The humidity has been hovering around 75% even in the late afternoon and in the 90% range in the morning. The air shimmers with the heavy moisture as does your skin. You get lovely images if you are patient in the shifting light. Wildflowers hover in the hazy air and colorful leaves seem more vibrant.
You never know where the path will lead…. I went in search of Wild Turkeys and instead found Zen Rocks.
When I decided to hike on Sugarloaf Mountain (finally) there was no plan other than waking up, seeing the sun and deciding to go. On a few occasions I had brushed its edges, but always when I did not have the time to complete this leg of the Sunset Trail. I generally like to hike up the steepest parts of the trail at the beginning of my hike so I head up the Sunset Trail from the Cedar Glades entrance. My advice is wear good boots, have strong ankles and flexible knees as the trail is on an uneven loose Rock surface. I climb up into Forest that is a wonderful mix of Short Leaf Pines and a variety of deciduous Trees. Hearing a twig snap I glance to my right just in time to see fleeing Whitetail Deer. Soon the early morning sun crests the mountain top it bathing the Forest in ribbons of pale gold. Approximately 3/4 of a mile up I smell a Bear and although I stand silently for several minutes no sighting is made. The Bears in our area are very small and about the size of a miniature horse.
Just over a mile up is the trail leading to Balanced Rock, it is a lovely .2 mile mile hike along a rocky trail. I have wanted to see Balanced Rock since another hiker recommended I see it 6 months ago, so I am a bit disappointed that most of the view is obscured by leaves. This is definitely on my list for a bare Trees of winter hike. On the plus side is the scenic vistas of the the valley and other mountains in the park. The sky is a perfect deep blue and the light accents the Forest on both close and far mountains.
When I headed down the Balanced Rock Trail there were no Zen Rocks on the sign post, on my return from the Black Snake Road Sunset Trail head a stack was present. I added one of my own to top off the two that magically appeared. I should not be surprised as I have seen these wonderful Zen Rock stacks throughout the park. I notice several large stacks along the Sunset Trail on Sugarloaf Mountain, I even create one of my own perched on a hillside. One day I hope to see the Zen Rock Master Stacker of Hot Springs National Park, perhaps there is more than one
The trail is decked out in the purple of Asters and the vibrant yellow of Goldenrod. Tiny Gray Hairstreak Butterflies are feeding on wildflowers warmed by the sun where it slips between Trees illuminating the trail. Baby Prairie Lizards can heard if not always seen darting across and under the dried leaves blanketing the Forest floor. A beautiful Red Spotted Butterfly is perched on leaves above me like a glorious stained glass window set alight by the sun.
I never imagined my journey would end in sliding with intermittent hiking down a loose rock trail while I was humming the Beach Boys hit Little Surfer Girl. It worked, I made it the whole way down the mountain on my feet. It felt as if a strong pair of arms kept me upright a couple of times on this hike, the Universe is a wonderful traveling companion.
When I reach the bottom of the trail I cross over Cedar Glades to another trail head and noticed large patches of glorious yellow Sneezeweed. A gentle breeze is causing it to sway as beautiful Insects are feeding on the nectar warmed by sun. See video below.
The Universe’s Love caresses the earth, its golden embrace fills my Soul in mornings first light. ~ Lee Hiller-London
Summer heat is fading into cooler days and the Forest has begun its transition to autumn. Early morning light illuminates the Forest as I head up the Canyon Trail on West Mountain. Beautiful wildflowers abound on the Oak and West Mountain Trails in purple (Southern Blazing Star and Common Dittany), green, pink (Slender Bush-Clover and Small Leaf Tick-Trefoil), yellow (Partridge Pea and Yellow false Foxglove), blue (Asiatic Dayflower) and white (Nodding Ladies’ Tresses, Flowering Spurge and Deerberry).
Colorful False Turkey Fantail Fungi are banded in green, gold, rust, burgundy, grey, purple and white cover fallen Forest giants. Autumn Leaves have begun to dot the landscape both in the Trees and on the path. Spectacular leaves of vibrant yellow, rich red and bright pink glow in the rising morning sun. Baby Lizards are darting back and forth as I reach the top of West Mountain and onto the Sunset Trail. The view of the valley below stretches far to the Ouachita Mountain Forests past the sparkling blue Lakes of Catherine and Hamilton.
Delicately moving in the distance among the Trees Whitetail Deer scatter at the tiniest sound. A small Nuthatch hops skyward on a tall Short Leaf Pine as I hold my breath and try to get closer to a young Buck nibbling on leaves. Cool breezes gently tug at my hair as I stop to watch Common Dittany swaying gracefully along the trail edges. When I step out of the Forest I glace back once more into its beauty before I head home.
Much Love to ALL!
Lee
HSNP West Mountain Sunset Trail Late Summer
HSNP West Mountain Sunset Trail Rest Hut Ruins
HSNP West Mountain Sunset Trail Rest Hut Ruins
HSNP West Mountain Sunset Trail Rest Hut Ruins
HSNP West Mountain Top Lovely Couple From Texas
HSNP West Mountain Top Lovely Couple From Texas
HSNP West Mountain Top Trail Autumn Transition
HSNP West Mountain Top Trail Fungus
HSNP West Mountain Top Trail Late Summer
HSNP West Mountain Top Trail Late Summer
HSNP West Mountain Top Trail Whitetail Deer
HSNP West Mountain Top Trail Whitetail Deer
HSNP West Mountain Top Trail Whitetail Deer
HSNP West Mountain Top Trail Autumn Leaves
HSNP West Mountain Top Trail Late Summer
HSNP West Mountain Top Trail Partridge Pea
HSNP West Mountain Top Trail Partridge Pea
HSNP West Mountain Top Trail Partridge Pea
HSNP West Mountain Top Trail Partridge Pea
HSNP West Mountain Top Trail Partridge Pea
HSNP West Mountain Top Trail Partridge Pea
HSNP West Mountain Top Trail Partridge Pea
HSNP West Mountain Top Trail Partridge Pea
HSNP West Mountain Top View of Hot Springs
HSNP West Mountain Top View of Hot Springs
HSNP West Mountain Top View of Hot Springs
HSNP West Mountain Trail Acorn Birth
HSNP West Mountain Trail Autumn Leaves
HSNP West Mountain Trail Autumn Leaves
HSNP West Mountain Trail Autumn Leaves
HSNP West Mountain Trail Flowering Spurge
HSNP West Mountain Trail Late Summer
HSNP West Mountain Trail Southern Blazing Star
HSNP West Mountain Trail Southern Blazing Star
HSNP West Mountain Trail Southern Blazing Star
HSNP West Mountain Trail Southern Blazing Star
HSNP West Mountain Trail Southern Blazing Star
HSNP West Mountain Trail Southern Blazing Star
HSNP West Mountain Trail Southern Blazing Star
HSNP West Mountain Trail Yellow Autumn Leaves
HSNP West Mountain Trail Yellow Autumn Leaves
HSNP West Mountain Trail Yellow False Foxglove
HSNP West Mountain Trail Yellow False Foxglove
HSNP West Mountain Trail Yellow False Foxglove
HSNP West Mountain Trail Yellow False Foxglove
HSNP West Mountain Trail Yellow False Foxglove
HSNP West Mountain Trail Yellow False Foxglove
HSNP West Mountain Trail Yet To Be Identified
HSNP West Mountain Trail Yet to be Identified Plant
HSNP West Mountain Trail Yet to be Identified Plant
HSNP West Mt Canyon Trail Autumn Leaves
HSNP West Mt Canyon Trail Colorful Fungi
HSNP West Mt Canyon Trail Colorful Fungi
HSNP West Mt Canyon Trail Colorful Fungi
HSNP West Mt Canyon Trail Colorful Fungi
HSNP West Mt Canyon Trail Colorful Fungi
HSNP West Mt Canyon Trail Colorful Fungi
HSNP West Mt Canyon Trail Colorful Fungi
HSNP West Mt Canyon Trail Colorful Fungi
HSNP West Mt Canyon Trail Colorful Fungi
HSNP West Mt Canyon Trail Common Dittany
HSNP West Mt Canyon Trail Common Dittany
HSNP West Mt Canyon Trail Hairy Small Leaf Tick-Trefoil
This hike started on the Sunset Trail on Sugarloaf Mountain and ended along the promenade on Hot Springs Mountain. My husband Rick and I were going to hike up Sugarloaf Mountain on the Sunset Trail (Section 2) to see the “Balanced Rock” but the trail had too many weather ruts and loose rocks for his newly healed ankle. We decided instead to head down and pick up the Sunset Trail (Section 1 aka Stonebridge Road Section) on the old Fordyce Estate at the Cedar Glades Road trail head.
It was a beautiful hike along the trails as the early morning sun lit our way. There were wonderful wildflowers I had not seen on other trails in Hot Springs National Park, they included Slender Bush-Clover, Rough Buttonweed, Goldenrod and Drummond’s St. John’s-Wort. Rick spotted a young Male Box Turtle moving slowly across the barely groomed trail, he had a lovely colorful face. Flying Grasshoppers sprung up from the trail with each step forward, some had yellow wings others black with white edges. Although the Bird song was varied and loud they were tantalizingly out of sight high the the Forest canopy. As we finished our hike on the Sunset Trail a Sharp Shinned Hawk flew over us and toward Sugarloaf Mountain… to be continued.
I adore hiking on rough trails and always mange to navigate my way to my intended destination, even when the trails are not well marked. However it may not appeal to hikers intending to complete a trail in a specified time frame to keep back tracking. If you are planning to hike section 1 of the Sunset Trail (see Map below) contact me, the trail is unmarked in many key spots. Several trails not mentioned on maps take you off the Sunset and away from the trail head that connects to section 2 of the Sunset Trail. I left an arrow marker made from sticks but that could easily be disturbed by weather and wildlife. The red circle slash markers on the official HSNP map below refer to the access road that cuts across the old Fordyce Estate not the trail forks mentioned in my blog.
Much Love to ALL,
Lee
Note to Park Staff (if you are still reading my blog):
Please add trail markers so hikers can stay on course if they are hiking the entire Sunset Trail. It is particularly confusing below the concrete water reservoir at the 3 trail fork (not on the official map below), the one going straight leads away from the trail head, hikers need to stay left. The red circle slash markers on the map below refer to the access road that cuts across the old Fordyce Estate not the trail forks mentioned. One off the forks another leading away from the trail head has a storm ravaged abandoned homeless camp you may want to clean up as it is located in the middle of the trail.
A quarter mile in from Cedar Glades Road trail head on Section one of the Sunset Trail we spotted a pack of feral dogs being lead by a large grey pitbull. Although they ran from us, you might want to get them off the trail before there is an unfortunate incident with a hiker and a leashed dog.
Hot Springs National Park, AR Sunset Trail Section 1
HSNP I Adore UnMarked Mystery Trails
HSNP Sugarloaf Mountain Sunset Trail Butterfly Pea
HSNP Sugarloaf Mountain Sunset Trail Butterfly Pea