11/08/2015

Dakigaeri Gorge

Easy hiking in a stunning valley

Por Mandy Bartok

Community writer

Foto 1 de 7

A bridge leads into a short tunnel on the trail through Dakigaeri Gorge

The river here was once too acidic for any sort of wildlife to live in it

Despite the abnormal color, the water is now treated and can support some forms of life

Thirty minutes into the hike, you'll come across the Mikaeri Falls

Be sure to get a close-up look as the waterfall is actually three tiers

The path used to continue along the river but is now blocked by a recent landslide

The entrance to Dakgaeri Gorge

It takes a 15-minute taxi ride (or free shuttle bus during the fall foliage season) from Kakunodate station to reach the majestic scenery of Dakigaeri Gorge but the effort and expense is well worth it. Follow the old logging trail through tunnels and across bridges as it hugs the cliffs edge, high above an iridescent blue river. A recent landslide has made it impossible to through-hike the entire 8-kilometer stretch but the trail's current terminus is the impressive Mikaeri Waterfall, a hidden cascade you'll be happy you took the time to track down. Autumn is the busiest season but the rest of the warmer-weather months provide fantastic views with very few crowds.