Hit mile 40 on a trail I'd done 20 times before and found a creek I never knew existed

I've hiked this trail near my place for like 3 years now, always turn around at the 20 mile mark because I thought that was the end. Last month I pushed through to 40 and there was this whole hidden creek with campsites nobody uses. Sucks I wasted so many trips, but now I'm wondering what else I've been missing on other trails. Has anyone else found something major on a trail they thought they knew inside out?

2 comments

2 Comments

hart.ryan21d ago

Three years and you never went past mile 20 once?

spencer19921d ago

Walked the same loop trail in Redwood National Park for years. Same 12 mile loop, every single time. One day I got bored and took a random unmarked spur that looked like a deer trail. Ended up at this massive old growth grove with trees so big four people couldn't wrap their arms around them. No signs, no trail markers, nothing. Felt like I stumbled into a secret world that had been there the whole time. Made me realize most people just follow the map and never really explore. Now I always go off trail a bit whenever I hit a spot that looks even slightly interesting.