Auxier Branch Trail #203

Dogs Off-leash

Features Birding · Fall Colors · River/Creek · Wildflowers · Wildlife

This trail crosses a deep drainage and involves significant elevation loss and gain. At the southwest end, there are steep stairs.

Auxier Branch Trail connects Auxier Ridge Trail #204 and Courthouse Rock Trail #202 to Tunnel Ridge Road. Tunnel Ridge was once open to the very end to vehicle traffic, but a few years ago the Forest Service closed the last couple of miles.

You can have a nice variation to the Auxier - Courthouse Loop by taking one of those two trails to Auxier Branch Trail and continuing on it over to Tunnel Ridge Road and returning to the trailhead that way. Distance is similar.

This trail is very enjoyable and is interesting. The creek itself (Auxier Branch) is very pretty and typically flowing all year. The creek is rocky and a good place to take a break and listen to the water. The run up from the bottom of the canyon, especially running towards Double Arch is a little steep.