She's Over the Top

Natural Bridge and Falls, near Big Timber, has always been a favorite family destination. We have taken my parents, who live in Michigan, to see it. When our second daughter came from New Hampshire to live with us, she was also introduced to its beauty. 

What makes this place so intriguing is its geology. The Boulder River rolls along to this spot only to plunge suddenly into a hole in the riverbed. The river literally disappears at that point, leaving the "natural bridge," and shoots out of the canyon wall several hundred yards farther down the river channel. (The far left cascade in the picture above.) We have spent a lot of time out wandering around on the dry riverbed looking at fossils. There is a time, however, when you do NOT want to be in that river channel, and that time is during the spring runoff. 

When the water rises high enough, the natural bridge is entirely covered and the water flows faster than the hole can "swallow." Now the river rages on down the channel and cascades over the canyon wall itself. The hiking trail makes its way around the the canyon rim to an observation point directly across from the falls. The view and the sound is spectacular! New this year is a hiking trail to the bottom of the falls. In the past, people have scrambled down whatever area looks the easiest to them. (Yes, we are guilty!) I am sure that an established trail will help to limit erosion, and it certainly made it easier. (Not easy, just easier!) 

Another trail has enchanted me every time we visit, yet we have never explored it. Before we even left the house, I told Dan that this time, I wanted to try it. Of course, with the falls "over the top," we spent longer at the falls themselves than we normally might have. (This is not a predictable, yearly event. In fact, this is only the second time that we have seen it.) Without much time, we only got a little way up the trail, but it was tantalizing enough that I want to go back again another day and see where it goes. 

The view from the spot where we turned around.