Cheesman Canyon

Took my family(17, 16, 13 and 10 yo + 40lb dog) this afternoon. Spent a total of 3 hours with a few river breaks. It was warm but breezy. Bring bandanas and throw them in the river; they feel awesome on your neck while hiking. I would rate sections of it as easy(from TH to split about .75 miles in)but it definitely gets harder in places along the ridge as the trail gets narrower with crushed granite as the only footing with steep drops toward the river.

Most of the hike is actually on a mountainside and can be dangerous if you're not careful. Best advice: take it slow and enjoy the GORGEOUS VIEW!!! There will be a sign when you begin your hike, maybe a quarter mile in, go to your right. About a mile to a mile and half from there, you can find an area to climb down and reach the river. Have fun!!

Beautiful canyon hike.

I started around 11am and finished around 3pm. The trail will split past the sign and you can either take the high trial above the water or the low trail by the water edge.

Misleading to call portions of this easy. In fact found myself in one or two extremely difficult/hard spots where I questioned if I was going to fall a hundred feet into the river. I'd say I was in a bind at one point up there with the most difficult hiking. Eventually got to a point on the lower trail that was off the trail by accident. At one point it was very slippery with gravel and there was little to nothing to hold onto. Be warned if you get off the upper trail that it is not safe to try and get back up to the trail. Once you are off trail by the waterline it is easy to get lost. It gets steep and treacherous and at one point I considered swimming back and in the river because where I was at was literally a cliffface straight down. Luckily i didn't fall and was able to basically crawl back up but almost did fall and having a backpack didn't help either.

Also be warned that the rocks by the river are slippery and it's easy to lose balance. After finding the upper trail it seemed to me to just taper off although i thought i saw the trial continue, however it became extremely steep and the loose gravel i didn't risk falling so i turned around.

Positives: Great views, especially the upper trail on the way back.

Negatives: Saw used, discarded hypodermic needles right off path on upper trail (hard to miss since the syringes and orange plastic did not belong out there). Felt extremely grossed out by this. Extremely DISTURBING to say the least both the fact people are shooting up out there and the fact they just left their used, hazardous TRASH. Disgusting.
>>>Would have given 5 stars except for the hazardous needles (pack in pack out / LEAVE NO TRACE is basic hiking etiquette) and dangerous conditions when you get off trail by accident.

I took my 3 teenage kiddos today. It was hot(we left later than planned). It beautiful, scenic and full of small critters. Great time and plenty of trees to get into shade. We will go back again and again. Only draw back was people left their dog doo doo bags on the side of the trail or didnt even pick up in some areas.

Nice trail with some shade. Parking lot at the trailhead does fill quickly. There are some areas that have been washed out and can be tricky. Approximately .75 miles in, you will come to a sign about the trail, canyon, and river. You can split away from the upper trail there to go down to the river. Be warned that trail along the river is difficult in areas, and is definitely not kid or novice hiker friendly. Stay to the upper trail for an easy hike with great views.

Great hike! Not too challenging but the scenery was great. Lost of people fly fishing. Our dogs loved playing in the water!

Just go, it's worth it.

Love the hike. The end game is the best though..catching tanks!!

Beautiful trail runs right along the river -lots of fly fishing and some nice pools for breaking at.

Lots of people fishing the river. Really quite scenic and very easy.

Only did a part of it but it was gorgeous. There are plenty of people but it didn’t seem overcrowded. Plenty of “river access” spots to go directly to the river.