Today forecast of warm temperatures meant that Noelle, Sierra and I just had to get outside to enjoy the weather. I decided on a trip down to the Crane Lake area so that we could visit Vermilion Falls. About a year ago we made a similar trip to the Vermilion River Gorge. However, after that hike we were tired, and so we skipped the side trip to the falls.
We picked up a sandwich for a picnic lunch and then made our way south. We drove through Buyck, but noticed the bikes on the signs were gone. Soon enough we found the turnoff for the road to Vermilion Falls. We pulled into the empty parking lot,
grabbed our picnic stuff and made our way to the falls. The falls were pretty impressive,
but it is difficult to get a really good view of them. We explored the them from various angles on the viewing platform
and rocks below.
We also checked out the view downstream.
Then we found a picnic table for our lunch.
As we ate, we noticed flowers blooming, including violets
and a shrub with white flowers.
After lunch we headed over to the portage trail
to check out a feature on the river know as "the Chute." On our walk to the Chute we saw more flowers; hepatica,
anemone,
bellwort, and white clusters of flowers we could not identify.
The ferns were in their "fiddlehead" stage.
We crossed the gravel road we had driven to the site near a bridge crossing the river. There were impressive views from the bridge
and a pair of bald eagles were perched in a tree nearby.
Soon, I noticed a sign alongside the river marking the start of the portage around the Chute.
The trail ascended above the river here
and towards the end of the portage there were views down to the cascading river.
We made our way to the end of the portage where the river slowed down and widened into a large eddy.
We turned around and retraced our steps back to the car at the picnic area.
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