Ah, the great state of Texas.You really surprised me with a fantastic hike. I hope to return to explore more of your trails. Don't let me down! Chalk Ridge Falls Park 5600 FM 1670 Belton, TX 76513 (254) 939-2461 Free Entry The endless research I did on this trail was outdated and not so helpful. 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. Let me clear things up. 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. 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. There is definitely a waterfall. Definitely beautiful. Definitely easy to find. There is a suspension bridge that is in full use. It is not broken and it is safe to cross. The 5 miles of trail seems plausible but I'm not quite sure as to what they're referring to. The trails immediately around the river couldn't have been more than three. 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. So that may be what they're referring to.You'll just have to do your own exploring in that area. We found a cave.....way off the trail. Keep reading for more info on that. To the Waterfall The drive to Chalk Ridge Falls is beautiful. You drive over a dam with a royal blue lake on one side and the park on the other. There's a small paved loop with parking and restrooms right next to the trailhead. 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. We went down to the water's edge to explore but came back up not too much further down the trail. It says the trail is marked but we only saw a few posts with colored markers on them. The main trail is clear though so it wasn't much trouble. Soon you'll find yourself at the waterfall. It's better than some of the reviews gave it credit for. Its not the same as a tall towering waterfall but it has its own beauty. 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. This must've happened to us about three times while we were trying to explore and find the suspension bridge. But wait there's more! Read on for the neat little features of this trail and how to find them. Recommended Route Cliff and Bridge From the trailhead follow the main trail to the waterfall. 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. Cross it carefully. Now you'll be on a smaller trail. Follow it to the left where you'll come to a small 'cliff' that overlooks the river. Move on and you'll eventually find yourself at the suspension bridge. Brave the shaky contraption and keep following the trail which brings you back to the waterfall. This nice quick loop shouldn't take more than 30-45 minutes if you keep a steady pace with no detours. Cave 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. There is no clear trail here but if you look you'll find a faint 'trail' that leads into the woods. Follow it. Eventually you'll end up in what looks like a dried up river bed. Perfect place for caves right? Also the perfect place for snakes. We only encountered one so just keep an eye out. 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. Keep in mind the riverbed has absolutely no shade. Bring plenty of water and sunscreen if you plan on setting out for the cave. This is the part I DO NOT recommend. 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. 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. Using the gps on my phone we trekked through pretty dense Texas wilderness. 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). Next to each other we forged our way through the trees, ducking and hopping around obstacles. It felt like walking through a spider web of pointy branches. Again, not recommended. We finally made it through and began our 6 hour journey back home. I give this trail 4 sunshines Have you ever explored the area around this trail? Tell me what you've found!
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“Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow.” - Helen Keller AuthorMy name is Jessica. I live in Louisiana. I love exploring the outdoors and sharing my experiences. Archives
April 2015
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