ABBY BRANCH FALLS on ROCKY FLATS TRAIL

Took a New Years hike up the Rocky Flats Trail to Abby Branch Falls.  OF COURSE it was beautiful! Wanted to be in a wilderness area for Day One! Here are some pics...

 Sometimes you have to lay down on the forest floor to see the intricate detail of the smallest living things!

 Abby Branch Falls, is far into the gorge up Rocky Flats Trail. It consists of two ledges of sandstone which have many large blocks broken from it.

 Several rocks above the waterfall have this pattern. The specimens all were from the same type of rock and all had the exact pattern.  Hum?

The spot where I took my Polar Bear Plunge!  Dang was it cold!

From the parking area and "campsite" at the former wardens cabin, angle 45 degrees between Citico Creek and the upper portion of the campsite. The trail was not marked and is not very recognizable. If you begin walking up a steep grade within a 100 feet, then you know you are on the trail. You will go up, up, up, make a turn to the right into a small hollow, then the trail crosses a tributary, makes a hard left and continues into the forest within earshot of Citico. Eventually you will cross a rocky nose then drop off onto an old road. Turn back hard right and cross the creek within 150 feet. Several people have pilled brush on the old road in order to help you and me make the hard right once you get on the old road.  Have fun!