Name: Pipsissewa Trail
Rating: 4.2

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Dogs Off-leash

Features Fall Colors · Views · Waterfall

The trails are open year-round but can get muddy (or snowy) in places during the winter.

The trails are used by hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians, so please observe proper trail etiquette. A few trails are reserved for mountain biking (these are usually signed as such), so please don’t hike on these.

There are no potable water sources in the park or along the trails – be sure to bring plenty of your own.

Need to Know

There are no fees to use this park. There are 7 designated parking areas throughout the park, each with room for 5 to 12 cars. They are located near clusters of trailheads. Some have chemical toilets but most have no amenities beyond a parking space. Very useful paper trail maps are sometimes available at the parking area kiosks but can also be obtained online.

Description

One of the more difficult trails in the park, the 1.5-mile Pipsissewa (the name of a medicinal herb found along the trail) Trail connects the upper canyons in the northeast corner of the park, passing Granite Falls (seasonal) and granite walls featuring hanging fern gardens. This trail can be accessed from Parking Area P-6 or via the Halls of Manzanita Trail from Parking Area P-4.

Flora & Fauna

Watch out for ticks in the spring, rattlesnakes (rare) in the warmer months, and poison oak all year-round. Consider these nuisances if you let your dog off-leash.