Sunday, March 24, 2024

Bridal Wreath Falls and Ernie's Falls

Today we drove to the Douglas Spring TH at Saguaro National Park (east) to hike to Bridal Wreath Falls and Ernie Falls, our hike was 7.6 miles round trip with 1,300 ft overall gain. 
We took the trail heading towards Douglas Springs, but hiked only as far as the side trails to the two different waterfalls. It rained last night so there was water in the desert: muddy trail, mud puddles and water crossings.

The first part of the trail was fairly flat.

We saw lots of saguaros along the way.

We saw lots of wildflowers, here phacelia, desert zinnias and fiddleneck.

After the flat section, the trail climbed up through the hills. Here bright cholla cacti

buckhorn cactus

A variety of cacti

stream crossing

The clouds lifted so we could see the peaks above us.

Water crossing upstream and,

downstream on our way to Bridal Wreath Falls


view of upper and lower Bridal Wreath Falls from the trail (zoom)

We walked along the side of the creek, over boulders heading to Bridal Wreath Falls.

At lower Bridal Wreath Falls

View from the trail down to Ernie's Falls (the falls are in the distance)

view looking away from the falls

At the end of the trail, we walked along the side of the wash, with a bit of scrambling to the falls.

Views of Ernie's Falls 

some of the wildflowers seen along the trail today:

  

  

 


 

 





 

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