Bridge walk
Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2025 7:14 am
Since the area recently re-opened I made my first-ever visit to the Heaton Flat area, walking up to bridge to nowhere. Because of some kind of road construction they've installed a traffic light shortly before reaching the parking lot, I waited about 20 seconds for it to turn green each time I passed through. This is a pleasant walk for the first few miles, alongside and through/across the East Fork which was flowing less than knee-high. While on the way back I saw one guy taking off his shoes to cross, I told him there would be five more and it's easier to just embrace the wet shoes. That's usual for me so I just powered through rather than looking for rocks to hop or the shallowest places.
Mostly bare hillside, Shoemaker Road cut up there too.
Nice shady walk along the river.
There is plenty of burnt brush and tree remnants, especially when getting further from the river. On the higher sections along the old road bed it is definitely ash alongside the trail. However, I did see plenty of new growth at the base of the manzanita bushes, and while mostly bare the local hillsides had some green tint from seasonal grasses.
I walked over the bridge and back down to the river, following it upstream for a little while where I had breakfast near a large pool. Since it was late June I also celebrated International Hike Naked Day, fortunately avoiding the large clumps of poison oak in that area.
I feel like it's really unusual to get a photo of the bridge without any other people visible
On the way back down I walked up the little side canyon near the Sheep Mountain wilderness sign, finding a few little waterfalls and also this fine specimen. He didn't seem to like me hanging around so I didn't follow for long.
Mostly bare hillside, Shoemaker Road cut up there too.
Nice shady walk along the river.
There is plenty of burnt brush and tree remnants, especially when getting further from the river. On the higher sections along the old road bed it is definitely ash alongside the trail. However, I did see plenty of new growth at the base of the manzanita bushes, and while mostly bare the local hillsides had some green tint from seasonal grasses.
I walked over the bridge and back down to the river, following it upstream for a little while where I had breakfast near a large pool. Since it was late June I also celebrated International Hike Naked Day, fortunately avoiding the large clumps of poison oak in that area.
I feel like it's really unusual to get a photo of the bridge without any other people visible
On the way back down I walked up the little side canyon near the Sheep Mountain wilderness sign, finding a few little waterfalls and also this fine specimen. He didn't seem to like me hanging around so I didn't follow for long.