I had actually only intended to go to BC Creek Falls today but the only description of the trail to the falls that I could find said they were going to BC Creek Falls but actually went to Wallowa Falls. Since they are close together, after I realized what was happening, we just went to both of them.
The trailhead is at the south end of the lake.
I think this is our path.
After we made the turn at the Y to what we thought were BC Creek Falls, this is our first view of the West Fork of the Wallowa River, looking upstream.
The photosphere.
And downstream.
The falls are just around the corner.
By now I had looked at our position on Google Maps and realized what was up.
There wasn’t really a trail here. You just followed along the edge of the canyon rim trying to see where others had gone.
Jennie doesn’t have a hunchback. It was a bit cool today so she put a jacket on over her backpack.
Looking down on the lake.
Looking down on the falls with a nice small rainbow.
A photosphere.
Farther along you could climb down and get an almost face on view of Wallowa Falls.
Adding another panel to the vertical panorama to get some sky in the picture.
And a photosphere.
We retraced our steps to the Y and continued on towards the real BC Creek Falls. The trail is mostly flat until you cross a bridge over the river. Then you go up some long gentle switchbacks and then a mostly flat trail around the mountain to the falls.
Lots of flowers to look at.
We wondered what the red marks on the maple leaves were.
Over the bridge.
A photosphere.
And up the switchbacks.
Looking down.
This was taken on the way back.
And from higher.
We thought the rock beside Jennie looked like a face.
We had to cross some rocky sections on the traverse to the falls. Again this shot was taken on the way back.
A tiny strawberry.
The trail use to continue passed the falls and up the mountain but a bridge has washed out. I think the bridge was supposed to be the viewing platform because once you get to the falls there is not much room for people to actually see it.
Speaking of people, the “trail” to Wallowa Falls was empty. As it was Saturday morning, as we went in, this trail was rather busy. We take our time and take a lot of picture so we are always getting passed.
It was busy right at the falls.
You have to carefully work your way down a short gravelly hill and then stand on the slippery rocks to see the falls just around the corner.
Waiting our turn.
The something amazing happened. When it was our turn, everyone left and we had the place to ourselves for the rest of our time at the falls.
A photosphere (taken before everyone left)
Jennie checking out the creek bed downstream.
Since it was rather cold and wet here, with no good place to sit, we went to a flat open area just a short way back on the trail for lunch.
Going in we had stopped for a rest here. There had to have been 20 people and 4 dogs. This log was full with people resting.
Now, we still had not seen anybody else since they all vanished.
Out at the edge we could see the lake.
Just as we were about to leave one guy went by us on the way to the falls. All the way back down we maybe saw 5 others. I guess nobody else brings lunch.
Back down the switchbacks.
A much nicer bridge picture now that it is in the sun.
Then back to the car and home.
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