Commons Ford is beautiful and gently used
User: estudio64 - 4/7/2012  [View Log Page]
Rating: Difficulty: Solitude:
Distance: 2.00 Miles Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Well, this looks like the first log since 2009 - and they still haven't marked any trails! Not that I consider that a bad thing - it made the park seem well-preserved. There is a sign that points to a "Picnic Area", and that's where EVERYONE is - in a big, open space with access to the water. By this measure, I was certain that we wouldn't have had any solitude at all, but I guess unmarked trails are a little too wily for most. We headed across the street opposite the picnic area and discovered some relaxing waterfalls and fun game trails that did a good job of scraping us up and getting us dirty. Wonderful setting to just play and relax.

Fun, but mark the trails!
User: josh351 - 7/10/2008  [View Log Page]
Rating: Difficulty: Solitude:
Distance: 4.00 Miles Duration: 1 hour

Went out to Commons Ford park today for a hike. It was reputed to have a 4/5 hardness and some waterfalls. Well the waterfalls weren't there but then I didn't really expect to find them flowing in July so that was no big deal. I also heard that the trails aren't well marked and this is true. I wandered around the old ranch and down by the lake then up the hill until it becam private property. I walked into the wooded area following what appeared to be a trail of sorts but this quickly came to a halt. I saw a snake but it was no rattler or water moccasin, I just waked around it. Down the hill toward the road I met the waterfall trail. At least I assume that's what it was it stopped by some places that obviously have waterfalls at some point in the year. The trail kinda stopped at what would have been a good sized waterfall a couple months ago. I didn't know that the trail ended so I walked around trying to find the trail, eventually ending up some two miles outside the park on private property. I'd say to make sure to stay on marked trails but there weren't any. Oh well, I had fun. I wouldn't give the trail a 4/5 toughness though, I hiked it in under an hour with a forty pound pack, in ninety five degree weather and I only used a third of my three liter camelback. Try hiking McKittrick Canyon  and see if this was even close. Once again, I still had fun, just not as difficult as I desired.