When we reached the actual park, I have to admit that I was ready to be disappointed. It was a beautiful Sunday. The sun was out for the first weekend in a long time without gray clouds threatening. And worse yet, it was Explore The Park Day. Free admission to the park. Yea! Free admission to the park. Yuck! I don't want to share my waterfalling adventure with a thousand other people!
The web site said it was an easy 1/2 mile hike back on a paved path. More disappointment set in. I didn't want to see waterfalls that had asphault leading up to them. I wanted to see a private oasis that was somehow hidden from the rest of the world. It's unrealistic, I know. In my pessemistric mind's eye I was prepared for street vendors selling key chains and offering hair braiding at the entrance to the falls. But we carried on and I was absolutely astounded.
As usual, the trek was completely worth it. The 1/2 mile hike was closer to a mile and a half; straight down (read straight UP on the way back). It was absolutely gorgeous. I know I will say this a hundred times, but how could I have lived here for the past 20 years and never known about this?
Anne loved climbing the 177 steps to the overlook. We could see the King stack from the St. Croix River. She saw some teenagers crawling in the rock shelter (under the outcropping) and we just had to do it. Now, there is no way I would have let her crawl through the entire drop. The top falls are at least 100 ft wide. Climbing within four feet of death is one thing. Staying there and crawling through the slippery surface to the other side just wasn't going to happen. Thankfully she realized how dangerous it was was happy just to take a picture near the entrance.
The falls are in a massive canyon and it is an 11 year old boy's playground. He climbed the rocks like a natural with no fear and would have spent all day just throwing rocks into the current. He did a little (not so scientific) experiment to see how fast the water was flowing. At the end of the day he said "leaving was the worst".
No disappointment today.
