Garden Valley - Area Attractions

4 & 5 • Moondipper - Pine Burl

Take your choice of trails from Boiling Springs upriver. Two separate springs flow down the banks of a creek just above the river into a pair of scenic soakers spaced 50 yards apart along the tree-studded canyon. Both get swamped during high water, so fall is an ideal time go visit these spots. One trail, steep and slippery in spots, hugs the west side of the river all the way. This is the safer route during high water. The Middle Fork Trail is more direct, but you’ll have to ford several times in the 2-mile hike upstream. When you reach Dash Creek, the first side stream on the west side, you’ll find Moondipper 30 yards up the creek against a rocky bank. The large, sandy-bottomed pool can hold several happy soakers and offers a great view up the canyon. Pine Burl, a gem tucked out of sight a few bends up the creek, has a pool roughly 7 to 8 feet in diameter. The name, once inscribed on a small masonry dam at the downstream end, has eroded away, but the inspiration for it still sits up the hill on the north side. The spring perks up through the sandy bottom, and if the water gets too hot, you can shift the rocks at the other end to let creek water trickle in.

6 • Groundhog

1.3 miles beyond Moondipper and Pine Burl, there is little foot traffic, and the way is pretty brushy. Watch for Ground Hog Creek on the west bank shortly before the 8th ford of the river. Right after this crossing, the river makes a horseshoe bend to the right. Cross the river one last time to find the springs in the center of the curve on the east bank. Pool gets little use, so be prepared to move some rocks!

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Bull Creek

Take Silver Creek Trail vs. Middle Fork. Drop down the far side of Silver Creek Summit into Bull Creek. Take Bull Creek Trail. Turn left and follow it 2.7 miles downstream above the north bank of Bull Creek. The trail drops steeply to a bridge over a small stream, then reaches another with no bridge. Look 30 feet uphill and climb up to reach the springs on a granite bluff overlooking the canyon. REMOTE and can get hot!