Weekend Gem-B. Heron+Triple Arch Loop

Ahhh yes, Big South Fork is quickly becoming one of my all time favorite wilderness spots. I’ve hiked over 160 miles of this area and with each passing trip find myself more entranced with it’s hidden beauty. From the arches, rock shelters and houses sprinkled around semingly ever turn to the power of the River itself, I’m hooked. Add to that it’s remote feel and you’ve got yourself an ace in the hole. This 25 mile loop takes in all those elements while exploring a wilder part of the Park. Start out at the lower trailhead of Blue Heron and head along the B. Heron Loop along the River itself. In just over 2 miles hit the Lee Hollow Loop and make a right over Laurel Branch and upwards as you climb away from the River.  Cross over scenic Blair Creek before dropping back down to make a right on Bear Creek Loop. Now your way starts heading back down to Big South Fork again as signified by the lazy section you will be riding along. Stop for a minute to check out the old gauging station on your right and try to imagine the water level as high as these markers can indicate. By now, your soul should be feeling the isolation as you creep deeper into a loop that has no other trails on this side of BSF other then the ones you are traveling. After crossing Sall Branch take a right on the Cotton Patch Loop and skip across Bear Creek on some rocks. As Bear dips down into it’s steep canyon, enjoy some nice views along this rolling topography that makes this area so fun to traverse. After a mile and a half, hit a dirt road and walk down it for about a 1/3 of mile before hitting a split on your left with a marker, take that one. Drop down on a old road bed. When you turn a sharp right and see the Creek, find a primitive camp on your left on a flat shelf. I got a late start on this one so I camped here. If you have the time and energy, cross Slaven and make your way 1.5 miles further to Line Branch where better camps lurk.

After a peaceful night of rest. Pack up as you get a nice cup of joe going for the final leg of getting on the road. Climb out of that drainage and cue up for the drop down to a crossing of Line Fork. A fine canyon with a lot of relief from the steep rock shelters and cliff that make this place so special. After a road crossing, skirt Cottonpatch Knob on your right, drop down to Turkey Dardy, where a couple of streams drop into a steep canyon. This is your best campsite on the trip, in my option. So, if you are lucky enough to land here one day, find yourself thankful! After the usual ups and downs getting out of that drainage, discover another great canyon and camp at Tapplay Creek. Climb up to meet a road and cross it. In a 1/3 of a mile make a left labeled as Bear Creek Loop. Walk on a mixed use trail/road until you hit that gravel road again, make a right. Start into a meadowy expanse as you near the surprisingly modern trailhead for Bear Creek Overlook and Split Bow Arch. Both of these destinations are easily worth their short stroll to get to. I did the overlook first, it is the one on the left. Split Bow Arch is slightly downhill and the little .7 miles loop is a winner. It looks like on the map that you can get back to the road you need to take by going behind the Arch and climbing up. The way from up top looks rugged and hard with an overnight pack, so I would just backtrack and take the road by the TH instead. Follow this road back to the Bear Creek Loop and take that left back on it again. Pass by the Horse Camp and some other weird side road before hitting the Lee Hollow Loop, make that right.Take this scenic trail as it meets up with Laurel Creek in a dug out stream bed that would seem like it would have some good camps, I didn’t see any. In that case, I backtracked back to BSF and camped on a nice spot perched above the River. It appears that spot used to be bigger, but was washed away  when part of it when the River was at a flood stage. Notice the crap stuck in the trees just slightly lower than the camp, kinda scary. At any rate, enjoy this epic vista with a sip of whisky and some pad thai as the sun goes down.

After a restful night, wake up refreshed and make yourself a bit of breakfast and a cup of joe. Backtrack on the trail a bit and take the rest of the Blue Heron Loop by making a left and going up the stairs to higher ground. A few switchbacks and small stair sets later it is evident that you are up there more or less. In about a mile, you need to make a side trip up the road to the right for a spell in order to see a couple of arches. First off, I know what you are thinking, “I don’t want to walk this paved road because the cars might suck”. Fear not, Big South Fork is so mellow with traffic it is seldom busy at all, roads or trails alike. By a blue BSF Beekeepers sign, look to the left to see Wagon Wheel Arch perched on a steep rocky embankment. The next one is New Arch, it is on the same side and dug in the side of the HWY. It is called that because when the mining companies that ripped the rock from the earth here, first made the road they discovered this arch forming unseen underground. So, it is like a work in progress in a way! Backtrack to the trail and continue on with the trip. After a few brushes with the road, get to Devil’s Jump Overlook. This is definitely one of the best overlooks I have seen in the Park, and with my current count of 187 miles of travel in the this area, I have seen a grip. After that one, there is the Blue Heron Overlook. This one is off the trail a bit and not as good as the Devil one. However, when you travel under the viewpoint itself, look for the awesome tiny mini column arches chest level in the side of the cliff. There is a big holly that marks the spot, make note of.  Hit it if you want, or continue on to see Crack in the Rocks, the chief attraction on this Loop. A big set of stairs brings you down quite a bit thru your first crack. Then it’s along a huge rock house style cliff. I saw a awesome mini arch/skylight on the top of this cliff, so keep your eyes peeled! Next enter the next crack and climb down some steep stairs. This area is amazing and is definitely worth a good  chunk of time exploring. After the Cracks, cruise down the trail to the end of the loop. If you have some time, check out the cool interpretive kiosks at the end. Have a brew and change out of those hiking cloths, it is going to be a great drive back enjoying the glow of this spectacular wilderness area!