Fern Canyon Trail

 

This trail leaves a parking area at the end of the campground area in Van Damme State Park . The first part of the trail is on Fern Canyon Road (name according to park map) and is a dirt road but no motor vehicles are permitted. I found this to be very enjoyable easy hiking along a stream filled with ferns on the banks. The trail has about 6 bridge crossings that are picturesque and nice to view the stream from. This part of the trail is 2.5 miles long and relatively flat. It ends where the loop starts.

The actual Fern Canyon Trail continues up hill for another 2.3 miles to the Pygmy Forest Parking area. This is also a nice hike but the trail is steeper and singletrack. This is usually combined with a fire road that leads back down the mountain from the Pygmy Forest for another 1.2 miles to Fern Canyon Road.

All total would be 8.5 miles. Easy to add this up as signage posts the miles. However the park ranger at the gate told me the total is 7 miles. And just to confuse things, my GPS put it at 8.8 miles. Just be prepared for a long hike. The highlight is Fern Canyon Road which is flat. Out and back is a pleasant 5 miles. No need to do the upper loop.