I wanted to check out the Garfield Ledges hike. I thought it might be a good one for Derek, Jill and the kids and I was right. I will recommend it to Derek.
This one is out a bit past the trailhead for Stegosaurus Butte, way down the Middle Fork road. I parked in the lot for the Pratt River Trail and did the little connector trail to get to the Ledges trail head. It added a bit to the hike, which was still, car-to-car, only 3 miles.
The main trail is about a mile up and maybe 700 feet of elevation gain. So, not exactly flat but not really steep. The trail is in great shape. I assume WTA has done work on this recently.
The view at the ledges is great (see below). But I will not be back in this area on a weekend if I can help it. Not only are there many cars on FR56, about half of them going way too fast around the curves, but the cars in the general vicinity of Mailbox Peak are out of control. The lots were both full so hundreds of people parked their cars along the side of the road, in plain view of the numerous ‘Park Only in Designated Areas’ signs. People: if you want to hike and the lot is full, your plan failed and go somewhere else. You don’t just park illegally, and dangerously (it is a narrow 2-lane road as it is and when people park on the side, two cars passing are a dicy proposition).
Anyway, nice hike, good discovery, won’t be back there on a weekend any time soon.
Here is the track:
