The First Falls — Murray Reynolds & Sheldon Reynolds

You're warming up along the lower creek now, and here come your first two waterfalls — a lovely way to start. The first, a low wide ledge, is Murray Reynolds. And just above it, taller and prettier, is Sheldon Reynolds. Those Reynolds names come from the family of Colonel Ricketts's wife, Elizabeth — you'll find their name on a few of these falls, mixed in among the others. Take your first good look at what makes this glen so special: the water doesn't just drop, it steps, ledge after ledge, because of the way the rock is layered. I'll explain that geology when we get up to the big falls.

Notice how the trail works here, too, because it'll be like this the whole way: it hugs the creek, and it uses stone steps and little bridges to climb right alongside the drops. Those steps are the most beautiful part of the trail and the most treacherous — they're often wet, and worn smooth. Plant each foot deliberately. Use the handrails where they're there. And if you meet folks coming the other way on a narrow step, the ones heading downhill should wait for the ones coming up — it's easier and safer to stop while climbing.

Keep following the trail upstream. We're walking up toward the heart of the glen, a place called Waters Meet, where two waterfall canyons come together — but there's one more grand fall to see first.