German Ridge: North Loop Hike

Starting at the Carter Valley trailhead day-use parking area along Gerald Road, the trail crosses a 10' wide stream that can instantly soak your feet if not careful in higher water. You begin by following the blue diamonds for the outer loop of the German Ridge trail system. The first hill arrives rather quickly, but springtime wildflowers can make the strenuous climb more enjoyable. When you think you've reached the top of the hill, the trail splits, and the North Loop makes use of a connector trail to the left marked with orange diamonds. The connector trail continues uphill though, and after finally reaching the peak you are back at the return point of the Outer Trail loop marked in blue. Near this junction are the remnants of an old farmstead. The former cellar is clearly visible to your left. Turning 'left' and rejoining the trail marked in blue diamonds will lead you down a large hill. There are remnants of a cistern just off the trail. From this point, the trail bounces up and down quite a bit as you head north and northwest. The trail skirts the roadway close enough that you can see vehicles passing by, which cuts down on the solitude of the hike. Not long after passing through another parking area, the trail drops down a hill and begins to follow Gerald Road back to the parking area. You'll hop over a few feeder streams in wet weather as you make your way back.This trail is shared with horseback riders and mountain bikes. The horses make the trail quite muddy and slippery in spots when it's wet. There are also some areas where the trail is crowded by briers and vegetation. A few of steeper hills have some gravel spread on them to give a little more stable footing.You'll see a few large rocks popping out of the hills, and if there is water flowing you'll see some rippling water cascading down the hills, but there are few awe-inspiring natural or geological features on this loop.