French Creek Area Fire Trail
This hike was suppose to be the French Creek Trail hike, but what was described as an obvious trail to us was not. As a result we passed the French Creek Trail up and ended up on an old fire trail. The fire trail that we followed took us to Fisherman’s Flats Road and the Fisherman’s Flat’s Trail in Custer State Park. This fire trail went mostly uphill, had little shade, and the scenery was mostly burnt trees. What we did see though was a herd of elk which was amazing. We have never seen anything like that before and that made our mistake all the better. The fire trail ended up being a little short of 10 miles out and back. We also saw information on line that if we took Fisherman’s Flat Trail it would hook up with the French Creek Trail which we also searched for and did not find. The 10 miles total includes our hike down Fisherman’s Flats Trail as well as looking for the other trail, giving up, and then heading back the original way we came.
Where we began at the French Creek Trail.
Nice and easy.
Cross the creek a couple of times.
This is where we passed our original goal of hiking the French Creek Trail and ended up on the fire trail.
Goes up quite a bit and no shade.
The fire trail does intersect with other trails so getting lost at times could be possible.
We see the herd of elk on the hill across from us.
Pretty desolate at times.
This is me getting shade.
We are not alone.
We finally see a road.
At the end of Fisherman’s Flats Road.
We are at the Fisherman’s Flat Trail now at the end of the road.
We hiked down to Fisherman’s Flats hoping to catch up with the French Creek Trail which stated on mapping you could do. We could not find the trail and had to turn around and go all the way back the way we had come.
Beginning of Fisherman’s Flats Trail.
Down at the bottom looking for the trail. We can’t find it.
We turn around and head back up the trail. Not sure if we were suppose to cross the stream, but we did not want to get wet if we weren’t sure.
Walking back we see and hear the prairie dogs.
Looks like a small cave.
Back down we go.
This is where the French Creek Trail actually goes to the right - not very obvious to us. Thus why we missed it.
Almost back to the beginning of the trail.