Raven's Point Loop Hike Question

Rob sent an email today asking about the difficulty of the Raven's Loop Hike:

Hope you don't mind being my "info guy". Looking at taking the 11/9 Raven's Point hike but wondering the difficulty level. Is it moderate, strenuous, or somewhere in between? (We've been to Sycamore/Greeter Falls several times and love to hike the Grundy loop for comparison purposes.) I have no major problems (other than 65 year old, past athletic knees!) but my wife does have some knee and hip issues. I may need to consider going alone on this one as I don't want her to get in over her head.

Reply:

The proposed 9 mile loop hike is going to be strenuous down the Gizzard with a steep climb up to Ravens. Your wife could take the Dog Hole Trail out to Raven's and hike back with the group.

Park Manager John Christof adds:

The Fiery Gizzard Trail in the gulf is one of the most difficult sections of trail in the park. Much of it is actually hiking through rock bars where you have to feel your balance on each step crossing unstable rocks. Some people love this rough hiking. You have to decide what is best for you. I hope you have good weather and good colors. Ron's suggestion for your wife to try the Dog Hole and hike back with the group is a good one to make the trip less strenuous. It is still a long hike.

Water Sources for Backpackers & Hikers Update

Note: We have had a little rain in the past 36 hours but not enough to make a significant difference for stream and spring flow improvements.

From Ranger Jamie Hambrock at Stone Door Ranger Station:

Water on the Stone Door side of the park is still flowing some at Schwoon springs, Ranger Falls and Greeter Falls. It probably won't change for awhile unless we get significant amounts of rain.

Water Sources for Backpackers & Hikers Update

Note that rain is in the forecast for the next several days but it is not raining yet.

From Ranger George Shinn, Savage Gulf Ranger Station:

We have no water except at the base of Savage Falls. There is some water puddled up in major creeks: Jumping Branch, Meadow Creek, Suter Falls and below going to Horsepound, but disappears in the middle underground. No springs are reliable as they are slow to fill up and we have had full campgrounds the past two weekends and many campers during the week. Folks will need to carry their water if they go any further than Savage Falls to camp.

We need lots of rain!

Water Sources for Backpackers & Hikers Update

From Ranger George Shinn at Savage Gulf Ranger Station:

Thankfully we are receiving rain today that should drastically help our small creeks and springs, but even with this we are so dry that it will only temporarily relieve some stress. Visitors shouldn't have too much trouble though finding water this weekend, it will at least be pooled up in many places.

On the other hand, the rain has put our parking lot project behind, so it has stopped this week, we are allowing vehicles to park, will have to be pushed to next week. Next week, Tuesday the 14th through Thursday the 16th, the parking lot at Savage Gulf off Highway 399 will be closed for repair and construction. The rest of the parking lots at Greeter Falls, Stone Door and Collins Gulf access will be open for visitor use day hikers.

Please advise all campers to make trek itinerary accordingly and park at Collins or Stone Door for the week of 14-16th of October, because they will not be able to park at Savage during those dates.

Stone Door Water Update

From Ranger Jamie Hambrock:

Schwoon Spring, Ranger Falls and Greeter falls are the only reliable sources on the Stone Door side of the Park that I can be sure are still good. I am pretty sure all the seasonal springs and streams are dry. Most of Big Creek is dry also, just a little section below Alum Gap has a little water.

Water Sources for Backpackers & Hikers

From Ranger George Shinn at the Savage Gulf Ranger Station:

Savage Gulf is extremely dry, there is no water available at campgrounds with the exception of Savage Falls.

There are some bigger creek crossings where one might be able to get a little water filtered, Jumping Branch and Meadow Creek on the North Rim Trail, Boulders Crossing on Collins Rim Trail and others are puddled in a few places.

Do not rely on springs as some fill up rather slowly and there are many large groups and folks camping now that drain them quickly as well as draining those puddles.

Please contact the Ranger Stations few days before your trek and get latest information for your itinerary.

We may see a fire ban, too, if we don't get rain soon.