Water Canyon Trail

From the Water Canyon Trailhead, the trail starts behind the pond and then parallels the creek. For the most part, the trail is well-defined, but there are a number of spurs leading to the creek that sometimes make it difficult to stay on the main path. While the trail starts out fairly flat, it will quickly ascend more steeply. The closer you get to the mouth of the canyon, the more impressive and intimidating the canyon walls will become. The trail will stick against the left side of the canyon and then enter it. At this point, the canyon walls are about 40 feet apart but will get closer and closer. Follow the creek to a pour-off that you'll need to get past. Be careful as it can be slippery. Stay on the left afterwards and watch out for a very narrow trail that will switchback up the left side of the canyon. At this point, the trail is very narrow, sometimes not even a foot wide, with a significant drop-off right next to you. This section of the trail is very steep as you get higher. You'll occasionally have to climb and even pull yourself up using roots or sheer muscle power. If you think the trail does not go any further, just look up very closely and you'll find it again. With increasing altitude, you'll get better and better views of the canyon itself and the upper plateau. Once you reach the top and the distinct "Top Rock" feature, the trail fades, but there is a series of small platforms that make for a good stop before you head back down.