Next to each other we forged our way through the trees, ducking and hopping around obstacles. For awhile I followed my husbands every step because I figured he was finding the easiest route but it wasn't working out so I decided to try my own (which is what you 'leave no trace behind' people should do, if you ever go off a path take different steps than the person in front of you so you don't pack the soil and create a new path). Using the gps on my phone we trekked through pretty dense Texas wilderness. We were running out of time (we had a 6 hour drive home) and had no clue how far this river bed went or where it came out so we decided to climb into the trees to take a shortcut back to the car. Especially if you're an avid 'leave no trace behind' person and if you generally don't like getting slapped in the face by branches. Bring plenty of water and sunscreen if you plan on setting out for the cave. Keep in mind the riverbed has absolutely no shade. We followed the river bed for quite some time determined to find a cave and we did! Its not huge but it was fun to explore and rewarding to finally find. We only encountered one so just keep an eye out. Perfect place for caves right? Also the perfect place for snakes. Eventually you'll end up in what looks like a dried up river bed. There is no clear trail here but if you look you'll find a faint 'trail' that leads into the woods. Now.if you're up for a whole 'nother adventure go back to the wooden walkway/bridge that you crossed on the way in that had a staircase leading down to the ground. This nice quick loop shouldn't take more than 30-45 minutes if you keep a steady pace with no detours. Brave the shaky contraption and keep following the trail which brings you back to the waterfall. Move on and you'll eventually find yourself at the suspension bridge. Follow it to the left where you'll come to a small 'cliff' that overlooks the river. Once you get to the waterfall keep walking a little further up the water's edge and you'll come to what I believe is a small dam.
Chalk ridge falls park how to#
This must've happened to us about three times while we were trying to explore and find the suspension bridge.īut wait there's more! Read on for the neat little features of this trail and how to find them.įrom the trailhead follow the main trail to the waterfall. If you try to travel too far past the waterfall you hit a fence marking the edge of the park's property and you have to turn around. Its not the same as a tall towering waterfall but it has its own beauty. It's better than some of the reviews gave it credit for. Soon you'll find yourself at the waterfall. The main trail is clear though so it wasn't much trouble. It says the trail is marked but we only saw a few posts with colored markers on them. We went down to the water's edge to explore but came back up not too much further down the trail. Not too far in you can either choose to walk on a trail right next to the water or stay on the larger trail just parallel to it. There's a small paved loop with parking and restrooms right next to the trailhead. You drive over a dam with a royal blue lake on one side and the park on the other. The drive to Chalk Ridge Falls is beautiful. So that may be what they're referring to.You'll just have to do your own exploring in that area. There were some trails beyond the waterfall that we walked for less than half a mile before turning around because we felt like we were in the desert and there really wasn't anything to see. The trails immediately around the river couldn't have been more than three. The 5 miles of trail seems plausible but I'm not quite sure as to what they're referring to. It is not broken and it is safe to cross.
Chalk ridge falls park full#
There is a suspension bridge that is in full use. From other stuff I've read it can be closed after lots of rain because its prone to flood and is also on the other side of a dam. It was closed down for awhile for repair after a flood in 2007 but is now open (obviously) and has been open since about May of this year. All I knew going into this hike from what I found through Google searches was that it had been closed down for a little while, it had a waterfall, it had a cool suspension bridge, there was a cave(s) somewhere along or right off the trail, and there were apparently 5 miles of trail. The endless research I did on this trail was outdated and not so helpful. I hope to return to explore more of your trails. Ah, the great state of Texas.You really surprised me with a fantastic hike.
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