Grover Hot Sprints (Alpine County, California)

The dawn of a new year always brings the opportunity to start things off fresh and right. I decided to simply keep doing what I've been doing whenever time allows, and get out for a snowshoe. A meet up group that I haven't hiked with in a couple of years had posted a snowshoe trip into Grover Hot Springs State Park near Markleeville, CA and since I have never visited this area, it seemed a great opportunity to do so.

Meeting two other hikers at Trader Joe's in Carson City on a frigid New Years Day, we caravaned the thirty-five miles south to the park. The two ladies I was with wanted to take a dip in the improved hot springs pool before leaving, and as I wanted to get home after the snowshoe, I drove separately. The park was closed when we arrived, but being unsure of entry fees I asked a gentlemen tending to pool fed by the hot springs. He said not to worry about it this time.

As we surveyed the surrounding hills and mountains, we saw snow only at the higher elevations and so, decided to forego our snowshoes and simply hike. While this area is gorgeous, I have very little in the way of expectations of what we might find along the trail. My fellow hikers mentioned a waterfall not terribly far away and we decide to make our way to check it out.

With the air temperature around twenty degrees this morning, the creek is mostly frozen over, but some flowing water can be seen through the small ice sheets. The path to the waterfall requires a minor amount of rock scrambling, but it provides a nice diversion. 

After a mile or so, we arrive at the falls, which must be a site to see in the spring, but is currently mostly frozen over. Three separate falls cascade over the rocks at the end of this little canyon. Each must be a torrent during the spring melts. We scramble around a bit trying to get some good shots, but the sun has not yet climbed over the mountain to the southeast and we are in complete shadow. Still, it's a nice site.

We double-back the way we came and decide to hike up part of the way towards Burnside Lake hoping to get a better view of the valley. From the fork that divides the waterfall trail from the lake trail, we start up the mountainside through a dense alpine forest. It's pretty steep, but I'm happy to get the exercise. After about a mile, we find a nice clearing in the trees that offers a pretty good view and we decide to stop for a quick snack before returning to the cars.

The way back is pretty easy going and we make good time. A few other hikers are now hiking in the way from the way we came. Apparently, it has warmed up enough to bring out some crowds. Arriving back at the cars, I see we have hiked nearly 5.1 miles. What a great way to start out the year.