Sipsey Loop

[DirtTrailz]

We are looking to arrive at Sipsey on a Friday evening close to 7 pm. Hike enough into the trail and setup a camp, but not too close to the trailhead. Hike all day Saturday and set up camp next to some water (preferably deep enough to play in). Hike out Sunday in the a.m. What's a good loop for this timeframe? We hike at a fast pace, but would like time to play in the water in the evening and chill. Any ideas?

Thanks!

[elbowman]

Hello DirtTrailz,

A nice weekend loop that I would suggest (with lots of water) would be the following:

1. Park at the Sipsey Rec Area - 3 bucks to park the car
2. Start on trail 200 - Cross Borden Creek at the 209 junction.
3. Since you only have about 1 hour before dark, getting to Falls Creek Falls is easily done.
4. Camp at Falls Creek Falls - Trail 209 - Friday night. You can camp near the base of the falls or on top pf the falls. Very nice spot on the top.
5. Spend Saturday doing the rest of 209 up to trail 204. Camp somewhere near 204 turn off - lots of spots
6. Spend the rest of day in the Sipsey River, walk up the unoffical 204 by-pass and see the big tree.
7. Sunday morning take trail 204 to 224 to 200 at the borden creek bridge.
8. Take 200 back to your car.

Eric

[DirtTrailz]

Thank you! It's been a while (as in years) since I did a loop, so wasn't sure which trails were the best. Usually hike in, camp, follow path back. I'm familiar with all but the unofficial 204 by-pass. I want to say the last time I walked to the Big Tree, it was by ways of a horse trail until a turn off?  Telling you... moons ago!
Thanks much for the info. With your details and my map with trailheads, etc... we will be good to go.

Thanks again!!

[Jackalope]

I'm familiar with all but the unofficial 204 by-pass.

This is a well used trail that follows the east side of Bee Branch up into the canyon where the big tree is and continues beyond the "big tree canyon" to join trail 204 up on the ridge.

Another option, If you were going to arrive an hour or so earlier would be park at the Randolph trailhead and do 201/209/202. There are plenty of campsites on both sides of the river where 209 crosses and this time of the year there shouldn't be much competition for them but it will take an hour and a half or so to get there.

From there you could explore White Creek and the Ship Rock/ Needle's Eye area then head down 209 and set up camp where Bee Branch meets the Sipsey River. As Elbowman said there are lots of good campsites there and easy access to the big tree.

Sunday you would head down 209 to where 202 intersects and crosses the river follow 202 back out to the trailhead. Just after crossing the river though, you might try going upstream to the first feeder and following it a few hundred yards to Feather Hawk Falls. There might not be much water flowing over it right now but when it is flowing it's impressive. Also, check out the Johnson Cemetery on the way out.

[DirtTrailz]

I'm familiar with the 201/209/202 connection and Ship Rock/Needle's eye (not a complete stranger to Sipsey, many moons ago I think I lived there!...just need to re-familiarize myself!) Taking some newbies who have hiked everywhere but Sipsey and want to make a good impression of what all Sipsey has to offer! Thanks guys for all the suggestions... keep them coming!