Tin Cup Joe Falls — Friday, May. 13, 2022

We started at middle fork campground and trail ran as much as possible to the Cripple Creek Bridge. The m fork trail is quite muddy in sections so we had to walk a bit. 

I've been to the lower falls before but never beyond so I was determined to get a better look. The trail is the same as 5 years ago, maybe a little better defined. You need to be nimble, particularly for one very large old growth tree that's tricky to get over and very slippery. 

At the lower falls we continued up and right, up a talus field and then at a second bit of talus we continued up and left, got cliffed out here. We backtracked, hoping that side hilling in slide alder at the cairn near the base of this talus field would get us an even better view of the falls. We're climbers so slide alder is something we've encountered before. It wasn't great, but it was brief and allowed us to scramble into a flat basin like area between the middle and upper falls. Wow. It was spectacular. This might not be doable when the alder leafs out, or at times of higher water flow. 

Watch the trail carefully on the way out as it's a bit harder to find your way than on the way in. The trail run out is as lovely as always with gorgeous views of Garfield (which I treasure after successfully climbing it in 2021). 

12 miles 2000 gain on our route. It's a great trip, recommended for those with route finding abilities and nimble feet only.