Hiking Red Cliff Trail - Guernsey State Park

Last week was too hot to get in much hiking, but we did get out twice. The Red Cliff Trail, the first built by CCC Camp-9 is well shaded, and an excellent choice for too hot days. This is a trail we have walked more than any other in the park and often the only trail many people have walked in Guernsey State Park. No matter how many times we walk this terrific CCC path, it never fails to be an enjoyable hour, or a bit more.

The trail starts here - 50 yards northwest of the huge Spillway gate

This trail has the longest run of stairs of any in the park, from the top, overlooking the spillway (running fast) and the huge Stony Gate there are 77 steps, a few inclines, and not much flat trail, to the bottom. Sounds tough, but it isn’t.

If an old duffer like me can make it, just about anyone can!

The trail is well marked, and the steps are an excellent example of Civilian Conservation Corps work in the 1930s. Red Cliff Trail winds from the bottom back up to an outstanding view of the area below the dam and the North Platte River winding toward Guernsey. 

The original trail ended, up on top, at CCC Camp-9, but hikers can catch a branch of the path going, North, Northeast, that connects to the golf course road to loop back.  

View from the trail

A Hike in Guernsey State Park

Today's photos are from Brimmer Point trail, which starts just west of the parking lot on the point, winds around and down to the CCC walk bridge below Powell Mountain, and then returns to the top.

View from Brimmer Point

 Wonderfully laid out Civilian Conservation Corps built trail with some great views. This year's wet spring left the trail a bit overgrown in spots, but it is hikeable (not sure that is a real word, but I am on a roll and too lazy to look it up), for this pair of septuagenarians. The trail measures about a mile and a half and took us a bit over an hour with multiple stops for rest, photos, a quick drink (water) or to simply scan the surroundings and watch nature in action.

Sage Wren along the way

        After some health setbacks and quite a bit of procrastination, we are back hiking in the park. I must admit my wife has been better about getting in her steps than I have. After more than a year of doing not much writing, not much hiking, and not taking many photos I'm giving it another try. I will post as we explore the park.

Walking through the iconic Pass-Through Rock on the trail

        Want to find out more about Guernsey State Park? Here is the link to my book on Amazon, available as an eBook or in softcover. I am partial to the softcover as it cannot move photos around like the eBook.  The book is also available, signed, from many local, and around the state, booksellers.

View along the way

Guernsey State Park - Happy Birthday CCC

The Civilian Conservation Corps was created on this day, March, 31, in 1933. A week later they were up and running and by May of 1934 the CCC began the building of Guernsey State Park. 

CCC Worker Statue and the CCC Museum

The first camp at Guernsey was Camp RS-1, which soon was titled Camp BR-9, the first North Platte River Project Camp in Wyoming. The camp was established on May 21, 1934, during the third of the CCCs six-month enrollment periods. 

The Castle on the North Bluff

The camp at Guernsey was a multiple joint project among the Bureau of Reclamation, The National Park Service and the Corps.

Stoney Gate and Spillway built
by the Bureau of Reclamation

When the corps came to Guernsey the dam was seven years old and had no recreational offerings.

Sitting Bull Picnic Shelter

By 1936 the Civilian Conservation Corps reached its high point employing more than 600,000 people across the United States. 

Inside the Museum

Want to read more about the Civilian Conservation Corps and the building of Guernsey State Park? Take a look at my book on Amazon here. The book is also available in many Wyoming bookstores and can be checked out at several local libraries.

The view from the CCC built Brimmer Point - atop Powell Mountain

Available as this nice looking, lay on your coffee table
book, or as an eBook

You can take a look at all of my books here

On a cool day in front of the Museum

A Windy Drive In The Park

We still are out and about in the park most every day but seem to be spending more time in the pickup than on the trails. The wind, day after day, is too much for us to walk much.

Still, I have been able to get some interesting photos.

Golden Eagle High in a Tree on Sandy Beach

These Photos Were Shot With Great Back Light From the Setting Sun

We spend most of our time on the west side as it is easier to get to then the east, through Hartville. We do try, each week, to go through Hartville and drive Lakeshore Drive.  The road to the dam is still blocked at the main boat ramp parking lot as work continues on the big Stoney Gate. This means that it is a turn around here and a trip back along Lakeshore Drive to Hartville, which is never a bad deal.

End of the Drive - at Least for a Few More Weeks

Photo From October as We Hiked Red Cliff Trail

Looks like there is a lot of interest in the solar eclipse coming this August. Along with the big eclipse, there were be plenty of other activities to entice tourists to come early or stay late.

Not an Eclipse but Sunsets in the Park are Often Fabulous - That's Laramie Peak in Center of shot

With the state of Wyoming’s economy, more tourist numbers will be great and needed.  

Where's the Food? 16 Mule Deer Waiting for Picnic at Lakeshore Drive Camping Area

Wyoming Winter Day

We have had an interesting weather week. Today with extreme cold and several inches of snow on the ground I took a drive around town and the following is what I found interesting.

Grandkids at bottom of sledding hill

Haystack Mountains 

Looking a bit like Christmas

A road less traveled

Top of the first hill

Could be a few days before I play any golf

Walking up the big sledding hill

North Platte River near the Oregon Trail

Guernsey State Park - North Bluff Trail

It was a bit on the cool side when we hiked in the park early this afternoon. Our choice of a trail today started at the Castle as we hiked the North Bluff Trail. With the temperature around 30, we moved pretty fast, for us, the first part of the trail. This hike took just under an hour and a half with the temperature rising to 37, but the wind was coming up by the time we finished.

The Castle looking from the west

This trail has a nice turnaround allowing hikers to go away from the Castle on the lower trail along the river/lake and return through the bluffs on the upper trail. 

Nice view of Laramie Peak along the trail

It could be hiked in less than half the time we do it, but we often spend time looking around, resting and taking photos along the way. I use my camera as an excuse to rest, “Wait a minute, I want to take a few shots of the peak, or deer, turkey, rocks, trees, anything to catch my breath.”  

Less than a quarter of a mile along the trail

This trail follows the high ridge above the lake going west then turns south with the lake about a half mile into the hike. Like most trails in the park, this one offers spectacular views and normally some wildlife along the way. We watched a pair of Bald Eagles and scared up four deer along the way.

Dress warm and give it a try, fresh air and exercise are good for everyone.  

Great Christmas Gift - Read all about the Civilian Conservation Corps

 and the building of Guernsey State Park. Click the link and look at a free sample. 

Newell Bay Loop Trail

We were joined in the park today by this little guy - a Praying Mantis

With temperatures in the 70s and 80s, it’s an excellent time to be in the park. We have seen some enjoying the weather with a picnic and others walking and driving in the park.

The fall colors this year are the best in several years

Sunday we enjoyed a terrific hike taking the Newell Bay trail loop. It is a little longer than our usual hikes, but the great fall weather gives us a bit more energy.

Along the trail

This trail is not often used, especially since the 2012 fire. We feel like it is still one of the great hikes in the park and it is one of our favorites on the west side.

The trail has many beautiful CCC steps

We park at the burned Brimmer Point Trail footbridge; the trail starts about 50 yards west with a long flight of very nice Civilian Conservation Corps steps. The trail goes south to just above the road to the Newell Bay cabin area.

Brimmer Point Trail Footbridge burned in 2012 fire

After reaching the south end, the trail winds west around Holdring Mountain and then goes back north against some fantastic rock cliffs. The trail ends about a half mile west to where we started and is an easy walk along the road back to the starting point.

Many terrific rock formations line the trail - we call this one
 Crocodile Rock

Meanwhile, on the east side lots of construction as work on the gates continue.

To take the photos we had to circle in from the Hartville side drive through the park on Lakeshore Drive then park in the area used for the main boat dock. 

We then hiked the Red Cliff Trail affording a nice hike and great view of the construction going on with the gates.

And always lots of wildlive to watch.

"Here's Looking at You"

Fall In The Park

Looks Like We Found Bambi During Our Walk

Lots of activity in the park. No, not many visitors but the work on the dam gates looks to be in full force.

Don’t believe I have ever seen the bottom of the gate, pretty neat really.

Lakeshore Drive is closed at the park headquarters but can be accessed from the Hartville entrance, the road is open to the parking lot east of the main boat dock.

Road closure coming from Hartville on Lakeshore near the main boat dock. 

Skyline Drive on the west side is open as usual.

With the nice fall weather, we decided to resume our three or four times a week, hike in the park. We walked Red Cliff Trail this time parking in the area near the boat ramp and looped around the trail and back. Nice hike plus it allowed me a chance to take a few photos of the work.

Enjoy the wonders of fall and get out and enjoy the park.