Richards Hollow 019G

Dogs Unknown

Features Birding · Fall Colors · River/Creek · Views · Waterfall · Wildflowers · Wildlife

There are some creek crossings that can be a little tricky early on in the year (April and May) unless you're okay getting your feet wet.

From the trailhead, head up the trail along a dry creek bed (it is dry most of the year) and ascend through some meadows and past some tall cliffs characteristic of the blacksmith fork canyon area. Eventually, the woods start to thicken and after about a mile of running the trail switches back and then up past a waterfall that's about 10-15 feet tall (Waterfall Connector). Then the trail continues to ascend up past some amazing limestone formations and eventually breaks out (and levels out more) into a wide meadow that follows the path of a small meandering stream. In this long meadow, the trail ascends very gradually and crosses the stream several times.

Eventually, you'll reach the "Elbow" where large groves of aspen can be seen in the surrounding hills. As you near the actual curve in this elbow you'll go through a gate, and then when you reach a split in the trail you'll select the trail that goes to the right and curves up through a small drainage until you reach the Adams Corral Road.

There are chances to see wildflowers and all sorts of animals (Moose, Elk, etc.) if you are quiet enough and lucky enough to find them at the right time. Also, up near the "elbow" things really open up and on the ridges above the trail there are vast groves of aspens that turn amazing colors in the fall, and are beautiful even the rest of the year.