Davidson River Trail Map

Route map of the Davidson River Trail as tracked by the Gaia GPS app and depicted a la Google Earth...

Davidson River Trail Map

Route map of the Davidson River Trail as tracked by the Gaia GPS app...

Davidson River East Trailhead -- 2,400'

This is the eastern trailhead for the Davidson River Trail along F.R. 475. It's located 1/2-mile west of the entrance for the Fish Hatchery. The western trailhead is another 1.2-miles farther west by road...

Davidson River Trail -- 2,390'

The hike begins with a quick drop down to the valley surrounding the Davidson River, though you can't actually see the river at this point...

Rockhouse Creek -- 2,380'

Within a couple minutes the trail crosses the broad Rockhouse Creek, seen here as it nears its confluence with the Davidson River by flowing under the trail...

Davidson River Trail -- 2,400'

Beginning to follow the power line right of way now...NOT awesome...

Davidson River Trail -- 2,450'

As if it couldn't get uglier, the trail now follows right alongside the riprap slope beneath the road which passes high above...

Davidson River Trail -- 2,500'

It will probably become clear to you by this point that the trail isn't going to be at all interested in actually getting near the river for which it is named...

Davidson River Trail -- 2,560'

One of the rare glimpses of the river from the trail...

Davidson River Trail -- 2,570'

I don't often come across a trail which I actively dislike but this quickly became the case on my visit. I don'tunderstand how the USFS even bothered designating this as an official hiking path...

Davidson River Trail -- 2,580'

At about the midway point the trail finally curves away from the powerlines and the road...allowing for some semblance of more natural surroundings...

Davidson River Trail -- 2,580'

"Why couldn't a trail have been built down there?" Huge rapids and numerous cascades can be seen and heard along the river below. As it turns out the official route of the trail was once down there but it was deemed "too dangerous" and re-routed to its current location...

Davidson River Trail -- 2,570'

Another opening provides tantalizing glimpses of the rushing river below...

Davidson River Trail -- 2,560'

Alas, the trail remains high above the Davidson, locked in the trees...

Davidson River Trail -- 2,560'

Not much to see, but at least it's easy...

Davidson River Trail -- 2,550'

The trail as it approaches its western end...

Davidson River Cascades -- 2,530'

This cascade is located down a short spur path just before the western end of the trail. I won't give precise directions here but it shouldn't be too hard to located if you keep your eyes open. Cove Creek joins the Davidson at its crest (out of frame to the right)...

Davidson River West Trailhead -- 2,550'

Without fanfare, the path arrives back at F.R. 475...this is the western terminus of the Davidson River Trail...

Davidson River West Trailhead -- 2,550'

Looking at the western trailhead along F.R. 475. If you want to hike from this direction it's located at spot 1.7-miles west of the Fish Hatchery or just across and a few hundred feet east from the Cove Creek Group Camp entrance.