Hidden Falls Regional Park Walk

Sponsored by the Placer Pacers, the Hidden Falls Regional park walk started out just above the parking lot.
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Hidden Falls Regional Park, formerly known as Didion Ranch, is a 221-acre open space park and was acquired under the Placer Legacy Open Space and Agricultural Conservation Program. It has been called the "crown Jewel" of the program. Placer Legacy is a voluntary program to conserve open space, help preserve the local farm economy, protect native plants and wildlife, and provide more passive recreation opportunities to the public. The park features include seven miles of natural surface trails suitable for hiking, running, biking and horseback riding. Outstanding natural features at Hidden Falls include Coon Creek and Deadman Creek, groves of blue oak woodlands and a year-round waterfall, 20-30 foot high. The walk started out going up Sky Ridge Trail for a scenic look at the area from on high, then looped back to Poppy Loop Trail. Wildflowers were every place, with bright yellow poppies especially evident on the Poopy Loop Trail. After several switch backs, the walk crossed the bridge over Deadman's Creek and continued on Blue Oak Loop and Seven Pools Vista Trails to a high overlook at Coon Creek. There was a breath taking panoramic view of Coon Creek, it's waterfall, some of the seven pools and the whole valley from the overlook. Leaving the overlook, the walk followed trails over the hilltop and down to Falls Access Trail, which turned into a narrow trail with rock steps above Deadman Creek leading to the Hidden Falls. There will be a redwood deck near the falls that gives oustanding views, but it was not yet completed. There is a narrow path through the rocks, not part of this walk, that snakes down to the pools just past the falls where people can swim and enjoy the cool water. Coon Creek and Deadman Creek join together shortly past this area. The walk then backtracked over the Deadman's Creek bridge and back up the switchbacks to the end point.

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