BigBendHiker

My son and I will be heading to Lost Maples later this month to camp overnight.

What recommendations do you have for the hiking trails? We are looking to do a long hike on Saturday and a shorter one on Sunday morning before we leave.

Thanks in advance for your recommendations.


Thanks,
BBH

riverrat

Hey BBH,

For the long hike ( @4-5 miles) I'd recommend the West Trail. Park at the overflow area to begin this hike. You actually start out on the East trail then split off to the left at the fork. (Mystic Canyon is one of my favorite "stop and think about life" spots.) For your shorter hike, park in the day use area and you start out on the Maple Trail and continue on to the left when you get to the fork in the trail for the East Trail. Hike on to the base of what we call the '"stairs". You'll know when you get there. Should be some good springs running all along this area. When you're ready backtrack to where the East Trail splits from the Maple Trail and follow it back to where you started( @2 mile round trip).

Going up The East Trail at the Ponds is where the infamous "killer mile of boulders" is. There is an awesome overlook on the East Trail (not the one that is off trail) which really makes it worth it. We just prefer the solitude you usually find on the West Trail.

Enjoy!!

BigBendHiker

Thanks, Riverrat!


BBH

PUNCHY

If your into Geocaching at all there is one you will not want to miss on the west trail! Take a rod and real with you if you have room, we came across several large bass in some of those pools near the trails. My boys caught and released several, even caught a few on a fly rod.

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Punchy

PUNCHY

>>>duplicate

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Punchy

riverrat

BBH,
If you want to check out the East Trail Overlook via the "killer mile of boulders", when you get to the Ponds take a left and go up past the outhouse. I'm not sure exactly how far it is to the overlook from that direction but I would guess up to it and backtrack to the Ponds is a mile. SA Bill would be able to give you a more accurate distance.