View Full Version : Race Brook Falls
Went for a 2 night hike at race brook falls this past weekend. We went straight on the path when we got to the fork. When we got to the falls, I couldn't figure out where the trail was. I went up the rocks on the right side of the falls but I still couldn't find any blue markers.
If anyone has ever been there, please tell me where the trail continued on?
Thank you.
Kevin A. Boyce
10-17-2005, 13:19
First, this is a great trail, especially when you have a short period of time, and you want to get out and enjoy a beautiful hike.
As for the trail, from the trailhead, it heads towards the falls, then forks. If you bear right, it takes you along the northside of the falls and brook, but I am not sure if it connects back up with the blue blazed trail to the AT. I have used the righthand side in the winter mainly to scope out conditions for ice climbing on the falls.
Use the left branch of the fork to access the camping area and on to the AT.
It goes along the ravine for a bit, then wanders south for some to gain height. It is not really a series of switchbacks, but almost like one long switchback. Finally the trail crosses under one of the major sections of the falls. The falls are actually a series of waterfalls for those who have never been there.
The blue blazeded trail then crosses the falls, heads north, then turns and heads back toward the falls once you gain the height of the land of the saddle between Race and Everett. It then is fairly level until you reach the junction of the AT. The camping area is maybe about half way between the falls and the junction.
The blue blazes could be beefed up some what. I think that there are a few areas that they need to be added to make it easier to follow the trail. In a few sections were blazes are lacking, there are more social trails and short cuts that have been created over time by those who did not/could not follow the actual trail.
Beautiful view to the east from this trail once you gain the saddle and before you enter the deep woods heading to the junction, there is a nice picnic spot on some rock outcroppings.
Enjoy!
KevBoy
I was going to head that way this Thursday and head south down the AT and get picked up in Kent.
So you are saying get to the fork and take the one to the left and I will be headed towards Sages Ravine and Bear Mountain.
Kevin A. Boyce
10-17-2005, 15:30
Once you bear left at the fork just up from the trailhead, it takes you basically on the south side of the falls, crosses the falls, then up to the saddle between Race and Everett. Once there, put your blinker on*:banana turn left, and head south...
Catch you later...
KevBoy
* :banana It is not a road... it is a joke, just in case anyone is scratching their head...:banana
Blue Jay
10-17-2005, 19:43
Once you bear left at the fork just up from the trailhead, it takes you basically on the south side of the falls, crosses the falls, then up to the saddle between Race and Everett. Once there, put your blinker on
Actually the bear is always on your left at that fork, as that is where he lives.
Very good directions by the way. I was trying to remember but did not want to steer him wrong by mistake.
When we went last Friday, we were plannning on a 2 night stay-over at race brook falls camp site. At first, we took the right (straight) fork and when we got to where the trail ends at the falls, we couldn't find where the trail started again or even if it does. So we back-tracked and took the left fork instead. We crossed the first section of the bottom of the falls, and hiked for a bit more. When we got to the second crossing at the top of the falls, the water was REALLY STRONG, since it had been raining for the last week constantly, and it was raining while we were hiking also. The crossing was very difficult, and any wrong move could have been very bad. So two of us dropped our packs and crossed it carefully to check out the other side. The whole trail was flooded pretty bad. Since it was a school trip (me and some friends started a club at our college), we did not want to take any risks with anybody. So we made the decision to just turn back.
The view from the top and the bottom is BEAUTIFUL. I got some nice shots from the top.
I'm planning on going back in the near future.