Cascade Falls. It's hard to know for sure because I felt like I saw a lot of cascading water. Perhaps THAT'S where the name comes from.
Victoria also told me about a mountain bike ride she did where they hiked/biked up to Engineer Mountain and then took a longer alternate down. She said I should definitely check it out. I didn't have a shuttle to do the long way down so I just planned to do an out and back hike/ride. It was epic. One of the best rides I've ever done. It took over an hour or so to hike up 1368ft in 2.5 miles. It put me above the tree line and surrounded by amazing views of the nearby mountains. I didn't summit Engineer Mountain itself but went up its spur-trail to add an extra quarter-mile to my ride and get some better views. I called my dad, ate an apple, and then descended the amazing trail. I made it down in 26 minutes. 26 minutes of perfect and pure downhill mountain unicycling. I couldn't have been happier. Unless my brother was with me. One day, brother. One day.
I can't believe how much adventure I jam packed into one day. It was unforgettable and the pinnacle of my vacation. It's hard to say that considering everything I had done up to this point and go on to do the next day, but man. Just epic. And breathtakingly beautiful.
I had some time to kill before I met up with Jenna, a very dear friend from Texas, so I ate a huge dinner at Grass Burger. Everything was so right in the world. Eating as much food as I can handle after a long and exhausting day is one of my favorite feelings. It's something about knowing I can eat as much as I want without any consequence or worry of becoming overweight. Earning every single bite, that's what makes it feel so good.
I had some time to kill before I met up with Jenna, a very dear friend from Texas, so I ate a huge dinner at Grass Burger. Everything was so right in the world. Eating as much food as I can handle after a long and exhausting day is one of my favorite feelings. It's something about knowing I can eat as much as I want without any consequence or worry of becoming overweight. Earning every single bite, that's what makes it feel so good.