Creek

All posts tagged Creek

Trails, Campsites, Wildflowers and Wildlife in Cedar Glades Park

Posted by Lee Hiller on April 20, 2012
Posted in: Cedar Glades Park. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Cedar Glades Park in Arkansas offers a variety of activities and is a perfect destination for kids of all ages.  If you enter from Wildcat Road the park is highly groomed for hiking, biking, rock climbing, Frisbee golf and more. (Wildcat Road Entrance Turbulent Skies and Butterflies in Cedar Glades Park Arkansas & First Hike in Cedar Glades Park Arkansas)  Entering from Cedar Glades Road you find a less groomed Nature escape with playground, wheelchair accessible trail, hiking/biking trails, creeks, steams, ponds and a hike in camping sites.  Both areas are joined by the 1.2 mile green trail loop with ample parking and rest rooms at each entrance.

My husband and I entered the park yesterday from the Cedar Glades Road entrance.  We discovered the North Trail loop that linked us to our destination (the black trail) is wheelchair accessible.  The beautiful trail is totally immersed in the Forest and provides mobility challenged visitors a lovely Nature experience.  A perfect outing location for adults with smaller children in strollers as well.

The Black Trail Loop is the longest trail in the park and the most difficult for hikers, runners and cyclists.  Depending on fitness level visitors can do the entire trail or use the red trail crooked bridge cut through to reduce the distance from 4.64 miles to 2 miles. This trail that has many water features, wildflowers, mixed and Pine Forest, plus it is great workout too.  Speaking of water features, don’t miss my video below.  The featured swimmer will give you an incentive to improve your pond swimming skills.

Another great feature of this park is the hike in camp site.  This would perfect for campers who want to get away from RVs, trailers etc. and prefer a wooded steam setting without having to hike for several hours to reach their destination. This would make a great mini family vacation idea too.  There is also an emergency shelter (wooden gazebo) in case of an unexpected storm.  A lovely stream and open tent pitching among the Trees makes it a great weekend get-a-away or travel stop over. Best of all it is Free!

Love to ALL!
Lee

Cedar Glades Park Arkansas Trail Map

Lake Catherine State Park Arkansas Falls Branch Trail

Posted by Lee Hiller on March 28, 2012
Posted in: Hot Springs National Park. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 3 Comments

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Lake Catherine State Park’s Falls Branch Trail provides a lovely hike with varied terrain, bridges and water features.  Although it is shorter than the other park trails it offers hikers of all levels a wonderful Nature experience.  There are three wood benches and several rocks along the journey for those wishing to take a leisurely pace. This trail like all others within the park is well marked and makes a loop leading you back to the trail head. Free parking is available for day hikers.

The trail begins with a series of bridges crossing over a narrow winding creek. These well maintained wooden structures add variety to the hike along this mostly flat section of the trail.  Lovely wildflowers add color on the banks of the slow moving water. Purple violets, pink oxalis and yellow goldenrod create a beautiful spring bouquet.  Old stone steps lead upward from the final bridge to a winding path traveling through a mixed tree forest and rock accented landscape.  Bird songs echo softly from the increasing spring canopy.  Beautiful white blossoming Dogwoods glow among the illuminated green Leaves.

Soon after a moderate climb the trail leads downward to a wider creek that separates Horseshoe and Dam Mountains.  The collecting pools of water created by the rocky creek bed reflect the bright new green of spring opening above them.  Waterfalls increase in size as you hike further down the trail. Each plateau is reached by traversing a cluster of stone steps built early in the 1900s.

When you reach the top of the main waterfall the trail head of the Dam Mountain Trail located on the other side of the creek is visible.  The main waterfall cascades into a clear pool below that is a popular spot for hikers to rest and cool their feet.  Several families arrived after a hike on the Dam Mountain Trail and were enjoying a chance to wade in the water.

Further down the trail I spotted a *Banded Water Snake swimming in the Lake Catherine. I watched as it floated, dove and swam at the shoreline.  As I finished taking a few photographs I heard screaming up at the falls.  The only word I could make out was “SNAKE” followed by frantic splashing and additional yelling.  Please note if you are hiking for the first time in the Banded water Snake is a non-venomous Snake that loves the water.  Although snake bites are rare in the park take care when you wade or swim as they are territorial and will strike if you don’t move away.

The final leg of my hike along the Falls Branch Trail is along the edge of Lake Catherine.  The murky blue green water sparkles in the sunlight and is still easily viewed through the early spring foliage.  Butterflies and dragonflies weave in and out of the flowering bushes feeding on nectar in afternoon sun.  As you pass the lake shore campground you will cross the last creek on a suspension bridge.  Several minutes later I reach the trail head, it has been a glorious time in the park.

Love to ALL!
Lee

*originally identified as a Cottonmouth I was later informed (2015) this is a Banded water Snake.

LCSP Falls Branch Trail Map

Fall Leaves, Sundogs, Blue Jays and Mysterious Jelly Blobs

Posted by Lee Hiller on November 16, 2011
Posted in: Hot Springs National Park. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 3 Comments

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Storms raged for nearly two days knocking down much of the beautiful fall foliage on Hot Springs Mountain. When I leave for my hike the rain has stopped although the clouds are still dark. The deep red, rust and yellow of the autumn leaves appear to glow in the dim light. From the Tufa Terrace to the Dead Chief Trail I am still not sure if the storm has past.

Near the Short Cut Trail the sun begins to shine and I remove the rain covers from my cameras.  The warmth of the sun on my face is rejuvenating and taking a deep breath I feel a lightness in my step.  Hiking up the trail I love the soft sound of my footfall on the damp rust leaves now vibrant in the bright late morning light.

At the top of the Mountain I glance up to see two small juvenile Blue Jays perched among the autumn Leaves.  I am surprised they are without an adult and that they have not alerted the Forest to my presence.  They are a lovely sight after the storms of the past days and a sight to fill my heart with happiness.

My hike along the east side of the mountain reveals that most of the autumn foliage has been blow free of their branch perches.  The leaves create a rust brick road and I think to myself “Lions and Tiger and Bears, Oh My”.  I know I am somewhere over the rainbow when I look up to see a colorful sundog in the sky above me.

Heading down the Mountain on the Floral Trail I see clear glinting ice-like objects on the path.  Thinking they are ice I reach down to touch one piece only to discover they are jelly blobs.  I wonder if they were dropped here by a human traveler or a natural phenomena produced during the lightning storms.

Leaving the park I am surprised by a sound to my side and I look up to see a sweet young Squirrel on the branch above my shoulder.  It has been wonderful hike in the park.

Much Love to ALL!

Summer at the Fordyce Ricks Pond and Gulpha Creek

Posted by Lee Hiller on June 30, 2011
Posted in: Desoto Park, Hot Springs National Park. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

My beloved Rick is off for the morning getting therapy for his ankles at the wonderful Levi Hospital.  He is much stronger and I am thankful for the expert medical care they provide.

I went to Ricks Pond in Hot Springs National Park expecting to see water fowl.  Sadly there were no ducks, swans or geese were in residence.  The Hawks, Herons and Kingfishers I saw in the winter months were nowhere in sight either.  Although the sunrise is spectacular and everything looks beautiful I felt a lonely in the silence.  The smooth surface of the water is broken by a fish seeking the many moving insects hovering above the pond.  I miss the Hawks and Kingfishers teasing me with their loud calls and staying just out of lens range.

As the sun crests the Pines a light mist is traveling through Tree tops and all is sill quiet.  With the sun at my back the still water of the pond reflects the beautiful summer greenery.  It is in stark contrast to the bare winter Trees this past winter.  New Trail, Ricks Pond, Colorful Fungi and Birds

I hike into the Forest along the sunset trail and in the distance a lovely song is filling the air.  Further along the path I see to tiny birds flitting between small Trees and Bushes.  They are a pair of young Red-Eyed Vireos, the first I had seen in the park.  Although I could hear rustling in the distance I was never able to see the source of the many cracking sounds paralleling my movements along the trail.

As I left the pond I decided to pay my respects at the wonderful Purple Heart Peace Memorial located in DeSoto Park.  The parks gardeners were replanting the Purple Heart shaped flowerbed, I will have to come back in a few days to see it’s beauty.  Sadly as I was leaving the park I noticed oil had been recently dumped into the Gulpha Creek

At the Gulpha Gorge Campground I noticed the creek is extremely low and several gravel islands have formed.  Taking into consideration the heavy rain the day before this was surprise.  A lovely Blue Jay lands in a Tree above me, unlike those found on the west side of Hot Springs Mountain this one has both aqua and royal blue feathers.  As I turned I noticed a Squirrel standing and observing my photographic endeavors.  A beautiful butterfly landed at my feet when I began to unlock my van, a perfect end to a beautiful summer morning.

Love to You ALL!
Lee