There are so many things I want to write and don't even know where to begin. For starters, I am still flying high off the adrenaline rush, I am writing a review to ease my nerves lol.
Key points: TAKE A WATERPROOF CASE for your cell phone so you can document your experience. That's my biggest regret. No pictures or videos of this insane hike.
Eat lightly before and hydrate well.
Take a swimsuit and some GREAT hiking shoes.
Let someone know you're doing the hike who isn't going and if you don't send them a text by a certain time, that means you got trapped in the forest.
Get there early so you time to hike and make it back before sunset.
Plan to get dirty.
A large portion of the trail is rocks. Very slippery rocks.
Thrilling
Look for parked cars to cue your entrance.
Plan this on a day where you have nothing else planned.
We found out about this through a local at Twin Falls. Having spent most of the day there, I was not expecting to this hike so I was not prepared mentally or physically. My boyfriend really wanted to go and all I could think was " Don't be a buzzkill, Cindy." He saw my face and told me "Just one hour." and I thought "Fine. One hour won't be bad." WRONG!!!!!!!!
The entrance can be hard to miss but we saw other folks going in, so we just followed them in.
We did the hike down no worries and I was like "Oh, yeah sweet." We bumped into a lady who led us all the way to the first waterfall. From there, we bumped into other people who kept going down a rocky road to the second waterfall. Then somehow we came across a rock with rope and trekked up to keep going to a ladder and another rope. At this point, I was excited to keep going. We kept hiking and reached a swimming hole with a waterfall. Luckily for us first timers, there were plenty of folks on the trail. This was GOLD!!!! They led us in every which way we needed to go. I truly believe had there not been other hikers we would have found out how to get through, nonetheless the last waterfall.
After what seemed an eternity, we got to third waterfall, and saw 2 ladies sitting up above some rocks. They told us the fourth waterfall was around the bend, but we would have to dive into the stream because there was no way of getting there otherwise. It is so hard to describe this, as nothing will compare to doing it. Since I had not expected to do this hike, I had my backpack with water, sevenup, 2 beer cans, two cell phones, boyfriend's wallet and other stuff. DON'T TAKE SO MUCH CRAP! One water bottle is enough and maybe not even that. Hydrate well before the hike and eat something light but filling. Plan to be hiking 3-4 hours.
I was scared it wouldn't be deep enough, but they assured me. I left my backpack up there, with my other clothes and jumped in. After that, you swim for about 5 minutes to reach another waterfall, about 5 feet tall, that you have to scale up. This part was hard because it was slippery. I prayed I wouldn't cut my head open or sprain an ankle because I'd be doomed.
After that, you hike for a couple more minutes on a crapload of rocks barefoot and see a pool with a waterfall.
Again, lucky us, there was a man and his 3 sons and a a couple there, so it reassured me of where to go and how to jump in. My boyfriend was so excited to get in, but because he was hiking like a snail, by the time he actually got into the pool, everyone was leaving. I freaked out because all I kept thinking was how am I going to get back down from that waterfall I just trekked up. One of the boys said, "You have to jump." I thought no way am I jumping that on the way back down, and if I do and I die, I want people to be around so they can send someone to get my body. Of course, I had to leave with them and I started rushing my boyfriend who was not happy about it. I thought, "Ok,I made it this far and I need to get back home." Best thing I could have done, because I saw the other lady scale down and then slide down some rocky parts of the waterfall and I was so relieved.
At this point, it started to sprinkle, and knowing how a little rain can impact a stream, I started panicking. I kept rushing my boyfriend who was usually 15-20 feet behind me. He was so annoyed with me but I wanted to get back to the car FAST! He lagged so much that before we knew it, we had lost sight of the other folks on the trail. We hiked for what seem an eternity amidst extremely slippery rocks. We did not know if we were going the right way and at this point I started freaking out more. Of course, I slip and land hard on a rock. I'd had it and broke down- full on cryfest."I am going to die in Paradise and no one is going to find my body." My boyfriend's face was priceless so I sucked it up, stayed calm. We hiked back the way we had come and found another hiker. He led us all the way back. This was definitely extremely scary for me but I'd go back. I'd just get there earlier, and with a drone following me to ensure my location.
Safe and fun travels folks!! read more