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We actually recently did this trail back in January but had to turn back at a creek crossing. We actually had the same problem today due to high run off water, but you can access this trail from both ends so we just went to the other end and came back.. so we completed the trail, just in a kind of unusual way.
Quick Details:
Length: 1.91 miles out and back.
Trail Type:Out and back, or Point to point.
Difficulty: DR3. Pretty easy going.
Elevation Gain: 300 feet.
Restroom: Not at either trailhead.
Dogs? Yes, leashed.
Other Info: Just a quick note that it is run-off season and even normally little creeks are flowing really high right now. Be careful out there!
To Get Here:
From Main street in Farmington head to 1400 North. Head east. About 200 feet up 1400 N you will see a dirt road on the north side of the road. You will also see the very hard to miss Farmington Trail Sign. Park on the street.
For the upper trailhead, continue up 1400 N until you hit the T and must turn. Turn left on N Compton rd. go about 3/10ths of a mile, look for the small waterfall on the right, park along the road the trailhead will be on the west side of the street.
The Trail:
The lower trailhead. You will follow this dirt road for a little ways.
Even this part is lovely and green.
About 500 feet later you will come to small reservoir. It was empty last time we came by. It probably only even has this much water due to how high the stream is running.
Tip: Technically you go go on either side of the reservoir, but the official trail is to the left, and will avoid crossing the creek just above the reservoir. It was fine during winter, but right now it might not be. So, go left.
A pair of ducks has made it their home.
The creek looks to be a quite a bit more swollen than last time, which did make me feel like we might not be able to do the creek crossing above, but we’ll see what it looks like.
The old spillway.
Shepard Canyon above. We made it a little ways up that trail, but not quite to the end.
Small waterfall into the old reservoir.
Into the woods!
Shepard Creek below.
Wild snapdragon, or at least something similar.
Here is where the south trail joins the north trail.
Looking into the gully.
Oh boy the creek really fanned out here.
Back into the woods.
As I mentioned the trail stays near the creek for the most part, and right now it is roaring!
I don’t know what exactly it is, but there is something truly magical about being in thick woods after a rain storm. It brings out the greens, the mosses are happy, and it just smells incredible! And for some reason it always makes me think of and miss Oregon.
Tangled mess of branches above.
The creek again.
This forest has some parts that are just a thick mess of .. everything! Some of it was a little creepy looking too, but I am still loving all of it.
Creek crossing. This is about .57 miles up, so a little more than halfway.
We just couldn’t find a good safe way across. I mean, I don’t think it would have dragged us downstream, but I felt like it was enough to at least knock us over and well, that isn’t fun at all.
We decided to just be safe and turn back. However this time I remembered that you can pick up the trail at either end, so we decided we would go back the way we came and then do top down to here if we could (yes you can).
Now, I went back and forth as to how I was going to put together the story today. Should I just pick up from here on our top down return trip? So, why not both?
Click here to pick the trail up as if we were able to safely cross here.
Or you can continue reading to follow our way back down, then to the upper trailhead and back to here, but on the other side of the creek.
I love these purple flowers. I swear I have identified them before, but can’t remember at the moment.
Pretty forest again.
The creek again.
Happy moss after the rain.
Holy mess of branches.
I’ve said it before, but I will say it again. Farmington does amazing with their trail markings. This trail is currently pretty defined, but I can see it becoming quite overgrown so the trail markers are quite helpful.
Beautiful forest.
So much green!
The canopy opened up enough to see the gully below.
Looking up again.
Mountains above, with a fresh dusting of snow. We are currently experiencing the wettest spring that I can remember recently.
Back down to the reservoir.
I noticed this last time we were here, it seems this reservoir has been retired and now it only gets to be maybe a foot or 2 deep at the most. You can see the new drain there in the center and the old spillway is no longer used. Probably due to not being stable, or possibly because of new housing below, but yep, definitely not particularly active anymore.
The canyon above again. You can also see how low the fresh snow got today.
Just the short dirt road back to the lower trailhead.
Now just a short drive up to the upper trailhead.
On the east side of the road, across from the TH is this lovely waterfall. I am pretty sure it has at least been enhanced if not completely man made, but it is still lovely.
On the west side of the road you will find the clearly marked trail sign.
Back into the thick woods!
The creek splits with this smaller overflow creek to the right. It was easy enough to step over. From what I can tell it never reconnected so I don’t know where it goes.
The main creek again.
It was about here I realized we are on the north side of the creek again, which means that there was at least 1 additional crossing before the one we couldn’t pass below. Well, we’ll see what happens.
Old, crumbling bridge appears to lead to a private residence.
Forest again.
I am so happy to see everything starting to really green up.
This is the little side creek again.
Little clearing.
This side trail connects to another neighborhood. Stay left.
The creek got louder here so I crept to the edge to see this short set of rapids.
There is a short segment that appeared to be on the edge of a couple properties yards, which really felt intrusive.
But, we are clearly still on the trail.
Oh good! An actual bridge to safely get across the creek!
There is a trail continuing down the north side of the creek, but the trail marker points forward across the bridge.
The creek from the bridge.
The trail connects to this old staircase, where about halfway up, the trail markers point you back down the hill.
Trail marker halfway up the stairs. Farmington rocks with their trail markers.
Back into the woods!
Shepard Creek below.
A little later we reach another staircase with a bridge.
Said bridge. I thought maybe this is where we should have crossed before, but…
The trail marker clearly points us the other way. So, that way we go.
Thick woods.
Just below that bridge is the crossing we couldn’t pass from the bottom up. This is about .38 miles down, so not quite halfway.
That is a little frustrating know there is a safe crossing not far above where we could not cross. But I think to reach it would mean crossing into private property. I really try to avoid doing that.
Looking downstream.
Upstream.
I know this is the same crossing because you can see the rope cross assist that failed, and I can see the stairway on the other side.
Again, I started to doubt myself and think that maybe we should have used those stairs to connect to the bridge up above, but again, the trail markers point away from that so I think that strays into private property.
I have been thinking about what I can do to help this trail by adding a bridge here. I haven’t ever built a bridge before, but I really feel like one is needed here.
Anyway, we decided to head back up.
Pretty purple flowers again.
Tree tunnel.
Perfectly fine bridge, but clearly not part of the trail system.
Woods again.
Creek below.
At the 2nd wooden staircase the trail markers point you down it.
Where there is a nice sturdy bridge to safely cross.
I get the creek is probably rarely as high as it is right now, but seriously, the lower crossing could use a good bridge like this too!
Short section at the edge of a couple properties backyards. But, as you can see from the trail marker, we are still definitely on the trail.
The creek below.
Before long you are back in the woods.
Pretty wildflowers.
The trail is right next to the creek for a little bit.
Section where some of the creek splits off and heads elsewhere. It is easy enough to step across.
Pretty woods again.
Another private crossing/creek access.
Back to Compton Rd.
On the other side of the road is a trailhead kiosk with a map. You can see the section we did, in a weird coming from both ends way haha. There is a short segment between here and Bella Vista Rd we have not done. I would wager it is maybe 2 to 3/10’s of a mile if you want to do a little more.
I considered it, but Landis had a pebble or some other problem with his shoe and wasn’t up for it.
The top of the waterfall here.
The waterfall.
From the other side.
The valley below (PSP).
The mountains looking nice and green (PSP). I love this short window when the foothills are green. with this wet spring I imagine we will get a little extended time of that. Looking forward to wildflower season in the upper elevations!
Well that was a lovely little stroll in the woods. I really enjoyed it for the most part. We didn’t run into a single other person, and the woods were just incredible after the storm. I really, really like this short trail system, but I am taking 1 squirrel away for a much needed bridge, and 1 more due to the short section skirting some backyards. Otherwise it is a wonderful trail. 8 out of 10 squirrels.
As for difficulty, It’s pretty easy going with some ups and downs, but not too bad. DR3.
Dogs are allowed, leashed. Please clean up after your furry friends.
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