Silver Fork Potholes
11/15/2021: Today’s hike was freakishly easy, but the payoff at the end of the trail was tremendous. My pictures just don’t do it justice. The Potholes hike represents everything I have come to love about the High Sierras: Expanses of open granite with no trails required; crystal clear water flowing around, under and over massive boulders; roaring waterfalls; majestic Ponderosa Pine trees; and close-your-eyes-and-breathe-it-in peacefulness. Nature at her finest.
Park across the street from the trailhead. Beautiful river (Silver Fork of the American River) and waterfalls along the hike, especially at about ¾ miles in. The trail passes through burned forest from the 2021 fires. At about .6 mi you cross into private land.
Marg’s Notes: Easy day? Did not sleep in too much today but did not rush out! Had breakfast, made lunch and headed out ~9:00. This time we headed to Hwy 89. Wanted to go to Twin Lake & Meadow Lake, but the road was closed. Continued on to 88 and stopped at Silver Lake. Across the road was a hike called the Potholes. So, we did that. Really nice hike along the Silver Fork of the American River. Unfortunately, quite a bit of it was thru forest that was burned in the Caldor fire ☹. It [the trail] went along the river thru forest, then to lots of big granite! Beautiful! We clamored along the river over rocks & saw great views (burned trees too ☹) and waterfalls. Again, Rod got lots of pics. The total hikes was only 2.5 miles but pretty & a relief after yesterday. We headed back trying to find another short hike but couldn’t find any & then the wind came up. Came back to condo for lunch & a nap! Went to Raley’s for coffee filters!
Chimichangas & salad tonight.
Rod’s Ramblings from the Trail: We did not bring a lunch because it was early in the day, and we didn't even bring a backpack. The trail is very short. However, this would be a great place to bring a lunch and set and watch the stream rush by. No one was on the trail with us, but I think it would be a great place to swim in the summer.
At the end of the trail, you can scramble around the rocks and we went beyond the trail on the granite rocks and it's very easy walking around. Wear boots and trust them. The views here are magnificent and there is a little waterfall just beyond the end of the trail that is very pretty. One could probably go all the way down to the bottom of the canyon, but we decided not to. I think it is private land and I don't want to jump all over people's private property.
This is a must-do hike. The trail getting here is disappointing because of the fires but that doesn't take away from the beauty at the end of the trail with the falls and the potholes. The running water is spectacular.
The temperature on this hike was about 50 to 55°, and we both shed our top layers. It's not a hard hike but the sun was out and shining on us and clamoring around the rocks we worked up itty bitty sweat with our layers on.
We saw no one on the trail! It was wonderful. And yes, I would do it again, especially with our grandchildren someday.