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| Hiking | 5.88 Miles |
1,313 AEG |
| | Hiking | 5.88 Miles | 2 Hrs 58 Mns | | 2.16 mph |
| 1,313 ft AEG | 15 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | I'd always wanted to check out this area, and we figured that this was a pretty good way to social distance. Let me start with DON'T USE GOOGLE MAPS and/or GOOGLE DIRECTIONS to get to this trailhead. It took us down some downright almost impassable forest roads which looked like "shortcuts". Fortunately I have a Jeep; however we still turned around twice. I did submit an edit to the TH directions so hopefully they are good now. It's really pretty simple though there's a lot of miles on gravel and dirt roads.
Now for the hike! We parked at Casner Tank right near the intersection of FR 538G and 538E, and walked down the (very rutted) 538E to the official Dorsey TH, where we signed the register. The hike was lovely with lots of spring flowers (small, don't know what they were) as well as some surprise irises at Dorsey Spring. It's about 3 miles to Dorsey Springs from where we parked. The first 2 miles were pretty well forested, with a subtle decline you'll notice more if you come back the same way. There is a lot of shade (not total, bring a hat) and some massive alligator junipers along the way. At about 2 miles, you drop into a fairly steep draw which takes you quickly down about 400' in elevation over the next mile to Dorsey Spring. We found this section mostly good, definitely shady, but slippery in a few places from loose soil and pine needles. It's totally doable but hiking poles are good here. We turned around at the spring, which was flowing well from the spigot. The irises just downstream were a plus. After a snack break, we turned around and headed back the way we came. We HAD intended to do Dorsey/Kelsey to Winter Cabin/Hog Hill back to the TH, but Google took us SO out of our way we were literally about two hours late from when we should have gotten there. Looks like nice oaks and maples around spring for fall color possibilities. |
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Dorsey Spring |
Gallon per minute |
Gallon per minute |
| | | flowing very well | | _____________________
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