Black Rock Mtn St Park - James Edmonds Loop

This is variation on the James Edmonds Trail by starting at the parking lot at Black Rock Lake which eliminates the steep descent and climb at the beginning of the trail if starting from Black Rock Mtn Park Rd. This trail is well marked and generally well maintained being fairly soft on one's feet. There are a few sections which are rocky, rooty or washed out, but these are the exception. You are generally either climbing or descending with a few mostly level sections. The southern portion of the trail runs alongside or across Greasy Creek or Taylor Creek with numerous cascades and the pleasant sound of flowing water. While not a lot of wildflowers were in bloom, there would be many in the early through late Spring. The hike is rated by AllTrails as hard, but for regular hikers, I would consider it moderately hard. The temperatures were in the 70's, humid and mostly high clouds. If making the loop, be aware the turn from the east fork to the west fork of the trail at the southern end of the loop is only marked by a double blaze and not a detailed sign as present elsewhere.