Hike 5: Homestead Valley trailhead to Cedar Falls trailhead

Driving there:  From Eastbound I-90 exit 38, turn south a short distance.  Turn right up the hill to the Homestead Valley trailhead.  Discover pass required.  There's a machine at the entrance to the parking lot.  I don't know if it takes cash or credit cards.

And you thought he was just a legend...

Follow the trail up to a gravel road.  Turn right and follow the road up to the John Wayne trail.  It was fairly sunny, but cool.  The leaves are starting to pile up on the trail.  We passed a lot of unmarked side trails, where do they all go?  Passed Twin Falls trail on the right.  We continued past a power substation and the Ragnar sign.  All of these big railroad signs refer to little towns that no longer exist.  Boetzke creek trestle was nice, then Weeks creek.  An unmarked trail on the right led to a view down a powerline and the south fork valley.  Passed Cedar Butte trail on the left, then Boxley creek.  Saw another unmarked side trail on the right, it looks maintained but no sign to tell us where it goes.  Passed Cedar Falls sign.  Turned right onto a short trail that led to the Cedar Falls trailhead.

We haven't seen much in the way of animals so far, just a few birds and squirrels.  I guess they saw us first.

This is the western end of the John Wayne/Iron Horse trail.  But the journey has just begun...

The amazing ant people on Rattlesnake ledge

Side trip:  Twin Falls

Side trip:  Cedar Butte

Side trip:  Rattlesnake ledge has a great view, and it's not too difficult a climb.  It's pretty crowded on a summer weekend.