(sarcasm) One of the worst parts of working for Adventure Outings is scouting new locations for our trips (sarcasm). This weekend an AO staffer was lucky enough to scout the Canyon Creek Lakes part of the Trinity Alps Wilderness Area. This is a very popular area for hiking, backpacking, swimming and fishing - and for very good reason. The difficulty is easy to moderate and the scenery is stunning.
The hike begins in a densely treed area and crosses Bear Creek before crossing a ridge and then beginning to follow Canyon Creek. After 3 short miles you reach a side trail to an area know as The Sinks where Canyon Creek magically disappears underground and then just as magically bubbles back up from rocks.
One of the great thing about scoutting trips is that our furry friends are able to tag along!
Along the hike you'll encounter 3 water falls: upper, middle and lower Canyon Creek Falls. These are all less than 5 minutes from the main trail and well worth the extra time. Below is a photo of the middle falls.
Around mile 6 or 7 (out of 8 total to Lower Canyon Creek Lake) you will rise out of the trees and amazing views will surround you. Examples below.
Finally, after around 8 miles you reach lower Canyon Creek Lake - the final destination for many of the folks hiking this trail. This trip could be done as a very long day hike, or we would recommend an overnight trip that utilizes one of the numerous campsites along the trail.
