Despite being a bit off the beaten path and the majority of the hike being on an old gravel road...Blackburn Vista is well worth it as the vista is one of the most Gorge'ous around!
Difficulty
Easy hike, difficult to navigate. The hike is mainly flat and on a large gravel road, but finding and navigating the trail is hard, a GPS is needed.
Length:
~4 miles out and back.
Dog Friendly:
Yes, except for the vista point. The hike itself is very friendly, but extreme caution is needed at the vista as there are huge drop-offs and a large gap needing jumped to access the actual vista point. My shepherd could have made it, though I kept her back as a slip here would be deadly. If romping with your pup, the 'vista' itself doesn't need to be your destination though, as everything around you at the point is beautiful and the advantage the vista provides was no better in my opinion then just staying on the cliff edges surrounding it. Also to note you could see horses and off road vehicles here.
Getting There
Getting to the trail head: you will definitely need a car GPS or you will not find it. You'll end up on unmarked gravel roads deep in the country, and it's easy to get lost here. A truck or 4wd vehicle isn't needed, but the roads can be muddy and expect some rocks and fallen branches, I personally would only come here in my truck.
The final part of the hike you will also need a GPS and coordinates, it is unmarked.
The Hike
I personally feel late fall to early spring is the best time to visit, as you can see the rolling hills and cliffs for miles and it's easier to orientate yourself. The hike starts off at an old cemetery then you'll be hiking a forest service road for approximately 1.5 miles before you veer off on unmarked trails for another half a mile.
The hike itself was beautiful with tall trees, wide open trails, and plenty of options to explore. The gravel road isn't as bad as it sounds as it's not maintained like other popular access roads/trails in RRG. You do veer off on unmarked trails and enter a dense forest before coming to Blackburn Vista. The vista is absolutely beautiful and right up there with Auxier Ridge as one of my favorite lookout points. Sweeping views and a unique viewpoint from a rarely visited side of the Gorge.
For detailed route information and GPS coordinates, please see this other site's page:
http://toredrivergorge.com/top-10-day-hikes/indian-staircase-area/blackburn-vista-4-0-miles/
Difficulty
Easy hike, difficult to navigate. The hike is mainly flat and on a large gravel road, but finding and navigating the trail is hard, a GPS is needed.
Length:
~4 miles out and back.
Dog Friendly:
Yes, except for the vista point. The hike itself is very friendly, but extreme caution is needed at the vista as there are huge drop-offs and a large gap needing jumped to access the actual vista point. My shepherd could have made it, though I kept her back as a slip here would be deadly. If romping with your pup, the 'vista' itself doesn't need to be your destination though, as everything around you at the point is beautiful and the advantage the vista provides was no better in my opinion then just staying on the cliff edges surrounding it. Also to note you could see horses and off road vehicles here.
Getting There
Getting to the trail head: you will definitely need a car GPS or you will not find it. You'll end up on unmarked gravel roads deep in the country, and it's easy to get lost here. A truck or 4wd vehicle isn't needed, but the roads can be muddy and expect some rocks and fallen branches, I personally would only come here in my truck.
The final part of the hike you will also need a GPS and coordinates, it is unmarked.
The Hike
I personally feel late fall to early spring is the best time to visit, as you can see the rolling hills and cliffs for miles and it's easier to orientate yourself. The hike starts off at an old cemetery then you'll be hiking a forest service road for approximately 1.5 miles before you veer off on unmarked trails for another half a mile.
The hike itself was beautiful with tall trees, wide open trails, and plenty of options to explore. The gravel road isn't as bad as it sounds as it's not maintained like other popular access roads/trails in RRG. You do veer off on unmarked trails and enter a dense forest before coming to Blackburn Vista. The vista is absolutely beautiful and right up there with Auxier Ridge as one of my favorite lookout points. Sweeping views and a unique viewpoint from a rarely visited side of the Gorge.
For detailed route information and GPS coordinates, please see this other site's page:
http://toredrivergorge.com/top-10-day-hikes/indian-staircase-area/blackburn-vista-4-0-miles/