Seniard Ridge Trail (#609)
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Route map of the Seniard Ridge Trail as tracked by the Gaia GPS app and depicted a la Google Earth...
Route map of the Seniard Ridge Trail as tracked by the Gaia GPS app...
Seniard Ridge/Case Camp Ridge Trail Junction -- 3,440'
About a quarter mile above Case Camp Gap, via the Case Camp Ridge Trail, is the eastern terminus of the Seniard Ridge Trail. This shot is taken as arriving via the Case Camp Ridge with the Seniard Ridge departing to the left...
Seniard Ridge/Case Camp Ridge Trail Junction -- 3,440'
The Seniard Ridge Trail, as seen departing its eastern terminus at the Case Camp Ridge Trail...
As you can see the trail begins by following an old, now defunct, forest road...
Perhaps a quarter-mile from its eastern end the Seniard Ridge Trail leaves the old road, switching back to the left off the hillside. This junction is marked, as you can see, but could still be easy to miss if you aren't watching for it...
The Seniard Ridge Trail as it switches back down off the old forest road...
Young pines now dot the forest floor...
In winter, the bare canopy allows for some broken views up towards Seniard Ridge itself, which the trail will soon be climbing...
The path is now making a gradual descent towards its eastern junction with Forest Road 5043...
Seniard Ridge Trail @ F.R. 475B -- 3,220'
Arriving at the junction with Forest Road 5043, which continues beyond the gate you can see ahead. Forest Road 475B curves by to the left along which sits a large pull-off. This is a popular trailhead, as it provides the closest access to the series of waterfalls you'll see in the next part of the album...
Seniard Ridge Trail @ F.R. 475B -- 3,200'
This large sign describing the benefits of good forest management sits uphill from the junction with F.R. 5043...
Seniard Ridge Trail @ F.R. 475B/F.R. 5043 Junction -- 3,200'
For the next 1.8-miles, the Seniard Ridge Trail will follow the route of gated F.R. 5043 to wind along the base of the ridge...
Seniard Ridge Trail/F.R. 5043 -- 3,220'
The route now flattens out some as the old road crosses a large wildlife opening...
Seniard Ridge Trail/F.R. 5043 -- 3,200'
Descending slightly now as the trail enters the drainage of the North Tributary of Log Hollow Branch...
Seniard Ridge Trail/F.R. 5043 -- 3,180'
The trail crosses the North Tributary at this sturdy wooden bridge. This is where the first of a few waterfall side trips can be made from this trail. This spur trail, leading to Discovery Falls, enters the rhododendron on the right just before the bridge...
Seniard Ridge Trail/F.R. 5043 @ Discovery Falls Path -- 3,180'
The spur trail to Discovery Falls as it is seen leaving Forest Service Road 5043 just before and to the right of the bridge in the previous shot...
If you decide to make the hike up the spur to the falls, it involves a half-mile (round-trip) hike that gets fairly steep as it approaches the base of the cascade. As you can see, though, the effort is completely worth it...
Another view of the stunning Discovery Falls...
A short vid of Discovery Falls...
Seniard Ridge Trail/F.R. 5043 -- 3,200'
From the North Tributary of Log Hollow Branch the old road/trail now ascends slightly, for a short time, as it follows the contour of the ridge...
Seniard Ridge Trail/F.R. 5043 -- 3,240'
Descending into the next drainage, this one containing Log Hollow Branch...
Seniard Ridge Trail/F.R. 5043 @ Log Hollow Branch -- 3,200'
Yet another sturdy wood bridge crosses Log Hollow Branch, while Log Hollow Falls can be seen through the trees on the right...
Log Hollow Branch is a favorite...It's form and setting are such that its almost impossible to shoot a bad picture of it...