Rockfish to Reeds: SECTION 10

2.0 Miles

BRP at Dripping Rock Overlook to Cripple Creek (double creek with cribbed wall)

(also maintains Little Raven's Roost Overlook trail)

Sunset from Cedar Cliffs (photos: Gin K.)

Cedar Cliffs - These cliffs have been 'Cedar Cliffs' as long as I can remember. I also maintained this section for 6 years or more so it remains a very special place for me just from a maintainer viewpoint. There are cedars growing on the Cliffs and .... Virginia Fringe trees. These trees look like nothing special until they bloom, then they look like they have white/cream colored fringe hanging all over them. The smell of the Fringe tree blooms is quite sweet and strong .... you can be a good ways off in the woods approaching the Cliffs and smell the scent on the breeze. Camping/fires are NOT allowed on the Cliffs. Years ago, it was allowed and folks began cutting live trees to feed the fires, leaving trash, and making new fire rings that destroyed plant life ... one group even brought in charcoal briquets, piled them on the cliff rocks and lit them .... what a mess! The microenvironment unique to the Cliffs was being destroyed and some special plants were disappearing, such as the Turk's Cap Lily. Dave B. (retired from the Forest Service) loved the Cliffs and was a great friend and partner in protecting them. After the charcoal briquet episode and losing several live cedars to firewood, he had the Cliffs and the AT approaching them in both directions posted for 'No Camping'. Cedar Cliffs holds good memories for another reason .... a couple that met in the club got married on the Cliffs by another long-time club member. The groom wore a tux shirt/cumberbun, hiking shorts & boots and the bride had a wreath of flowers in her hair, a long cotton dress ... and her hiking boots. The scenic spot where they said their vows was near where the Turk's Cap was blooming. If you are on the Cliffs and see trash or evidence of illegal fires/camping, please help keep the Cliffs beautiful .... pick up the trash and get rid of fire rings. The grass is finally starting to cover some of the huge fire scars and maybe, just maybe .... the Turk's Cap will start blooming again.

View from Cedar Cliffs (Photo: Dave W.)

Virginia Fringe Tree picture & information

Fringe Tree Blooms on Cedar Cliffs - May 15, 2010 (photo: Dave W.)

Turk's Cap Lily Pictures & Information

Little Raven's Roost Overlook - This is a very small (not the place for a large group) and secluded overlook probably a 20-30 minute (0.8 mile) hike past Cedar Cliffs. There is a small sign along the AT to mark the overlook and a short approach trail. It's a great spot for some quiet time away from the hordes at Humpback Rocks and even the popular Cedar Cliffs. We call the overlook 'Little' Raven's Roost because it is in the same approximate area that is below the very large Raven's Roost overlook on the BRP.

Approach Trail to Little Raven's Roost Overlook
(Photos: Dave W..)

Views from Little Raven's Roost

(Photos: Dave W.)

Cripple Creek - The club has a good safety record, but occasionally folks get hurt and this seems to be a place where accidents happen with three incidents having occurred here, two of them requiring trips to the hospital. The drop off the trail is steep, the rock work has been intensive, and the water in the work areas makes everything slick so that is a mix for potential trouble, even if you are exercising caution. Thankfully, everyone has recovered just fine. When the two maintainers on the west side put their heads together one day to come up with a name so they had something other than 'the creek' to refer to when they were talking about the dividing feature between their two sections ..... the subject turned to what had happened there and 'Cripple Creek' it was.