Canoeing on Grayson Lake? Really? Yes, Fall in Love with Clifty Creek!

 

Canoeing on Grayson Lake?  Really?

Yes, Fall in Love with Clifty Creek!

 

            The love of canoeing will take you to places of awe, which are inaccessible by foot.  Hidden, mesmerizing, and true treasures.  Our magical destination on Clifty Creek was Hidden Cove Falls which is also called Grotto Falls.

 

Grotto Falls or Hidden Cove Falls

            To get to the Clifty Creek Boat Launch, we headed south on Hwy 7 from Grayson.  We went past Grayson Lake Dam and then a little less than 2 miles turned right onto a gravel road before the Clifty Creek Bridge.  Access to the water is easy, and we headed up the creek.  Going early in the day and avoiding the weekend allowed us to “have” the falls all to ourselves, without jockeying for position within a tight space.  The destination might be Hidden Cove Falls, but Clifty Creek is beautiful on its own.

 

Along Clifty Creek, we were inspired by the towering sandstone cliffs, rhododendron and hemlock gracing the cliffs on our short 1 ½ mile float.  

Towering Sandstone Cliffs

It had rained during the night so there were several seasonal waterfalls, falling off the cliffs into the creek.  Being a hot summer day, we availed ourselves of a shocking shower.  The grandchildren found it hilarious and wanted to shower over and over.  So that each showering water falling from the cliffs was an enticement to get wet and enjoy the screams of refreshment.

Enjoying the Season Waterfalls

 There is a rock island on the way, with a hemlock growing off the top which was so picturesque.  We canoed around it several times.

 

Rock Island

We could not find Hidden Cove Falls on any map of Grayson Lake.  It is hard to describe it's location. And some people miss finding it entirely.  So pay close attention. Somewhere between a 1 - 1 1/2 miles as we were paddling along, we saw what appears, at first glance, to be a short bay off the side of the main waterway.  As we looked, it appeared to become shallow, ending in a bunch of weeds.  But looking higher up we saw that the land doesn’t close in behind this.  The land appeared to continue to be open as if the lake keeps on going.  As we approached we found a turn in the water behind some trees and rocks.  The water winds back around to go in between some massive rocks that look as though they were once a single rock that split in two. The narrow waterway is like a slot canyon and we could touch the massive rocks on either side of the water path.  Our canoes barely made it through, so kayaks would probably work better.  The water path continued between the rocks for another 50 feet and then opened out into a pool with a beautiful cascading falls at the far side.

Narrow waterway to get to Hidden Falls

Our Canoe Barely Fits

Seeing, feeling and hearing the thundering power of water in a calm pool amidst the surrounding giant boulders gives a sense of peaceful wonder.   As we float there feeling the falls cascading and soaking in the beautiful setting, we find that we don’t want to begin our journey back to camp.  Just a little while longer…. Just a moment more.  To hold this feeling, to remember the sense of wonder, is why we canoe!

Photo by Debbie Braaksma

           

 

Notes:

• ·       Go in the morning or in the middle of the week to enjoy Hidden Falls without crowds.
• ·       Take a trash bag.  Clifty Creek boat launch is trashy and so are the banks along the creek.  The creek itself seemed clean.  Help make it a better experience for those who canoe after you.
• ·       Make the trip after a day of rain to experience the seasonal rainfalls off the cliffs.  Wear a bathing suit to dry quickly after canoeing through the waterfalls.
• ·       Make reservations to camp at Grayson Lake State Park to be able to get an early start.