Goodness, the times are changing! During Memorial Day weekend, the canyon saw 5,000 people come and go in a three hour period. Now, with the new reservation system, visitor numbers have dropped to 100-125 people per three hour window. It is now much easier to keep your distance, and fewer people means you’re more likely to see wildlife like deer, cottontails, snakes, and quail.
If one hundred people still sounds like a lot, avoid the peak times when new time windows begin. If your reservation window starts at 8 am, consider coming in at 8:30 am and be done or on a lightly used trail by 10:30 am. Most people are heading to the waterfall, so I like to explore the trails around the nature center and those paralleling the main trail. Visitors are usually courteous about social distancing. Oftentimes, just stepping to the side of the trail helps extend that distance to 6 ft.
On a recent visit to the waterfall, instead of massive crowds there were only a few other people enjoying its quiet beauty. The experience is reminiscent of a weekday a decade ago. I recommend taking the trip yourself to experience the falls with so few people. The trail up to Henninger Flats has very light usage now as well, but be sure to start early and pack enough water for the exposed hike.
Come back when you feel safe. The canyon misses you!