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Lake Ouachita Caddo Bend Trail Tornado Damage

In April 2011 a Tornado ripped across Lake Ouachita State Park in Arkansas.  It uprooted Trees all along the Caddo Bend Trail which is a 4 mile loop on a peninsula that reaches out into the lake.  As you can see in the photograph above it razed several sections of the Forest on both the north and south side of the trail.  I had not hiked the trail since the winter of 2011 (Lake Ouachita State Park – Caddo Bend Trail Pt 1 & Pt 2) and now I found myself in what felt like an alien landscape. It is dramatic to step from dense Forest into places devoid of Trees. One moment cradled in leafy beauty then suddenly out in the bright sunlight surrounded by fallen and snapped off Trees.

Change is always present in Natures plans so I look forward to the future rebirth of the trail flora and fauna.  The new open space on the trail will eventually be covered in Wildflowers each spring.  The Wildflowers will bring Butterflies, Bees, Dragonflies and other beautiful Insects.  New small mammals and reptiles will build their homes in the snags created by the fallen Trees.  There are many new lake view locations as well.  Nothing stays the same…

Love to ALL!
Lee