Spruces Campground and Donut Falls

UPDATE June 2014: I recently returned to the area and realized I was totally mistaken on where we camped. We camped at Jordan Pines. So I will be doing a couple edits to this article, all in red. There is a trail up to the falls from the spruces campground (as confirmed in a picture below, which I believe is what caused the confusion). However, I am unsure how long it is. My best guess, looking at maps, is at least an additional mile.

You can see my recent hike from the Jordan Pines Campground here.

My friends organized a giant campout to celebrate a pair of birthdays in the group. When we arrived I realized it was the campsite near Donut Falls. Sweet, I have something to do while we are up here. So just an FYI in case you plan on camping here, from what I can tell this is only group camping sites for 50-150 people. Spruces has a ton of single, and group sites. Jordan Pines is group only. So yea, find a bunch of friends, or camp elsewhere and drive in to Donut Falls.

I’ve done donut falls twice before, but it really is a lovely hike and well, we’re right here so why not take advantage?

To get here, drive 9 miles up big cottonwood canyon. If camping, cross the bridge over Big Cottonwood Creek, and take the first left. Spruces is just East (up-canyon) of Jordan Pines. Drive 9 miles up to Mill Fork D and keep going until you see it on the right. If hiking, drive up Mill D South Fork Rd for about 3/4 of a mile. The pavement ends after a couple of private cabins and you have a semi rough dirt road. There is a small parking lot at the end, and limited street parking. A word to the wise, do not park where the signs say no parking. The last 2 times I was here I saw rangers ticketing.

After arriving and greeting everyone we set off to find a good tent site for us.

Well hello we have wildlife! He just sat there staring at us. I guess its not just headlights, they just freeze and stare.

I went around the trees to get a better shot and then he decided to take off.

This shot makes me chuckle.

Caterpillar.

Okay tents up, now we can explore.

Pretty view across the canyon.

This trail leads to the tent sites, but it also continued on, so we thought we would see what else is up here.

Another caterpillar.

Nice clearing.

Well, what do we have here? Some moose!

Quick crop. Naturally this shot just will not do, I decided to run back to the car and grab my telephoto lens.

Luckily they were still there when I got back. Looks like two babies.

And there’s mama.

She didn’t taker her eyes off of us for a second! Yea, thank you telephoto lens, I seriously do not need to get any closer.

Mama, and one baby looking at me. I wonder how common it it for a moose to have two babies.

Cropped that one in a little closer.

One last shot of the clearing. You know, I bet this trail goes all the way to Donut Falls.

The moon is out.

The marshmallow queen.

Stars.

Decided to try my hand at star trails. Not a bad result.

A couple potgut squirrels showed up while we had breakfast.

Pretty blue flowers.

Creepy bug. Seriously, what is this?

Pretty flower.

After breakfast and packing everything up we decided to head on up to the trailhead. I had hoped that getting an earlier start would mean the trail would be less crowded, however we didn’t get going until about 11 and were lucky to find an open spot on the street. This is a really popular trail.

Well, that confirms it. The trail we started yesterday does connect with this trail. Yes it does, but not here. This goes to the Spruces Campground, the trail back to Jordan Pines is below the parking lot of the trailhead.

Pretty peak.

The trail overall is fairly hard packed and wide, but also rocky. Watch your step. The first section of it is quite a bit steeper than I remember.

Tree roots.

All of these exposed black rocks have been polished smooth by throngs and throngs of hikers passing through. Must be a softer stone than the others.

Pretty forest shot.

And we have reached the creek crossing.

Which appears to be in need of some repair.

Some aspens along the trail.

We both wondered what caused that little blank spot. Probably a gnarly avalanche.

Pretty view back down.

After scrambling down a short bouldery section you meet the creek again. This means you are almost there.

And we’re almost there!

Very popular trail.

You can see the waterfall towards the top.

Landis scrambles across some logs. The canyon is too steep on this side so you must cross here.

And now we have the boulders to scramble up which always gives me pause but I have done it before so I know I can do it. However, he creek seems more swollen than before hrm.

Yep, we need to climb up that. It really isn’t as bad as it looks. Take your time, and evaluate the safest way up and you will be fine.

We tried really hard not to “wade” however if you want to see the falls, your feet are going to get wet.

Wet rock.

Almost there, just a little more boulder scrambling.

We made it!

The water disappearing into the rock.

Rainbow in the mist.

Into the cave I go. The water is definitely deeper than before.

I love this waterfall!

Here is the whole thing again. Oooh, I took a video to share the wonderful noise of it.

The problem with phones and video. You use your phone in portrait mode, but youtube and portrait look terrible. So when I suddenly remembered that fact I switched. Sorry for the first couple seconds.

My favorite thing about this hike, aside from the amazing waterfall that is, is that it brings out my adventurous side. My desire to see the waterfall outweighs my apprehension of scrambling up what looks like large loose boulders that are wet and slippery. And I am greatly rewarded for it.

Pretty view down.

I liked this boulder. Every couple of seconds the creek would splash up and send a small cascade down it.

Coming back down. The worst part about going up is realizing you have to make your way back down, but it’s really not too bad. Again, just take your time, look around and find the best path. Or do what I do and just try to follow the path you took up.

Yup, we climbed that.

Pretty spruces.

Pretty.

Whoa, I managed to get a full shot of it without people in it. Not sure how that happened.

Pretty white butterfly.

Root looking for softer ground.

View downstream.

We tried, we honestly did. Well, is there a difference between deliberately walking in the water vs. occasionally stepping in it out of necessity?

Random tree sticking straight out.

The short rock climbing section you have to do.

My feet are just a smidge wet.

Pretty view down.

Trail back down.

Pretty flowering tree.

Pretty little moth.

Pretty bluebells.

Not sure what these are.

Hollow stump.

Spider web.

Pretty purple flowers.

And back to the trail head.

I really just love this trail. Even though it is a rather popular trail, and pretty crowded at the best part, it is just a beautiful trail with a fantastically unique waterfall to reward you at the end. The last two times I gave it a 9 and I must say it shall retain that. Loosing 1 just to how crowded the trail is.

As for difficulty, the beginning is pretty steep but for the most part it is a wide well packed trail with some a few rocky sections so I am going to go with a DR3 up to the base of the falls. If I consider the boulder scramble to reach the falls, I must go with a DR4.