After seeing all the reports of raging rivers and roaring waterfalls, I decided to check out the falls in my neck of the woods.
There was water over Monroe Camp Rd at Woods Creek, but only a couple inches - it will be gone by the weekend. The gravel road walk was a gravel road walk, but I was encouraged by the sound of the distant falls. When I got there, the creek was just a little too full to cross, so I continued down the road a bit to where it crossed the creek, then came up the other side. (the falls are best viewed across and up the creek) I was disappointed that it wasn't flowing as much as I had hoped; it seemed like just a bit more water than the usual winter flow. I suppose that's due to the fact that it's a very small basin that feeds the creek.
Since I had taken the trouble to cross the creek, I figured I might as well go to the top. The trail is steep in places and badly sloped in others, but ok otherwise. Kudos to whoever built it. Considered following the trail past the top, but it requires another creek crossing, and I just wasn't into it. Besides, late afternoon on a cloudy day is dark up in those woods.
Had a nice sit at the top of the falls, then headed back. (be careful up there - it would be a deadly slip) It wasn't spectacular by any means, but it was nice to get out.
Comments
The trail that goes up hill above the falls was built many years ago by the Boy Scouts from the local scout camp you drive by on the Monroe Log Road. The trail follows the creek, then crosses it and comes to a old logging railroad grade once used by the Monroe Logging Company back in the 1920's-30's when try logged the area that is now DNR land. Above the old grade the trail switchbacks up the hill side and comes to a trail junction. Right goes to a DNR spur road where there was on old shelter. Left went into the woods. Back in the 1980's and 90's when I lived near Lake Roesiger during my running days I used to run the DNR and Weyco roads so would run the trails above Explorer Falls as the Boy Scouts kept them in good shape back then. George
Posted by:
George & Sally on Dec 11, 2025 09:03 PM
I once took that trail (and the maze of DNR roads) all the way to Echo Lake where the old Boy Scout shelter was. There was a wooden boardwalk there that stretched out 100ft into the lake. A recent clearcut had obliterated the trail, but the shelter was just inside the riparian zone so was still standing. Just some poles and a tattered tarp.
Have also been left into the woods...
Posted by:
mato on Dec 11, 2025 09:37 PM