Finally had an opportunity to get out and do a little hike late this afternoon at the Capital District Wildlife Management Area(next to Cherry Plain State Park) up on the Rensselaer Plateau on a mild first day of Autumn. I have done the Waterfalls Trail a few times previously but added a little twist this time by visiting a couple more small falls off of the marked trail. Parked at the small trailhead along Jiggs Highway(Elevation 1485 feet) and headed west along the blue blazed trail, which follows the Black River to a pretty waterfall in less than a quarter mile.
A short distance beyond the first falls, the trail comes to a tough creek crossing, but an informal on again/ off again herd path continues along the creek to another, slightly smaller waterfall.
I continued on, following the herd path for quite a ways, enjoying the sights and sounds of the Black River.
The herd path eventually peters out altogether, but I continued along the water's edge to a split in the creek near the state land boundary. From here, I turned more NE, where the sounds of rushing water were a prelude to a remote, three tiered falls. The falls are no more than 10 feet high but the tiered action make for a very scenic spot.
From the Third Falls, I bushwhacked east over to Jiggs Highway, which made for a very pleasant hike back to the car. While green is still the most predominant color in the woods, fall is in the air, as the yellow's are beginning to take hold, as well as fallen leaves along the roadside.
A nice and easy 2 mile hike/ bushwhack in the quiet woods of Rensselaer County.
My drive home atop the Plateau, was a colorful one with some dazzling reds jumping out along the wetlands. Fall is knocking on the door.
No comments:
Post a Comment