Three Trail Safety Checks

Glorious sunshine with mid-day high tides point to time in the forest! Hidden Falls had been calling me for months. The trailhead is located on Hwy 2 just past Prospect Road with a small parking area to safely pull your vehicle off the road while you enjoy time in the forest.

Thanks to the wet summer we have enjoyed the trail was muddy in places and the mosquitoes were ferocious. I persevered as far as I could but the water was to deep to safely cross and pick up the trail on the opposite side. I will returned better prepared next time.

My recommendation to all: bring your trekking poles for balance and support on the rocky sections interspersed with exposed roots, too many tripping hazards to mention. Also, pack your water shoes if you intend to make the falls your final destination. The trail is estimated to be a ten minute walk. Allow for extra time with the river crossing and rough terrain.

Back in the car I decided to visit the old Parrsboro Dam. The trailhead is adjacent to the Prospect Road intersection with Hwy 2 and on my way back to town.

The trail is overgrown but clearly marked and easy to follow. Again, sections were muddy and some required careful negotiation around the edges because the puddles were quite deep. There are two creeks to cross. I made it safely through the first by using the large rocks to get to the opposite side. The second creek is always deeper and today it was no different. The large rocks were submerged below the rushing waters and looked slippery. I might have tried to cross if I had brought my trekking poles and water shoes. Instead I opted for safety and dry feet.

I headed back to the car and drove along Prospect Road to Newville Road. There I decided to turn onto Newville Road instead of Beaverdam.

Jeffers Falls was calling. The last time I stopped here and walked the newly developed trail was November 2022. I have heard visitors asking where to park. The shoulder opposite the trailhead has been improved and is the best place to park. Traffic along Newville Road is light and any parked cars are easy to spot.

This trail is marked as “easy to moderate” and to be about 260 m in length. The “easy to moderate” classification is for hikers who hit the trail regularly. As a certified field leader I would not bring clients who have knee or hip pain. The trail is rugged and closed toe shoes with sturdy treads are a must. The rocky sections are real ankle twisters.

I persevered and made it to the end of the trail. I remembered the last section as rocky and somewhat unstable. But I walked to where the falls are visible and captured this video:

And then I turned around and realized what was overhead!

When I approached from the other side this rocky wall was hidden by tall trees. I gathered all my courage and rushed back to where I came from, heart beating and grateful for managing this section without incident.

Back at the trailhead I turned left onto the road and walked the 200 m to the gravel road leading to a woodland trail above the falls. This is the way I viewed them the first time on New Year’s Day 2021. It is still the best place to view at the falls from above. While the upper woodland trail is not the official way to access the falls I actually feel it is easier to navigate. I would definitely bring clients here instead of the official trail off the main road.

Once again, trekking poles are beneficial to aid with balance.

It was a busy afternoon checking on trails. Out of three falls I managed to reach one. Some might consider this a less than successful mission. I am grateful for the insights I gained. It enables me to provide up-to-date information on popular destinations in the Parrsboro and Cliffs of Fundy Geopark area.