Walking/Hiking Trails – Page 8

Truman Park

It’s a sunny afternoon, but the breeze is brisk and cold. Bundled up in jacket and gloves and hat, I’m a little unsure if it might be time to break out the winter coat.

A woman sits wrapped in a blanket on the fading grass and a couple passes me as I start up the trail, but the park is otherwise deserted.

The short paved trail curves up from the edge of the pond, thick with the falling leaves.

Two, or possibly three, dirt trails branch off at the top of the hill. I always have trouble remembering which one leads down to the Saint Stanislaus conservation area.

It probably doesn’t really matter in the end. Whichever way I end up choosing, doesn’t seem quite the same as I remember from before.

I’ve successfully gotten there several times though, and I’m relatively confident I can do it again today.

I’m always happy to see those red blazes! The trail is barely visible within the carpet of leaves today, and I’m even more sure this isn’t the way I went last time.

Found it, though! Wooden beams form steps down into the bottoms and the familiar path through the woods. A few of them seem to be newly replaced, and I’m glad it’s being maintained.

As the trail leads out of the woods, it’s clouding over a bit, but the cliffs are blocking the breeze and it actually feels a bit warmer.

Birds dart within the brush, calling out in irritation at my presence. Other unseen creatures, probably much smaller than they sound, scurry in the undergrowth as I pass.

I turn to head back up the hill again, capturing the honeysuckle berries sparkling in the lowering sun.

Hickory Woods Conservation Area

There’s a hint of smoke in the air, heading down the hill to the park. Somewhere, the first fire of the fall, is crackling in someone’s fireplace.

It’s hat and gloves cold. A gusty wind is dusting the carpet of fallen leaves to the edges of the trail.

The final colors cling tight to the trees,

illuminating the thickly clouded skies.

Creve Couer Lake

I wasn’t sure I was convinced when my dashboard insisted it was 70 degrees as I pulled into the Creve Couer parking lot.

The sun had been shifting in and out of the clouds all morning, and the winds were cool. After tugging my bike out of the back of the truck, though, I tossed my jacket back in the cab.

It was beautifully warm and peaceful pedaling around the lake. There were only a handful of other riders and strollers enjoying the afternoon.

The leaves are tumbling now,

scattering across the trails

and floating along the edges of the stream.

The waterfall trickles in a sudden burst of sunshine and the golden glow of the trees.

Great River Road Trail

Between the Mississippi River and the towering bluffs, the Great River Road trail runs from just outside Alton, Illinois to Pere Marquette State Park.

The trail weaves betweeen it’s own off road bike lane,

and a wide well marked shoulder on either side.

After driving driving the road two days ago to get to the state park, I was longing to see it in slow motion cycling.

The cliffs and fall colors and the splash of the water are gorgeous from the car, but impossible to fully absorb.

Standing in the middle of the road for a busy fall weeked photo, was definitely out of the question.

On this warm and quiet Monday, I had the trail nearly to myself,

for a slow meandering ride, sporadic friendly conversations, and endless photo stops.

Goat Cliff Trail – Pere Marquette State Park

Crystal skies,

Mild breezes,

Leaves lit from within,

Golden, orange, and red.

I’d never walked this trail before, or even noticed the entrance to it, on the far side of the parking lot from the other trail heads.

I only noticed it this time because we parked in the gravel overflow lot, joining what appeared to be the rest of western Illinois on this gorgeous fall afternoon.

It’s a gently sloping trail for most of the way, scrolling between the edges of the highway and and the towering grey river bluffs.

Slowly climbing above the traffic rumble, it overlooks thickly wooded valleys and peek-a-boo views of the river.

The trail emerges at the top of the bluff, joining the other trails at the overlook shelter, the final glows of summer mingling with the brilliance of fall.

Starved Rock/Matthiessen State Parks

Miles of well marked trails wind through these beautiful canyons in Northern Illinois.

Of course, the park ranger at Starved Rock could have been slightly more specific when he directed us to “take the steps” to get to the trail.

They were everywhere.

Descending into the twisting canyons hidden beneath the forest.

It was busy on the mid October weekend we arrived. Except for the most popular views, though, it was surprisingly easy to spread out from the crowds and enjoy the peace of the woods and the splash of the water.

It was scheduled as their fall colors tour weekend, so a lot of the visitors had probably registered for that.

The trees were less than fully cooperative with the schedule. They were primarily still green, but there were some beautiful swatches of early color;

Clearer, almost, in their watery reflections.

It’s silent by mid-week, the crowds have gone. We wander a final horizontal tail, sentry duty to the endless carving splash of the streams below.

Maramec Spring Park

It’s a drive I can do almost on remote; St Louis to Springfield, and back again. I’ve explored a lot of stops along the way. I’ve noticed the signs for Maramec Spring, but somehow never pulled off to visit.

It’s privately owned, with a five dollar per car admission fee. Built on the grounds of the 1800s Maramec Iron Works, it’s centered by amazing ruins to explore.

A beautiful paved trail through the woods circles the silently bubbling spring. The spring is deep below the surface, visible only in constant stirring of the water rings.

The trail winds out along hatchery pools, teeming with tiny fish.

On a midweek September morning, the park is busier than I expected, almost exclusively with the fishermen those pools cater to.

They’re wonderful rambling companions, I discovered. They’re rooted to their chosen spot and barely make a sound. They seemed happy to tolerate my own exploration, as long as I kept my own silence and a respectful distance from their efforts.

Two trails skirt either side of the Meremac River. On the west, the trail is narrow and rocky, twisting through vegetation still thick with summer wildflowers.

It ends at a swinging bridge, with beautiful wide open views of the river.

Across the bridge, the east side trail is wide and level and graveled. It forms the access point for most of the anglers I see.

Off the trail, I wander back toward the museum and my truck, relishing the cool breezes, the splash of the water, and the hum of insects and birds, before returning to the noisy chaos of I-44.

Hickory Woods Conservation Area

Summer flowers,

Delicately brave the early morning heat,

Even near the dwindling creek,

The air is thick and heavy, and still,

Barely broken,

By the day camp children,

Languidly gathering at the top of the hill.

Natural Falls State Park

Natural Falls State Park, just over the Arkansas border in Oklahoma, was the setting of the 1974 movie version of How the Red Fern Grows.

It seemed a little pricey for a state park at first. There is a $10 per car day use fee. In fairness, though, you could easily pack a van with kids and picnic supplies and spend the whole day there.

There’s a playground surrounded by open fields, hiking trails, and creeks to splash in.

The jewel of the park is the beautiful 77 foot Dripping Springs waterfall.

The trail to the upper falls is gentle and accessible. It’s a fair distance from the main parking area, but a there is an adjacent handicap parking area as well.

It’s a cool, lightly breezy trail, on this hot Oklahoma summer day; lush with wildflowers and wildlife.

A viewing platform at the end of the upper trail is overlooks the falls, the cliffs, and the bridges.

For a little more adventure, a steeper trail leads down to the lower falls and another viewing area complete with benches and space to explore.

A quick stop today, as we move from rambling into the business mode of this trip, but definitely on the top of the list to visit again with more time.

Branson Landing

Opened in 2006 along the Taneycomo River in Branson, Missouri; Branson Landing is a wide-laned, walkable, outdoor entertainment and shopping mall, equipped with an end to end tram if the walking becomes too much.

Street level shops and restaurants are hopping with energetic cheer and noise tonight.

Riverside, the beautiful fountain splashes throughout the day, then erupts hourly into brilliant bursts of choreographed fire and water, pounding in time to their soundtrack.

The walkway along the river is a peaceful retreat from the action. It extends from a quiet, nearly deserted park, past the fountain, to harbor restaurants and a beautiful view of the Lake Taneycomo bridge.

Amphicar fun!

A twenty-five minute ride from the streets straight into the river. The amazing Captain Tyler was friendly and fun and full of interesting facts about the history both of the cars and the Branson area.

Sunset rays slant across the water and misted breezes cool the heat of the day as we putter back toward land, a beautiful start to a three day Ozarks ramble.