A Talk & Walk In The Park

A Walk in the Park

Saturday morning at 9 AM, I will be talking and hiking with a group in the park. The event was arraigned by Gale Heimbuck at Guernsey Adult Ed, and there is still time to sign up, just call Gale at the school.

We will start at the parks incredible CCC Museum, it opens officially on May 1, so I guess we will be kicking off the year a day early. I will give a presentation on my book, The CivilianConservation Corps and the Building of Guernsey State Park – With Folktales andStories of the Park, and entertain questions about the park.

Sit and Relax - Enjoy Nature near the Museum

After the forty minutes, to an hour, in the Museum we will be going on a short hike. The hike will catch the Red Cliff Loop Trail at the Museum, wander over to the old CCC golf course road, walk the Museum road to the Evergreen Glade Trail and follow it back to the Museum. If there is interest, we will also have a shorter trail for those who want less than the 35-40 minute planned hike.

Tried It Out Today

Never needing much of an excuse, actually none at all, we walked the trail today.

Take time as you hike, and discover a long ago CCC Treasure but,
Remember to leave all artifacts lie.
They are an important part of park history and protected by law.

It started out a gorgeous day with temperatures in the mid-60s and only the slightest of breezes. Halfway through the cloud cover showed up, and the breeze picked up, still a pleasant day to walk in the park.

Like all Trails in the Park - Great Views Abound

Time to Spend Time in the Park

The lake is full, overfull a little, wildflowers are coming, and everything is greening up. This is always my favorite time of year. Guernsey State Park is a beautiful place to walk or hike. If you have not used the extensive hiking trail system in this park, give it a try. What a spectacular way to lose the troubles of the world for a few minutes or a few hours.

Wildflower Season is off to a Great Start

Guernsey State Park - Knight Mountain Trail

The big snow a week ago slowed down our time in the park. At last, we were able to get out for a hike yesterday, Saturday. As we do after every snow, we choose a trail with mostly southern exposure. Yesterday it was Knight Mountain Trail on the east side.

Knight Mountain, the trail winds up this side

I have posted about this trail before, it is a great hike, somewhat challenging, because of the elevation change of over 400 feet, but a nicely maintained trail.  

Some nice rocks along the way - they make for interesting speculation

The Trail

Views from the top, or nearly so, are spectacular. I ended my hike at the last lookout area and didn’t attempt to go on up from there. 

At this point, it is all about the view

One of the parks best overlooks

The rest of the trail is a bit dicey, steep with some significant steps, and recovering from a slight foot injury, I decided to end it about a quarter mile short. This is the spot where most hikers turn around, the top is nice but getting to this point makes for an up and down of nearly an hour. It’s hard to believe that this hike can be an hour or more when total distance is not much over a mile.

On up to the top

It's a wonderful time to get out in the park. The next few days all look to be in the 60s and some in the 70s, hiking weather indeed.

The lake, itself is still ice covered, but I would not be surprised to see it start opening up in the next few days.

Along the way

This week we are planning to get out and hike on the west side trails.

Have a great week.

Almost finished with another great park hike

Upper Spotted Tail Hikes

Nothing beats fall weather for hiking in the park. With afternoon temperatures in the low to mid-60s, this has been a fantastic week to be in the park. Several trailheads leave from the north end of Upper Spotted Tail Camp Ground and this week we tried all of them.

The view from the Trail Head at Upper Spotted Tail

Some wind through heavy timber, others through burned areas from the 2012 fire.  The hike up Knight Mountain is one of the best in the park and following the old road to Onyx Cave is always entertaining and educational.

Looking down to the Sitting Bull Shelter from part way up Knight Mountain Trail

There are branches off these trails, mostly lost from time and lack of use over the years but fun to follow, if only for a short way, when found.

Walking along Onyx Road Trail

I hear many people are lamenting the end of summer and some are looking forward to winter and Wyoming's great offering of winter sports. As for my wife and me, we will take fall and this year's terrific weather.

Time to head back home - driving past the boat ramp - Looks like fall

Marsh Mountain Trail

Took a nice hike around Marsh Mountain on the trail this week. Trail is a bit hard to get to, for the short loop, but well worth it. In recent years the old trailhead road and parking lot has been taken out of service

and the trail is accessed from the Castle, great for bicycle enthusiasts, but too long for a senior citizen hike. We instead parked just of the main road, Skyline Drive, and walked the third of a mile or so in to the old trailhead and then circled the mountain.

Trail Head

I had forgotten how wonderful the views were on this walk. Took us about an hour and a half including the walk to and back from the trailhead. Well worth it!

Taking a Break on the Trail

 

Lakeshore Drive Across the Lake

Last Week and the End of the Fall Color

The Trail

Wildlife - Late in the year for this Guy

End of the Loop Trail - Used to be a Parking and Picnic Area