Adventures with Uncle Bob

DIXON SPRINGS STATE PARK

Directions: Take I-24 to Vienna and then go east on RT 146 for eleven miles to the park. Proceed to the parking area by the swimming pool. There you will find the trailhead to the Ghost Canyon Trail. Follow the orange markers. Note the first junction where you can cross the creek bed; instead, continue straight ahead where the trail will ascend to scenic views over the canyon. This spur trail will end at a nice rock shelter and cliff top. Retrace your route back to the intersection, cross the creek bed, an go right. Before proceeding right, you may want to bushwhack uphill to your left to view a couple nice rock shelters/caves. The trail is somewhat rocky, but now you are on the canyon floor taking in views of the shut-ins, the continuous cliff line, and looking up at the canyon walls. The trail continues past another shelter bluff. Following rains, a cascade of water will flow swiftly down rock ledges. At some point, there is a confusing junction: double marker-go right. Later the trail will ascend through forest and then seems to disappear. Your choice is to bushwhack to the cliff line where you should go left and carefully walk along cliffs until you descend to the creek crossing. If you don’t bushwhack, re-trace the route back to the parking lot. While here, I recommend that you go to the main area to walk along the rock formations and stone canyon mazes.

You can continue your adventure from the parking lot by looking for the churches that can be seen in the distance. Drive to the churches and follow the road to a new trailhead. A sign will say "Pine Tree Trail" but the Bluff Trail uses part of the same route. The trail begins as a walk through a pine tree plantation. Trees have both blue and orange trail markers. After approximately
one mile there is an intersection. Both trail signs say "Trail". Take the left route on the Bluff Loop Trail. Soon you will cross a narrow creek and follow a pretty bluff line with small caves. At approximately 0.5 mile, the trail turns right to
re-cross the creek and head back to the trailhead. Before doing so, note the user-made trail straight ahead which continues to an area with spectacular views along the cliff line. At one point, you will ascend a wet, rock incline. At the top you will cross an enormous smooth stone glade. Follow the rock cairns to pick up the trail into the forest to the top of the cliffs. Walk over to the edges for some views. After a mile, I ran into an unmarked intersection and decided to turn around. One of those forks is supposed to go to Signal Point Trail in Lake Glendale. Retreat back to the creek crossing to complete the loop. You might as I did, make a wrong turn somewhere and end up on the Tree Trail which also ends in the camping area. Don't panic. Just before the clearing, note the orange hexagon marker on your right. Follow that faint trail about 100 feet and you will end up at your car. The park brochure is available at any state park office.