Waterfalls
Waterfalls
Traditionally thought of waterfalls are vertical drops where there is little to any interference with the water on the way down. Some waterfalls will actually be a series of falls, where water will drop for a distance, into a pool area, then continue to flow to another drop.
Cascades
Cascades are a type of waterfall where the water runs down a vertical drop, but there is some incline to the rock, causing it to flow and crash most of the way down.
Rapids
Rapids are not waterfalls. Rather they are made by rocks in the river flowing downstream. As the water hits the rocks, it will cause them to crash and splash, sometimes giving the view of mini-waterfalls.
White water rafting is a sport for adventurous types who wish to go down these rivers rapids in large rafts. It is suggested you go with an experienced tour guide, especially if you haven’t “Shot the rapids” before. White water rafting are graded from a 1 to 5 scale as to how difficult it is.
Wet Weather Fall
A wet weather fall whose water flow is one dependent upon recent rain or snow melt. During some times of the year, the waterfall may disappear.
For more information on Wet Weather Waterfalls, check out our link.
Year Round Waterfall
Year round waterfalls have good water flow throughout the year, independent upon weather. They may form from a spring, or off of a major river which has year round flow.
For more information on Year Round Weather Waterfalls, check out our link.
Hiking Trail
Blazed Trail
A blazed trail is a trail that has been cut out and marked, usually by a color. You should be able to find markers, designating a said trail. Generally these will either be on a metal pole, or as paint sprayed on a tree trunk. These markers will help you stay on the right trail, especially if trails combine and diverge at different points.
You can tell different trails, because they will have different colors. Sometimes directions will tell you to follow the “blue blazed” trail, or something similar. Use the appropriate colors to get to the right location.
In & Out
This designated that your trail takes you to a location (going “in”), like a waterfall or overlook, and then you return (coming “out”) via the same trail you used to hike there.
If a distance is given, you need to see if it is designated as a round trip distance. If not, then assume the distance is measured from (starting) point to (end) point, and thus the total distance will be double what you see. This is a good safety idea, to ensure you are not stranded on a trail at night.
Round Trip
If you see a distance given, and you are told round trip (sometimes abbreviated RT), that means that your hike will be that distance total. So, for example, if you see “Easy hike 1.2 miles RT”, that means you will hike 0.6 miles in, and 0.6 miles out, for 1.2 miles total round trip.
Loop
If you see a hike referenced as a Loop, for example, “Easy 1.2 mile loop”, that means that the trail goes past the waterfall, and comes back to where you started, without you having to turn around to go back.