mountain biking – NATIVE LENS

Gibson Jack Trailhead

October 21, 2018March 30, 2020Tagged fall color, fall hiking, forest, hiker, hiking, hiking trails, landscape photography, mountain biking, mountain trails, mountains, outdoor photography, photography, trail system, treesLeave a comment

By Marc Bowen

Last Fall Hike Of The Year

I did a late fall hike several days ago near Ririe, Idaho but didn’t want that to be my last hike of the year. See my blog post Cress Creek Rim – Fall Hike

My son and I did a hike together in the Sawtooths in August (see the blog post at Alice Lake Sawtooth Wilderness ) and we have been trying to get together for another hike ever since. He lives in Pocatello Idaho about an hour away from me. Pocatello has some great trail systems one of which is just one canyon over from where my son lives.

Gibson Jack

Trailhead Elevation – 5148
Highest Elevation – 6443
Elevation Gain – 1305
Difficulty – intermediate/difficult

This area has just recently been updated with new parking area, facilities and signs.

The highlighted area of the map is the area we hiked today

One reason the Gibson Jack Trail system is so popular is that it connects with almost all of the major trail systems on Pocatello’s west bench.

The trails in this area are clearly marked.

Weather was very nice for a late October day as we headed up the trail. This trail system is open to horseback riding and mountain biking as well as hiking. There is also a half-mile ATV trail that ties into the Gibson Mountain Trail or South Fork Gibson Jack.

The first section of trail was in pretty open country with sage brush and cedar. The further up the mountain we went we saw more trees. Mostly aspen and pine. Some of the aspens still had some leaves left on them, a few with fall colors.

As we got higher up the canyon the trees grew thicker and it’s been cold enough up here that the leaves have all fallen off the trees.

There is alot of Elderberry bushes in this area. Probably the best picking is in late September or early October.

As we headed back down the trail we passed several other hikers and some trail-runners.

I don’t think my son realized how many photos I shot of him on the way down the mountain. But hey, he was in front of me so why not be in my photos.

Fall colors were almost gone but still enough on the trees and brush to make it beautiful.

We kept our eyes open for wildlife. We saw a few birds and squirels but didn’t see any bigger game on this hike. Deer, elk, moose, wild turkey and mountain lions are seen frequently in this area.

Some great views down into the valley and the parking lot could be seen in the distance.

Looking back up the trail as we finished our hike, and with the sun low in the evening sky I relected on how grateful I was to get out and hike one last time before winter sets in. I’m glad I was able to have my son with me on this one.

I will surely be back to this area in the future. Lot’s of trails still to explore.

Palisades Creek Trail To Upper Palisades Lake

May 23, 2017June 18, 2017Tagged backcountry camping, backpacking, camping, eastern idaho, hiking, horseback riding, landscape photography, moose, mountain biking, mountain lake, mule deer, nature photography, photography, snow, trails, wildlife1 Comment

By: Marc Bowen

Two weeks ago I hiked Palisades Creek Trail into Lower Palisades Lake. To read more about that hike please click the link Late Spring Hike To Lower Palisades Lake. That post has a lot of photos I shot along the four miles of trail between the trailhead and lower lake.

This morning I arrived at the Palisades Creek trailhead at about 7:30 am and then hiked at a steady pace stopping only once during the first four miles to lower my pack to the ground, grab a snack and a photo.

UpperPalisadesCreek — Photo by: Marc Bowen – Palisades Creek

Last time I hiked this stretch it took me almost four hours to reach the lower lake because I stopped many times along the way to shoot the scenery and glass the cliffs for mountain goats. This time it took me two hours less because I took just this one shot of the creek from one of the five bridges along the way. Two weeks ago the water was brown with runoff but now it has cleared up quite a bit. Still a little water on the trail in some places but much less then last time.

LowerPalisades2wkstweek — Photo by: Marc Bowen – Lower Palisades Lake (today)

The photo above shows what the lower lake looks like today. The photo below shows what the same lake looked like two weeks ago. Big difference in two weeks. Much greener now. More leaves on the trees/brush and the lake water is green instead of brown. Also there is less snow on the mountain.

LowerPalisadesLake — Photo by: Marc Bowen – Lower Palisades Lake (2 weeks ago)

The trail continues along the waters edge at the left side of the lake and then on up the canyon about another three miles to Upper Palisades Lake.

BridgeAboveLowerPalisades — Photo by: Marc Bowen

This (above) is the bridge that crosses the lower lake outlet.

LowerPalisadesabovelake — Photo by: Marc Bowen – Lower Palisades Lake

(above photo) Looking back across Lower Palisades Lake towards the canyon and the trail that leads back down the four miles to the trailhead.

About one hour of hiking past the lower lake I took a break in this nice shady area. There are a few campsites near by and a hitching post for horses.

Also in this area is this forest service cabin (above photo) which hasn’t been used in awhile other then by the local wildlife. Door was unlocked and ajar but wouldn’t open very far because the floor has buckled.

UpperPalisadesLakeBasin — Photo by: Marc Bowen

The trail climbs up a ridge overlooking Palisades Creek and I could look across to the ridge on the other side and just over that ridge in an upper valley (see above photo) is where Upper Palisades Lake is located.

To get there the trail descends back down into the canyon and crosses over another bridge there.

Pretty nice bridge for back country stream crossing. Makes me wonder how the people at the forest service got it there.

About one hundred yards past the bridge I spotted a cow moose grazing the grass from the bottom of the marsh. I watched her for awhile and thought about getting closer but when she wasn’t looking at me she was looking at something in the willows to my left and I suspect she had a calf or two hidden in there somewhere. If my suspicions were correct and I had moved in for a closer shot she would have been on me in no time. Not wanting a mama moose mad at me I moved on up the trail.

Not far up the trail I looked up to see a young mule deer watching me from a bend in the trail. This little guy gave me just enough time to snap a shot and then disappeared.

(above photo) View from the top of the trail looking back down the canyon I just climbed out of.

UpperPalisadesLake2 — Photo by: Marc Bowen – Upper Palisades Lake

Upper Palisades Lake sits at an elevation of just over 6700 feet and is about two miles long. The water is a blue-green color (more green then blue) and is quite striking where the water covers the sand around the submerged portions of the island.

UpperLakeCampground — Photo by: Marc Bowen – Upper Palisades Lake camp site

There are several decent campsites around this end of the lake. I hiked part way up the trail on the left side of the lake, rested, ate my lunch and then headed back. I saw several mountain bikers ride into this lake while I was there and am extremely impressed that anybody could make it this far on a bike.

I had originally planned to hike past the upper lake and into Waterfall Canyon where a 90 foot waterfall is probably gushing water this time of the year. But that would have added another five miles of hiking for a grand total of nineteen miles. I didn’t feel I had it in me and wasn’t sure I had enough daylight left either. So I headed back happy I had made the effort to see this beautiful lake but already a little tired and honestly not looking forward to the seven mile hike back. It took me about four hours to reach the parking area and although exhausted and hurting, I am already looking forward to my next hike.

Late Spring Hike To Lower Palisades Lake

May 9, 2017June 18, 2017Tagged backcountry camping, backpacking, camping, day hike, hiking, horseback riding, landscape photography, mountain biking, mountain goats, mountain lake, mule deer, nature photography, photography, snow, trails, wildlife2 Comments

By: Marc Bowen

I had been itching to do this hike ever since I heard the trail was clear of snow. Then another snowstorm and a week of ‘iffy’ weather caused me to postpone one more week.

Getting There

From Rigby I drove to Swan Valley then to Irwin. Just past Irwin I took a left on Old Irwin Rd/Palisades Creek Road. Then 2 miles in on a dirt road to the campground. Just past the campground is the trailhead for Palisades Creek Trail. I saw five head of deer along the edge of the trees as I pulled into the trailhead parking lot. They saw me and scattered so I wasn’t able to get a photo of them.

PalisadesCreekBridge1 — Photo by: Marc Bowen – Palisades Creek trail head

The trailhead parking area sits at an elevation of 5500 feet and has a restroom and info board with map of the area.

Beginning the hike

At the trailhead I crossed the first of many bridges along the way. It is a pleasant 4 mile hike from here to Lower Palisades Lake with only about a 500 foot elevation gain. Because of this you can make good time and if you push it you can make it to the lake in two hours. It took me a lot longer as I stopped often to capture images of the beauty around me.

PalisadesCreekSignIn — Photo by: Marc Bowen – Trail registration box

Less than 1/4 mile up the trail the US Forest Service has a sign-in area and asks for hikers to register on their way in and again on their way out. I wish all trailheads had one of these. Just another way to make a hiking experience a little safer.

PalisadesCreekSunflare — Photo by: Marc Bowen – Palisades Creek

The trail follows Palisades creek pretty much all the way into the lower lake. It had rained during the night and everything was fresh and clean looking. The Trees and bushes were getting there leaves and grass was growing, the colors vivid!

PalisadesCreekfalls — Photo by: Marc Bowen – Palisades Creek

This is a very scenic and fast moving stream, swollen and muddy now due to snow melt.

PalisadesCreekfloodingtrail1 — Photo by: Marc Bowen

Because the water level was so high there were 3-4 areas where the stream overflowed its banks and sent water down the trail creating a new stream for short distances. This is one of the reasons I use trekking poles. They help me keep my balance as I try to keep my feet dry and also are great for gauging the depth of water in case I need to cross.

PalisadesCreekBridge2 — Photo by: Marc Bowen

There are about 5 bridges between the trail head and the lower lake as the trail crosses back and forth across the stream. These are bridges built not only for human traffic but also horses. This trail is popular for horseback riding and also mountain biking.

PalisadesCreekTrailhighside — Photo by: Marc Bowen – Palisades Creek Trail

Palisades Creek Trail changes elevation quite a few times from down level with the stream to a few 100 feet above the stream with some grand views.

PalisadesCreekBridge2b — Photo by: Marc Bowen

Many parts of this canyon are lined with cliffs and sweet looking rock formations. If you take time to stop and check the cliff ledges above you, you might see some mountain goats. I had been told that there were quite a few in this area but didn’t see one until about a mile or two up the canyon.

Mountain Goats love to eat along the cliff edges and watch hikers, horseback riders and mountain bikers from their lofty perches. Many hikers I’m sure walk right by them without seeing them.

This goat watched me the whole time I watched it.

PalisadesCreekTrail3 — Photo by: Marc Bowen

The trail pulls away from the creek at times and meanders through some beautiful groves of trees and vegetation.

PalisadesCreekTrail — Photo by: Marc Bowen

SwitchbacksToLowerLake — Photo by: Marc Bowen – Palisades Creek Trail

Not long after I walked across the fifth bridge of the hike I started up a rocky incline which would be the first of five switchbacks before reaching the lake.

LowerLakeCampground — Photo by: Marc Bowen – Lower Palisades Lake campground

Just before I reached the lower lake there was a nice campground off to the right of the trail with several campsites and an outhouse off in the trees behind the area.

Lower Palisades Lake sits at about 6100 feet elevation. I read that it was created by a huge rockslide blocking the stream ages ago. The lake was muddy brown from runoff but still picturesque. I ate my lunch and visited with a couple of hikers who arrived shortly after I did. They were some of the first people I had seen since early morning. (I ran into three hikers when I first started my hike. They were finishing their hike and had spent the night at the upper lake the night before.)

After lunch I headed back to the trailhead. I ran into several hikers and mountain bikers on the way back and saw some more mountain goats. It started to rain when I was about 30 minutes from the car. I keep a rain poncho and waterproof jacket in my pack but decided to relax under a big tree with lots of cover until the rain stopped which was long enough to reflect on this beautiful hike and plan my next one. I decided I would hike this same trail next time but keep going until I reach the upper lake and maybe go a little farther up into Waterfall Canyon. Already looking forward to it! Happy hiking!!