The Blakiston Falls Trailhead leaves from parking lot at the end of Red Rock Canyon Parkway. It is an easy 1.6 mile round trip hike through the forest to an amazing waterfall, which still had a thunderous fall, even in drought conditions. Follow the path from the parking lot, take a left turn, and cross the bridge over Bauerman Creek. The trail will split and you want to take the right–hand trail, which is for hikers.
We enjoyed the walk as the trail started alongside Bauerman Creek, which we could sometimes catch a glimpse of. As we walked along the wide footpath while climbing ever so gently in elevation, we stopped to admire the many wildflowers that were still blooming, even in late August. Although we met some folks on the path, we still felt a little uneasy since we had previously seen a black bear cross the road and go into the evergreen shrubs that were around the start of the trail. We called out occasionally, just to create some type of noise other than our normal conversation chatter, since we did not want to surprise a bear while on the trail. Occasionally as we rounded a curve in the path, we could catch a glimpse of the mountains that surrounded us.
Blakiston Falls is about .8 of a mile from the point where the trailhead splits. As we neared the falls, we could see a large wooden observation deck that was going to provide a wonderful view of the falls. A large wooden set of steps, complete with handrails on both sides, provided access to the observation point where we got a great and unobstructed view of the falls. It was also a great spot for photographs with the complete falls in the background. It was from this observation deck that I noticed a tree trunk growing straight up that intersected with a rock to create a "cross" against the rock wall. To see the placement of two different objects by nature was more than just "unusual" to me!!
After climbing back up the steps, a short distance away was another set of steps that led to a second observation deck. This observation deck placed you at the top of the falls, where you could get a good view of the water as it fell downwards. It was a great spot to stop and reflect for a few moments in the sound of total silence except for the rushing sound of water. I wished at that moment that I had a chair and a diet Mt. Dew. I could have easily spent a few hours here, just listening to the peaceful sound of the rushing water.
This is a relatively easy hike with a good waterfall to reward you for venturing out. Take your time, stroll leisurely and enjoy the sights and sounds of the forest.