It was a bit more than 10 years ago that I hiked the Caney Creek/Buckeye loop. I finally returned to hike that again along with the western part of the Caney Creek Trail, this time collecting data for a new map. I’m reminded why this trail is a favorite of many.

There had been some rain recently so I was expecting the creeks to be up a little and wouldn’t be surprised if I couldn’t cross the Cossatot River at the far end. I underestimated how much water could be in Caney Creek, however, and how that would impact the 13 crossings I would encounter.

I started at the east Caney Creek trail head and headed to the west trail head. All the creek crossings before the Buckeye junction – about the first 4 miles – were rock-hops though my boots did get wet.

As I got farther west though, Caney Creek grew more substantial at each crossing and there were no more rock-hops. As I got crotch-deep in crossing #11 at mile 7 I could feel the current trying to take me off my feet and I wasn’t even in the deepest part yet. Cowardice or good judgement made me decide I had gone far enough so I got out and hiked back a little way to set up camp.

On day 2 I headed back east but then went north on the Buckeye Trail with a side trip to Katy Falls. The trail gains about 550′ of elevation in the first 1.25 miles – from creek beds to ridge-top views.

My trip was cut short by one day so it didn’t turn out to be another “Ouachita New Year” but it was still a great time. I saw some familiar sights but much was as if for the first time. I’ve got 2.5 miles of trail at the west end left to hike but I can easily do that out-and-back once water levels drop, perhaps in conjunction with a long-overdue return to nearby Cossatot River State Park, just 8 miles downstream.