July 27 – Stony Brook State Park

Another day, another gorge.

I figured that a nice narrow gorge might provide some shade on another hot and sunny day. We drove about 40 minutes south to Stony Brook State Park to once again do the Gorge Trail. It was a little over 1 mile each way.

The one blog post I had read on this place talked about the great scenery and waterfalls. What it didn’t say is that it is one giant swimming hole. We wished that we had brought water shoes and were not carrying expensive cameras and backpacks with wallets. We probably would not have gone swimming but wading would have been on the menu.

The only official area for swimming is right at the lower parking lot. They have dammed up the brook to create a huge swimming pool complete with life guards.

The sign said that the water temperature was 64 F. I doubt that I could have gotten in.

At the end of the pool as we started to walk up the gorge, there were signs saying that it was strictly prohibited and illegal to swim or even wade in the brook. As you will see the rule is not enforced at all.

Since we got here almost at noon it was another picture day of very dark shadows, very bright sunny spots and over processed pictures.

Around the corner was the first small waterfall.

Over the first bridge.

And around a corner.

Lots of narrow chutes with deep pools at the bottom to slide down.

The next bridge and waterfall.

Just above the bridge.

It was a busy place.

Then the first of the two large waterfalls.

On to the next one.

After this there were no more waterfalls so the crowds really thinned out.

Since we needed to use the facilities near the upper parking lot, we had to take these very long stairs up the side of the gorge.

We noticed that the East Rim Trail started here, by going over this bridge. We went down to investigate.

Jennie was intrigued by the little chute.

It seemed like a nice uncrowded place to have lunch. By now it was about 2 o’clock.

We headed back down the Gorge Trail.

Jennie tried a bit of wading.

It’s all downhill.

We got back to the car at about 3:30 and headed back to the RV for our ice cream reward.