Return to Murray Falls
May 1, 2006
Two-and-a-half years ago I almost fell to
my death at Murray Falls, and was forbidden by my dear wife
from ever returning. I had slipped, dislocated my
shoulder, and wound up straddling three young trees at
the edge of a cliff beside the falls. I knew Stacey would
eventually relax her stance and be o.k. with me going back. Yet
this was much more than another item on my “must be
seen” list; it was unfinished business.
I was beginning to wonder if I would ever
return to Murray Falls. That fateful November morning seemed so
long ago, and every time we had a big rain some other waterfall
was calling my name.
Then finally on a Monday afternoon when the
load at work was light and I saw the opportunity to go
waterfall chasing, Murray Falls was the obvious choice. I
needed a spot that was a short drive away and only required a
brief hike.
I parked at the Cherry Bend Trailhead north
of Cass and headed down the hiking trail. It was THE steepest
trail I can remember, and I abandoned it for the woods early
on. I went straight down the hillside to intersect with the
creek running down the hollow, then hung a right and walked
downstream.
I stopped at a neat little waterfall where
the stream split into two before spilling over a small ledge.
The two halves met up as they hit the pool below, giving the
waterfall a “V” shape.
Soon I was at the top of Murray Falls,
where the stream flows over a large, flat rock before tumbling
over the edge. Going to the right would take me along that
steep hillside where I’d had the accident; that
wasn’t an option! To the left was a another hillside, but
I could make out a faint trail going up it. I followed the
trail and in a few minutes I was on top of a mound and going
back down hill toward the edge of the box canyon.
A side stream came in here, forming a
pretty waterfall a mere 30 feet away from the lip off the
canyon. This stream fell over the canyon edge 29 feet forming
what Tim Ernst has named Senyard Falls.
Past this second waterfall I found a break
in the bluffline where I could climb down inside the box
canyon. I headed upstream and walked underneath Senyard Falls
and to the base of Murray Falls.
On the way out I made a detour and walked
directly below Senyard Falls. I remember thinking that the boys
would love the place. The smaller stream soon joined the main
stream below Murray Falls, near a nice small waterfall just
upstream.
I had stayed much too late, and it was
pretty dark down in the hollow. I made my way back toward the
truck as quickly as possible, though I was without a
flashlight. I used my GPS receiver to guide me back, but on the
steep hillside below the parking area I ran into the worst
tangle of fallen trees and sticker vines I’d ever seen
(or rather felt, since it was pretty dark by then!).
