Hike Info:
Type: Hiking
Trail head: Cedar Valley
Trail: Lewis Creek
Destination: Red Rock Falls
Distance: 6.59 miles 1
Start Time: 9:50
End Time: 3:30Travel Time: 5:40 (1.16 mph)
Moving Time: 4:33 (1.45 mph)
Elevation Rise: 1,537'
Descent: 1,544‘
Maximum Elevation: 4,321'
GPS Tracks
1The GPS shut off before the
end of the trail. There is about a half mile missing from the
original. On the attached GPX file, I have filled in the remaining
portion of the trail from another GPX file.
Description:
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Lewis Creek
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I woke up at 6:30-maybe a bit
earlier than I meant to, but not unreasonable. About the time I
finished my granola breakfast, Sherri and Steven got up. I washed
dishes and finished getting ready. We managed to leave by 8:30-mostly
because they were waiting on me. On our way out, we met Don-talked
for about ten minutes before we headed out.
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Steven on the trail
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Of course, we do need to know
where we are going. We know the general direction: north along 41. We
are leaning towards either Lewis
Creek or
Wawona.
But there are also other options such as a Forest
Service Road
out of Yosemite
West,
Miami
Mountain
or even Briceberg.
When we roll through Oakhurst Sherri is asleep and Steven is involved
in something on his tablet. So it is up to me.
When I see the sign for Cedar
Valley, the start of the Lewis Creek Trail, so I take the road down.
We take the usual 15-20 minutes to get ready to get ready to hit the
trail. While getting ready, a white car drives up with a couple
females. As we are leaving, they ask a couple of questions about the
trail. Sherri and Steven leave-they know how I can take a simple
question and stretch that into an elaborate answer. And I do just
that.
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Corileu Falls
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I take off with the ladies. We
talk about various things-both how easy it is to take your own home
turf for granted, and how you need to look beyond the obvious at the
common. About the time we caught up with Sherri and Steven, I
introduced us and asked their names: Bonnie and Sherri. Notice the
name-same spelling as my Sherri! They are from San Luis Obispo. We
would catch up to them at both the bottom and top of Corileu Falls.
On other trips I have
described the trail. While the route is about the same and so is the
climb to Corileu Falls, the condition of the trail is different. Last
Winter’s storms have done a number on the trail. It will get worse
as we climb up the slope which Corileu comes down. But before we
ascend, we gawk at Corileu. Corileu is always something to look at,
even this late in the season.
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Crossing a washed out section of trail
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Bonnie and Sherri asked if it
was worthwhile going to the top. Yep! is the answer, even though down
here is more attractive. So they leave while we finish gawking. We
climb up-Sherri and Steven go up the shorter, but harder way, while I
take a more leisurely track. We meet Bonnie and Sherri for the last
time when we reach the top-they are about to go on down.
We rest for a few minutes,
complete with Jelly Bellies. Then off we go. This section is only a
gradual climb. The junction with the trail from Highway 41, there are
signs warning that the bridge is out. We knew this already. Yesterday
the Sierra Seniors hiking group had done this same trail. Judy’s
comment was that the group had developed a new game-inching along the
logs. We follow suit. The only one of us who got wet was Korra who
enjoyed her splashing.
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Gary crossing Lewis Creek sans bridge
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For some reason after crossing
Lewis Creek, I started feeling tired. Not sure why, but I could tell
as I have lost the spring in my step, particularly going uphill.
Still the trail gives me enough reason to stop and look. Autumn has
hit these trees big time. Mostly in the form of yellowing leaves,
interspersed with flaming red. The trail goes up, but more in a
rolling manner. Eventually we came to Red
Rock Falls.
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Steven on the trail
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Steven and Korra are waiting
for us. There we have lunch and rest. And I rest some more. I do not
take the opportunity to go down to the bottom of the falls-and
neither does anybody else. After sitting around for a half an hour,
we started off. Steven and Korra take off, while Sherri and I take a
more leisurely pace. But we are mostly going downhill, so my lack of
energy is not a factor.
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Top of Red Rock Falls
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One thing I noticed since the
last time I was up here was how much graffiti there is. Rocks have
been tagged; the ends of fallen trees are tagged. Do these people
think that their “art” improves on nature? Or are we just showing
our falleness? Also there is a lot of litter. Unfortunately I do not
have any garbage bags in my pack, so I am not on litter patrol today.
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Sherri traversing a fallen log
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Steven is waiting for us at
the Lewis Creek crossing. We know what we are doing crossing the
creek, so not nearly as exciting crossing it the second time. Since
Steven and Korra are moving faster, Sherri gives them the car keys
and they take off. Going down the slope is a bit more challenging
than going up, for some reason. Looking down rocks with scree on them
is never a calming look in my book.
But we make it down without
mishap and pause at Corileu Falls. For some reason, in the subdued
light the Falls look better than we saw them in the morning. So what
can we do, but stop and look for a while. We then continue our
return trip back to the car around 3:30-Steven and Korra are
patiently waiting for us.
So the only question remaining
is what do we want to do for nourishment? That gives us about 15
minutes from leaving the trailhead at 3:45 to make a decision. Since
Steven brought along a flask from Southgate,
that is our destination. We must have hit the sweet spot as Southgate
is usually crowded-today, we got right in and are served. One thing
you do not have to worry about Southgate is if their food will be any
good-it is. The only decision is what to choose. I had a chicken
Philly sandwich. It was soooo good. We made it back to Fresno before
6pm. In time to take a shower before Jeopardy. Another good day.
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Korra enjoying Lewis Creek
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| Gary |
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Korra and Lewis Creek
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Steven and Korra
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Corileu Falls
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Us: Gary, Sherri, Steven and Korra
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Autumn Leaves
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Gary after crossing Lewis Creek
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Sherri crossing Lewis Creek
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Sherri walking the trail
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Autumn Coloring
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Colorful Tree
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Sherri among the trees
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Autumn Leaves
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Flowers and Plants
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Poison Oak
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