This is my first difficult hike since I virtually quite hiking during the summer. Everyone knows this hike starts out as stroll on an old road following Basin Creek. At the Junction with Grassy Gap Trail there is another trail, Bluff Mountain Ridge Trail. Our hiking club knows this only as Primitive Trail. There is a sign which states it is a primitive trail so that must be the genesis of the name. Also, the latest NPS trail map lists it as the Bluff Ridge Primitive Trail.
It is just under 3 miles to the picnic shelter. About 2/3 of the way up you reach Brooks Knob at over 3300 ft. At this point you descend into a saddle before the final struggle up to the shelter. The park service has recently painted this shelter covering up most of the graffiti and also making it seem light and airy instead of dark and uninviting.
The motel owned by the Park Service in Doughton Park has been closed for a second season as has the small nearby restaurant. For several years the previous concessionaire received one year extensions. With such short term leases there were no major improvements made by the concessionaire. Problems with a new roof and closure of the BRP in the vicinity caused the concessionaire to not renew and the Park Service has been unsuccessful in attracting some one else. At 24 rooms and saddled with a short season, it is difficult to operate.
The remainder of our 13 mile hike went through the gorgeous meadows of this area and ended up on the scenic Cedar Ridge trail.
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