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Early Deer Leap

A visit to Roaring River Hatchery is not complete without a trip up Deer Leap trail. Constructed by the CCC, it is a short trail two-tenths of a mile in length. Access points to the trail are by the twin-falls and at the head of the sidewalk that leads to the spring outlet.

The trail leads to to an overlook and boardwalk that overlooks the hatchery. An old waterwheel axle can be seen in the spring pool from the lookout deck. This relic is believed to date back to one of the early mills in the mid-19th century.

Deer leap gets it name from a legendary event that took place in the late 1870's. A deer hunt was underway in the wooded area above the spring area. Deer hounds had picked up the trail of a deer and were following close behind the deer. When the deer arrived at the high overlook above the spring, it never hesitated and dove off the cliff an into the spring pool.

One of the hounds did likewise and both landed in the water. The dog did not survive and drowned in the icy water. But the deer survived magnificently and swam out and escaped into the woods. Since that time the bluff has been known as "Deer Leap."