I took my aging dog with me to scout out Otter Falls for a possible Mountaineers trip later this fall, and I was surprised to learn it had 1150' gain as the grade is so gentle, it almost felt flat. Our pace averaged 2.5-3 mph with 20# pack (8.16 miles in 2:45 moving time.) We had fog and a light misting rain for most of the morning. Having never ventured past Granite Creek before, I was happy to see white lines and new pavement -- while the road is curvy, even in fog it felt manageable.
On the trail, leaves are falling everywhere, which can make the wet rocks a little treacherous. Pay attention to where you step. We enjoyed the spooky atmosphere of the fog and rain.
This is an area I've never explored before. It reminded me of Granite Creek farther down the road -- the sound of running water was with us the entire hike -- and Mt. Washington's rocky footing though without Washington's unrelenting grade. I enjoyed seeing the "surprise" waterfall about 2 miles in (at the first bridge) and wondered what Quartz Creek and Dog Mountain were like. More places to explore in the coming weeks.
We didn't see anyone else on the trail except a fisherman arriving as we packed up to leave at 11. The road for the last 1/2 mile is a little potholed, but not too bad. The outhouse is still open and well stocked with tissue.
By marking "fall foliage" I'm referring to yellows and browns. If you're looking for the vibrant reds and oranges of higher alpine trails you won't find them on this hike. I also would not recommend this for anyone who doubts their footing or is nervous about rolled ankles. If that rings a bell, be sure to bring poles. While the grade is tame, most of the trail is pretty rocky and although the stream crossings are passable right now, I can see how early spring would pose problems. Lots of mushrooms right now but we only heard 7 bird species (including tons of robins, kinglets, and a few varied thrushes) and tons of chipmunks. No bears.
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