Cedar Creek Falls
We met our friends and their dog, Ruca, at the Thornbush trailhead for Cedar Creek Falls at dawn. The weather was overcast with the temperature around 65°. We were surprised to find new restrooms at the trailhead, as well as, possibly, a parking area being constructed. I was a little concerned about coyotes due to the time of day and kept Brandy on the leash for a brief time. We were intending to find the trail switchbacks that were being constructed the last time we were here. There is just a maze of trails and we found what we thought were a few segments of the new trail. The dogs were having a great time sniffing and roaming quite far from us. We heard them yip a couple of times as they were chasing (I hope!) rabbits.
The way down the last hill was quite slick and I carefully picked my way. Perhaps, I should have brought my trekking poles. I carry them in the car, but since I almost always have a leash, I think it would be too inconvenient to carry. When we cross the San Diego River this fall after the rains, I will definitely need the trekking poles.
We were surprised to hear voices as we arrived at Cedar Creek Falls, because we were so early. We met three young college students who had set up camp near the falls. They had come in last night in the dark, with one of them having been there before. We continued on a hundred yards or so to the falls. We enjoyed the view while we sat on the boulders and ate our snack. Ruca slipped on a rock and fell in an algae-filled pool. She was pulled our and cleaned up a bit, but still stunk from the polluted water.
On the way out, the campers were mostly packed up watching a scorpion where they had been sleeping. Although they pointed it out to me and I was looking directly at the scorpion, it took me a while to see it as it blended in so well with the sand background. Brandy, of course, wanted to see where the campers had been pointing and almost stepped on the scorpion. She then started sniffing just a couple of inches away from it. She never did see it, as we grabbed her harness and moved her out of the area.
We had an enjoyable conversation with the campers for ten or fifteen minutes and then picked our way back, crossing the dry Cedar Creek several times and then crossing the dry San Diego River.
On the way back we saw a small trail off the main trail that looked like it might go around the high peak we were approaching. I decided to explore it and soon found myself on a constructed trail that looped around the peak. The constructed trail became a flagged trail that became a social trail that became a game trail that finally disappeared. I knew at that time I was near the main trail so I just bushwhacked up a hundred feet or so to the main trail. My friends were far behind, coming down the peak I had bypassed. I hiked back to meet them.
We continued on taking various trail branches, occasionally finding pieces of constructed trails and switchbacks. When the trail construction is completed, the hike to Cedar Creek Falls will be significantly easier. I have mixed feelings about that because I like the challenge of the more difficult trail. Also, that will tend to attract more people to Cedar Creek Falls. Unfortunately, even now there is trash along the trail and graffiti at the falls.