A Day at Paradise Falls- Hiking in the Bighorns
Written By: Katelyn Parker /Photos By: Jeremy Martin
The Sheridan area is one of the more beautiful regions in the state. There’s an abundance of outdoor recreation available to locals and visitors such as great hiking, camping, hunting, fishing and more. Outdoor enthusiasts can experience several great hikes just outside of Sheridan in the Bighorn Mountains. I have been fortunate to have hiked several of these incredible trails but one of the most memorable experiences I have had in the Bighorn Mountains is the first time I hiked to Paradise Falls.
About the Hike
The trailhead for Paradise Falls is right off 14A highway and easy to spot from the road. The hike is relatively short, only equating to around 2.5 miles there and back but it is fairly steep so come prepared with water and trekking poles if you need them. From the parking area the trail descends into the creek valley, winding through the Bighorn National Forest. The trail follows the creek through massive pine trees and into a clearing where the landscape opens up and the view is spectacular. Massive granite rock formations create magnificent canyon walls that are spattered with pine trees and wildflowers. The horizon seems to go on forever, providing the onlooker with an incredible display of the natural world. The end of the trail is what makes this such a popular destination. The creek travels over a smooth bed of granite that overtime has eroded in the most fascinating way. The water travels over the smooth rock surface to a series of different pools before making the main descent to the canyon floor.
The Unexpected Tragedy
Because the granite had been eroded into a smooth surface it was hard to find good traction in my Chaco sandals. My Chacos usually award myself great footing but because of the soap like texture of the rock I was afraid of falling into one of the deep pools so I made the decision that I would have better traction if I took my shoes off. I sat down at the edge of the first big pool and took off one shoe and sat it next to me to free my hands to take off the other. As soon as I let go of my Chaco it immediately slid down the granite rock and into the pool. In order to understand how devastating this was, I need to explain the previous weeks adventure.
Let Me Explain
The week previous we travelled to southern Missouri to take a float trip on the White River. During the float we were stuck in a torrential storm that brought heavy rain, aggressive lightening, and a massive drop in temperature. When we finally made it to the takeout, there was a short walk back to the campground through ankle deep mud. When we arrived, my Chacos were so caked with mud that I decided to leave them outside of the tent,s strategically placing them next to the car where I was sure I wouldn’t forget them. It wasn’t until we had been driving for two hours that I realized my plan had not worked and I did indeed forget them, giving me a sinking feeling. You see, my Chaco’s were my adventure shoes. When I strapped them on, the activity to follow was sure to be fantastic because it meant I would be experiencing the outdoors. I was devastated and also panicking because I was planning on going back to Wyoming the following week and would definitely need my adventure shoes. I had to wish my old shoes an apprehensive farewell and ordered a new pair with fingers crossed that they would arrive on time, which they did.
I Refuse to Accept Defeat!
Fade back to Paradise Falls. My shoe had just made the graceful glide into one of the pools and panic ensued. I quickly took off my other shoe and held it tight looking for a way to retrieve my other shoe before it took the big dive off the falls. Chasing it as it travelled, I couldn’t find a good opportunity to grab it and finally I was forced to watch as it went over the falls which seemed to happen in slow motion. Seriously?! For a brief second, I felt bested by the landscape, and I couldn’t help but wonder why the universe was so determined to separate me from my adventure shoes. I refused to concede! Feeling determined not to accept defeat I scurried up and over rocks and found a way down to the bottom of the falls, ignoring the pain the rough ground was causing my feet. Finally at the bottom I travelled up and down the creek bed looking for my shoe. Hours of searching went by and my feet were killing me and climbing over rocks and contorting my body to search every crevasse had weakened all of my muscles. I was about to give up and was trying to convince myself that the hike back to the car wouldn’t be too difficult in bare feet. It was at that point that I noticed a small cave behind the waterfall. I climbed up the slick rock face looking for a way to see in and I noticed there was a small pool that had collected trash from other visitors. I squeezed my body through a small gap and lowered myself down into the cave and low and behold my shoe was bobbing in the water. Immediate relief flooded over me, and I was ecstatic that I would not have to hike in bare feet back to the car and I would not have to purchase my second pair of Chacos in the span of a week.
Finding the Bright Side
Even though the hike did not end up the way we had planned, it was still an experience that I am not likely to forget and because of the unfortunate shoe incident, we were awarded the opportunity to see more of that country than we had intended. If you decide to take the beautiful hike to Paradise Falls, let this be a warning to you. The rock is slick and the water will eat your shoe if you’re not careful. I have since been back to the falls several times because the mountain views and the incredible water features are not something that I only wanted to experience once. This is and always will be one of my favorite hikes in the Bighorns. Some other great hikes I have experienced in the area are Bucking Mule Falls, Porcupine Falls, and Black Mountain Lookout Trail.
If you find yourself in the Sheridan area and are looking for some outdoor recreation, all these hikes are incredible and memorable. Be sure to share your adventures and tag us @LiveWYldMag and use #LiveWYld. Happy exploring!