O'Bannon Woods State Park: Ohio River Bluff Trail (Blog Hike #1014)

Trail: Ohio River Bluff Trail
Hike Location: O'Bannon Woods State Park
Geographic Location: west of Corydon, IN (38.17047, -86.30716)
Length: 1.5 miles
Difficulty: 6/10 (Moderate)
Date Hiked: April 2024
Overview: A loop hike below and above rocky bluffs overlooking the Ohio River.
Park Information: https://www.in.gov/dnr/state-parks/parks-lakes/obannon-woods-state-park/
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=961959
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming May 16, 2025)

Directions to the trailhead: From the intersection of SR 135 and SR 62 in Corydon, take SR 62 west 7 miles to SR 462 and turn left on SR 462.  SR 462 dead-ends at the park entrance in another 3 miles.  Pay the park entrance fee, then follow the main park road 3.5 miles to the Ohio River picnic area, where this hike begins.

The hike: Formerly known as Wyandotte Woods State Recreation Area, 2000-acre O'Bannon Woods State Park may be the most rustic and remote state park in Indiana.  The area's most famous attraction is Wyandotte Caves, a pair of caves that comprise the 5th largest cave system in southern Indiana.  The caves are accessible only by guided tour, and I still remember the excellent tour I took of Little Wyandotte Cave almost 30 years ago.  The area became a state park in 2004, and its name was changed to honor former Indiana Governor Frank O'Bannon, who died in office in 2003.

            Despite the park's remote location, it boasts a long list of amenities including a 281-site developed campground, a nature center with live animal exhibits, some picnic areas, and a family aquatic center.  The park has many hiking options, the most famous of which is the 25-mile Adventure Trail, one of the hardest and best backpacking trails in Indiana.  For dayhikers, the park offers 10 trails totaling 21 miles.  Each of these trails offers an interesting experience, but this hike features the Ohio River Bluff Trail, which is neither this park's shortest and easiest nor longest and hardest trail.  As its name implies, the Ohio River Bluff Trail explores the rocky limestone cliffs that tower over the Ohio River while leading to this park's best blufftop river view.

Trailhead at Ohio River picnic area

            From the rear of the Ohio River picnic area parking lot, walk around the vehicle gate to begin the Ohio River Bluff Trail; a single wooden sign marks this trailhead.  The single-track dirt trail heads west in a flat narrow strip of land between the Ohio River through the trees to the left and a steep bluff with vertical cliffs rising to the right.  Some areas were quite muddy when I hiked here the day after a heavy rain.  For the most part the river stays out of sight, but a few gaps in the trees offer nice river-level views south into Kentucky.  Wildlife can be abundant here, and I saw 2 box turtles and a blue jay while I was hiking along the river.

River-level Ohio River view

            After 0.6 miles of level riverside hiking, you reach a trail intersection marked by a brown carsonite post.  A horse trail called the Blue River Bluff Trail (not to be confused with the similarly named hiking trail you are on) goes straight and right here.  If you wanted to lengthen this hike to more than 3 miles, you could continue straight and hike the Blue River Bluff Trail's loop, but that trail is muddier and harder to follow than the hiking trail.  To stay on the Ohio River Bluff Trail, turn right, then quickly turn right again at the next brown carsonite post to begin heading uphill toward the bluff.

Turn right to climb to bluff

            The moderately steep climb up to the bluff uses narrow, eroded, and somewhat overgrown trail that will need to be re-cleared in a few years.  Upon reaching the blufftop, the trail undulates somewhat as you tread atop the cliffs you looked up at a few minutes ago.  The forest up here is a nice broadleaf forest dominated by tulip, hickory, and oak trees.  Enjoy the trees, but take care not to slide off of the cliff: a fall from these heights would be injurious if not fatal.

Blufftop picnic area

Blufftop Ohio River view

            At 1.1 miles, you come out at the blufftop picnic area that gives this hike's best view.  The bluff stands about 200 feet above the river, and a gap in the trees provides a perfect view of the river and Kentucky beyond.  A wooden overlook platform with picnic tables makes a great place to sit, rest, rehydrate, and watch barges navigate the river.

CCC-built stone stairway

            To continue the Ohio River Bluff Trail, walk across the grassy picnic area and angle right to find where the trail reenters the woods.  The descent back to the parking area is just as steep as the ascent you did earlier, but the descent uses an old stone stairway built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.  Some of these stones are not in the best of shape, so you have to watch where you step.  The stairway comes out at the park entrance road, where a right turn quickly returns you to the riverside parking area to complete the hike.

Falls of the Ohio State Park: Woodland Loop Trail (Blog Hike #1013)

Trail: Woodland Loop Trail
Hike Location: Falls of the Ohio State Park
Geographic Location: Clarksville, IN (38.27661, -85.76355)
Length: 0.7 miles
Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: April 2024
Overview: A short loop past fossil beds along the Ohio River.
Park Information: https://www.in.gov/dnr/state-parks/parks-lakes/falls-of-the-ohio-state-park/
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=961878
Photo Highlight:

Mini Video: (coming May 13, 2025)

Directions to the trailhead: In extreme southern Indiana, take I-65 to Clark Boulevard (exit 0 northbound or exit 1 southbound).  Exit and go west on Clark Blvd.  Drive Clark Blvd. west 0.4 miles to Winbourne Avenue, which is reached just after passing under a railroad overpass.  Turn left on Winbourne Ave.  Winbourne Ave. deadends at the Falls of the Ohio Interpretive Center after crossing over the Ohio River's levee.  Park in the large blacktop parking lot behind the Interpretive Center.

The hike: Long before airports, interstates, roadways, railroads, or even wagon trails existed, the Ohio River was the main artery of transportation through the lower Midwest.  One of the great natural barriers to boats navigating the river was the Falls of the Ohio, where the river drops 26 feet over a 2-mile stretch via a series of rocky rapids.  Louisville, Kentucky was founded in 1778 on the south bank of these rapids, and between 1825 and 1830 the first locks on the Ohio River were built to get boats over the rapids.  The locks and dams at the Falls of the Ohio were upgraded many times, and the current iteration known as McAlpine Locks and Dam was built in the 1960's by the Army Corps of Engineers.

            The Falls of the Ohio hold other things of historical interest.  In October 1803, Lewis and Clark met here as they prepared for their famous exploration of what would become the American west.  Also, the rocks that formed the river's rapids contain many fossils, and the Falls of the Ohio remain one of the best fossil viewing sites in the Midwest.

            In 1981, Falls of the Ohio garnered federal protection via the Falls of the Ohio National Wildlife Conservation Area, and the State of Indiana's Falls of the Ohio State Park is a subset of the Conservation Area.  The park is most famous for its Interpretive Center, which has many exhibits that focus on the famous fossil beds.  For hikers, the 165-acre park has only 1 short trail: the Woodland Loop Trail described here.  The trail forms a true loop along the north bank of the Ohio River, and it is a nice add-on if you come to Falls of the Ohio to see the fossils.

Trailhead for Woodland Loop Trail

            The Woodland Loop Trail starts at the northwest corner of the parking lot, i.e. the opposite end from the Interpretive Center.  A bench, information sign, and boulder mark the trailhead.  The single-track dirt trail heads north with the levee rising to your right and the Ohio River hidden by the trees downhill to your left.  This floodplain forest features some large basswood and oak trees with a shrubby and grassy understory.

Ohio River levee

Deadwood-filled drainage

            For the most part the trail stays in the edge of the woods, but occasionally it wanders onto the base of the sunny grassy levee.  At 0.35 miles, you reach the north end of the loop and a drainage filled with deadwood.  The trail curves sharply left here and begins heading upstream with the river just to your right.  Depending on river levels, this part of the trail may be underwater or covered with flood debris.  In that case, you can simply retrace your steps back to the trailhead on the levee side of the loop.

Louisville skyline across Ohio River

McAlpine Locks and Dam

            The river stays close on the right, and at 0.6 miles you arrive at the fossil beds that make this park famous.  Look carefully in the rocks below your feet for fossils, but the Louisville skyline across the river will also draw your attention.  Climb the hill to the left to return to the parking lot and complete the hike.

Clemson Experimental Forest: Collarbone/Issaqueena Lake/Dam Road Loop (Blog Hike #1012)

Trails: Collarbone, Rocky, Issaqueena Lake, and Dam Road Trails
Hike Location: Clemson Experimental Forest
Geographic Location: north of Clemson, SC (34.73875, -82.84099)
Length: 4.5 miles
Difficulty: 5/10 (Moderate)
Date Hiked: April 2024
Overview: A loop hike partly along Lake Issaqueena.
Forest Information: https://www.clemson.edu/public/experimental-forest/
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=960043
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming January 3, 2025)

Directions to the trailhead: From Clemson, take SR 133 north 3.9 miles to the second intersection with Old Six Mile Road, which is reached just after passing D. W. Daniel High School.  Turn left on Old Six Mile Rd.  Drive Old Six Mile Rd. west 0.5 miles to the parking lot on the right for the Horseshoe Trailhead.  A small lot near a picnic area holds 6-10 cars, but a larger U-shaped lot surrounds the small lot and provides parking for dozens of cars.

The hike: Owned and maintained by Clemson University, Clemson Experimental Forest consists of 17,500 mostly wooded acres in and around Clemson.  The Forest has a dual mission of recreation and education/research.  Many students at Clemson University's College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Life Sciences have gained valuable knowledge and experience by working/learning in this vast area.

            On the recreation side, Clemson Experimental Forest is accessed by an extensive network of closed roads and single track trails, so the possible hiking routes are almost inexhaustible.  The Forest's recreational center is man-made Lake Issaqueena, and the loop described here takes you along the undeveloped east side of the lake while staying in woods the whole time.  I lived in this area for 13 years before hiking at Clemson Experimental Forest, and after hiking here I wished I had not waited so long.

Horseshoe Trailhead

            From the Horseshoe Trailhead, head southwest on the Dam Road Trail, but in only a couple hundred feet turn right to begin heading northwest on the Collarbone Trail.  Trails in Clemson Experimental Forest are mostly unmarked, but intersections are marked with brown carsonite posts bearing the trail's name.  The Collarbone Trail undulates gradually as it heads out a narrow finger ridge.  Pine trees dominate the forest here, but some nice beech and maple trees will also be passed.  Some dogwoods were in full bloom on this ridge when I hiked here in early April.

Dogwoods in bloom

            0.5 miles into the hike, you begin a series of switchbacks as you drop off the end of the finger ridge.  At the bottom of the hill, you reach a trail intersection with the Lawrence Trail.  A nice bench sits at this intersection.  Angle softly left to continue descending, now with a small creek to your left.

            At 0.8 miles, you reach an intersection with the Rocky Trail where the Collarbone Trail ends.  Turn left to begin heading west on the Rocky Trail.  The name "Rocky Trail" sounds intimidating, but in fact the hiking is fairly easy: the Rocky Trail heads downstream with one of Issaqueena Lake's feeder streams on your right.  Gravel Issaqueena Lake Road, which is open to vehicle traffic part of the year, and some picnic areas can be seen across the creek to your right.

Starting the Issaqueena Lake Trail

            Just past 1 mile, the Rocky Trail ends where an access trail heads right to reach a parking area.  Angle left to climb briefly on the Rocky Trail Extension, then turn right to begin the Issaqueena Lake Trail, which is kind of this hike's main trail.  The Issaqueena Lake Trail starts by heading down along the same creek the Rocky Trail followed, but soon the ravine tightens and you will need to negotiate some narrow trail that clings to the hillside about 10 feet above the creek.

Hiking along Lake Issaqueena

            At 1.4 miles, the trail curves left as you get your first view of Lake Issaqueena, which will remain downhill to your right for the next 1.6 miles.  The trail weaves in and out of 3 major ravines, and some monarch butterflies flittered around me as I hiked along the lake.  The lake color nearly matched the sky color when I hiked here on a beautiful Friday afternoon.

Lake Issaqueena

            3 miles into the hike, you reach the concrete dam that forms Lake Issaqueena.  Some pink azaleas were in full bloom here, and the views back up the lake were perfect.  The concrete dam made a nice place to sit, rehydrate, and rest before starting the final leg of the hike.

Azalea in bloom

View from Lake Issaqueena's dam

            The Issaqueena Lake Trail ends at the dam, so to continue this loop you have to take the only other trail that leads here: the Dam Road, which is closed to vehicles.  The Dam Road climbs away from the lake on a moderate to steep grade.  In total, it is about 250 feet of elevation gain back to the trailhead, but you will gain most of that elevation in the road's first 0.3 miles.

Hiking on the Dam Road

            On several occasions a trail called the Dam Road Trail exits left, and you could use that option if you prefer to hike on single-track dirt trail rather than on two-track dirt/gravel road.  The trail is longer with more undulations, so choose the option that best suits you.  The road returns you to the trailhead at 4.5 miles, while the trail gets you there at about 5 miles total.

Wilderness Road State Park (Blog Hike #1011)

Trails: Indian Ridge, Wilderness, and Pioneer Trails
Hike Location: Wilderness Road State Park
Geographic Location: west of Ewing, VA (36.63364, -83.52508)
Length: 2.1 miles
Difficulty: 4/10 (Moderate)
Date Hiked: March 2024
Overview: A round-the-park loop passing several historical sites.
Park Information: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/wilderness-road
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=959127
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming September 26, 2025)

Directions to the trailhead: From the intersection of US 25E and US 58 on the south side of Cumberland Gap, take US 58 east 8.5 miles to the state park entrance on the left.  Turn left to enter the park, pay the entrance fee, and drive the main park road to the large picnic area parking lot at its end.  Park anywhere in this lot.

The hike: Located in extreme western Virginia less than 10 miles east of Cumberland Gap, cozy Wilderness Road State Park protects 327 acres along Daniel Boone's famous Wilderness Road.  The road was built in 1775, but 6 years earlier a man named Joseph Martin settled in this area and founded a town named Martin's Station.  The town was abandoned after only 6 months due to attacks from natives, but Martin returned in 1775 and built the only station on the Wilderness Road between the road's start in Virginia and Crab Orchard, Kentucky, a stretch of nearly 200 miles.  Martin's Station was later relocated from its original site, and the reconstructed settlement can be toured by park visitors today.

            After the area was fully settled, this land was farmed.  One farmstead on this site was the Karlan Mansion, which was built in 1878.  The park was established in 1993, and today the Karlan Mansion is one of the park's rentable structures.

            True to the park's name, the historical features take center stage at Wilderness Road State Park.  The park has limited amenities that include a playground, a primitive campground, and fishing on Indian Creek.  For hikers, the park features 4 trails including 6.4 miles of the Wilderness Trail, a multiuse trail that follows the historic Wilderness Road.  The hike described here is a true loop that uses part of the Wilderness Trail but also uses 2 of the park's shorter trails and passes some of the park's historic sites, thus offering a grand tour of the entire park.

Crossing Baileytown Road at trailhead

            From the picnic area parking lot, head east to cross paved and moderately trafficked Baileytown Road on a marked crosswalk.  A large sign at the top of some constructed stairs tells you that this is the Indian Ridge Trail, and it is marked with orange paint blazes.  The trail climbs gradually through young forest dominated by red cedar trees, but some redbuds were just starting to bloom when I hiked here in late March.

Climbing on Indian Ridge Trail

            At 0.25 miles, the Indian Ridge Trail forks to form its loop as a farm field comes into view across the park boundary to the left.  Continue straight to begin a clockwise journey around the Indian Ridge Trail's loop.  The gradual climb continues, and at 0.4 miles you reach this hike's highest point, which is only about 100 feet of elevation higher than the trailhead.  A pair of benches here provides rest for the weary.

Low rock outcrops

            The trail curves right to begin a winding downhill course through an area with many exposed rock outcrops.  0.6 miles into the hike, you reach an overgrown "overlook," which is really just a flat area with a fence and a few benches.  The rock outcrops uphill from the "overlook" are interesting to look at, but dense trees obstruct any view.

"Overlook"

            Just past the "overlook," you reach a trail intersection.  The Indian Ridge Trail turns right, and you could go that way if you wanted a short 0.8 mile hike on just the Indian Ridge Trail.  This hike angles left to start following yellow blazes.  A short moderate descent brings you to the Wilderness Trail.  Turn right to begin heading west on the Wilderness Trail, which is open to hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrian users.

Wilderness Trail

            As its name indicates, the Wilderness Trail follows the route of Daniel Boone's Wilderness Road, but this trail has absolutely no wilderness feel: it appears to be an old railroad grade.  Going this direction, you are going the same direction settlers would have traveled over 200 years ago to reach Kentucky.  Just past 1 mile, you cross the park road you drove in on.  Some daffodils in bloom greeted me here, and the forsythia looked like it was getting ready to bloom.

Buffalo pen

            At 1.3 miles, you reach the overlook for the park's buffalo pen.  The buffalo were clustered on the other side of the pen when I came here, and I got a better view of the buffalo on my drive out.  Just past the buffalo pen, you reach another trail intersection.  The wide and straight Wilderness Trail continues straight and exits the park, but you want to turn right to begin the blue-blazed Pioneer Trail, the final leg of this hike.

Re-created native camp

            The single-track dirt Pioneer Trail follows a winding course that alternates between young dense woods and open grassy fields.  The fields give great views northeast toward the mountains of Cumberland Gap National Historical Park.  At 1.45 miles, you pass a re-created native camp before climbing up and over a low wooded ridge.

Martin's Station

            1.8 miles into the hike, the rear of historic and relocated Martin's Station can be seen across the field to the right.  The station is hard to access from this trail, but you can tour it by making a quick side trip on your drive out after the hike.  At the next trail intersection, where the Pioneer Trail turns right, continue straight on an unmarked trail.  Crossing a creek on a wooden bridge returns you to the picnic area to complete the hike.  On your drive out, Martin's Station and the park's buffalo pen are worth quick stops to get the most out of your visit to Wilderness Road State Park.

Lamar Alexander Rocky Fork State Park: Flint Creek Battle Site (Blog Hike #1010)

Trails: Rocky Fork and Flint Creek Trails
Hike Location: Lamar Alexander Rocky Fork State Park
Geographic Location: southwest of Erwin, TN (36.04858, -82.55713)
Length: 1.8 miles
Difficulty: 2/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: March 2024
Overview: A creekside out-and-back to a 1789 battle site.
Park Information: https://tnstateparks.com/parks/rocky-fork
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=958955
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming June 6, 2025)

Directions to the trailhead: In eastern Tennessee, take I-26 to US 19W (exit 43).  Exit and go south on US 19W.  Drive US 19W south 1.1 miles to SR 352.  Continue straight to head west on SR 352.  Drive SR 352 southwest 4.8 miles to Rocky Fork Road and turn right on Rocky Fork Rd.; there is a sign for the park at this intersection.  Drive narrow and winding but paved Rocky Fork Rd. 0.9 miles to the gravel road that accesses the trailhead parking lot on the left.  Park in the gravel trailhead parking lot.  There is room for only about 15 cars here, and this lot can fill on nice weather weekends.

The hike: Established only in 2013, Lamar Alexander Rocky Fork State Park is one of Tennessee's newest state parks.  The park is tucked deep in the east Tennessee mountains south of Johnson City, and it protects 2256 acres of classic mountain terrain.  The park was originally named just Rocky Fork State Park after the stream that drains the main part of the park, but in 2019 the name was lengthened to honor the state's former governor and long-serving Senator.

            Lamar Alexander Rocky Fork State Park has very much a rustic wilderness feel with limited amenities.  Indeed, the park offers only fishing in Rocky Fork and 19 miles of trails, most of which are open only to hikers.  Many excellent hiking routes are possible, but I came here on my way to a business appointment in Knoxville.  Thus, I had to keep my hike short, so I chose to do this park's shortest and easiest hike that still leads to a destination of interest.  That destination of interest is the historic Flint Creek Battle Site, and I had a nice hike on a sunny early afternoon in late March.

Main trailhead

            From the rear of the parking lot, head west on the wide gravel trail that parallels Rocky Fork with the creek flowing against you on the left.  Marked with red plastic trail markers, this trail is called the Rocky Fork Trail, and it serves as a common entrance trail for most of the park's trail system.  The forest is a mixed broadleaf forest, but a dense layer of rhododendron populates the understory along the creek.  Some small cascades and waterfalls in Rocky Fork entertain you as you climb gradually.

Cascades in Rocky Fork

            After 0.6 miles of gradual climbing, the trail forks.  Both options look like continuations of the old road you have been hiking on, but they lead to two very different destinations.  The White Oak Flats Trail exits right to climb out of this ravine and eventually leads to adjacent Cherokee National Forest.  You want to turn left to begin the Flint Creek Trail, which is marked with green trail markers.

Hiking along Rocky Fork

            0.8 miles into the hike, the trail curves left to cross Rocky Fork on an excellent footbridge.  Rocky Fork is a classic clear water Appalachian stream, and the bridge gives a nice view from high above the stream.  Just after crossing the bridge, look to the left for what looks like an old homesite.

Old homesite

            Next you pass through a wet area to reach the Flint Creek Battle site, which is marked only with a small wooden sign.  Sometimes called the Flint Creek Massacre, the "battle" occurred in January 1789 when John Sevier led his militia to attack a group of Chickamauga that was camped here for the winter.  The attack was in retaliation to Chickamauga attacks on white settlements, but the surprise attack was brutal: 145 Chickamauga died, and the camp was destroyed.  Today only an open meadow sits here, so take some time to ponder the solemn history of this site.

Flint Creek Battle Site

            The Flint Creek Trail continues past the battle site, but I chose to turn around here and retrace my steps to the trailhead to complete my hike.  Continuing up the Flint Creek Trail and turning left on the Flint Mountain Trail would form a 7.7 mile loop with about 1400 feet of elevation gain.  Alternatively, the Whitehouse Cliffs Trail starts at the same parking lot and leads steeply uphill for 1 mile to a fantastic overlook of the entire Rocky Fork ravine.

Stevens Creek Nature Center and Preserve in Charlotte, NC (Blog Hike #1009)

Trails: Stevens Creek, Heelsplitter, Quartz, and Sawmill Trails
Hike Location: Stevens Creek Nature Center and Preserve
Geographic Location: east side of Charlotte, NC (35.14244, -80.64475)
Length: 3.9 miles
Difficulty: 3/10 (Easy/Moderate)
Date Hiked: March 2024
Overview: A figure-eight route featuring restored wetlands along Stevens Creek.
Park Information: https://parkandrec.mecknc.gov/Places-to-Visit/Nature/stevens-creek-nature-center-and-preserve
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=957890
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming December 13)

Directions to the trailhead: On the east side of Charlotte, take I-485 to Lawyers Road (exit 47).  Exit and go north on Lawyers Rd.  At 0.8 miles, take the second exit from the traffic circle to continue on Lawyers Rd., then almost immediately turn left on Thomson Road.  Drive Thomson Rd. south 0.8 miles to the signed Nature Center entrance on the left.  Turn left to enter the preserve, and park in the large parking lot in front of the Nature Center building.

The hike: Purchased by Mecklenburg County in 2001, Stevens Creek Nature Center and Preserve is the newest of the 4 nature preserves owned and operated by Charlotte-Mecklenburg County.  The preserve protects 2 miles of Stevens Creek, which features an extensive wetland that was rebuilt a few years ago in an expensive and time-consuming restoration.  Most of this land was logged and/or farmed before 2001, and this preserve still has its youthful rough-around-the-edges feel.  It will be fun to watch this forest and wetland mature over the next few decades.

            In terms of amenities, the preserve features only a nature center and 4 hiking trails.  The 4 trails form a figure-eight route with the nature center at the north end of the northern lobe.  Thus, it makes sense to combine all 4 trails into a single figure-eight hike, and such is the hike described here.

Trailhead at nature center

            From the nature center, head south on the concrete trail that passes the main information board.  This ADA-accessible path leads to Stevens Creek, and it serves as an entrance trail for the entire trail system.  After about 1000 feet, the concrete turns to elevated boardwalk as you enter the Stevens Creek wetland.  The trees and grasses planted here during the restoration are not yet fully established, and therefore it still looks and feels like a young wetland.  Also, wildlife was not particularly plentiful when I came here, so hopefully more fauna will call this wetland home in the future.

Restored wetland

            On the south side of the wetland, the trail surface turns to dirt, which it will remain for the rest of the trail system.  You are now on the Heelsplitter Trail, which is marked with orange squares painted on trees.  This trail is named for the Carolina Heelsplitter, an endangered freshwater mussel naturalists hope to introduce to this park's wetland in the future.

Hiking the Heelsplitter Trail

            The next 1.6 miles is a very gradual and rolling climb: the trail has a net gain of about 100 feet of elevation over that span.  Where the Sawmill Trail exits left or the Quartz Trail exits right, stay with the orange squares to remain on the Heelsplitter Trail; we will use the other two trails on our return route.  The forest here has the typical Piedmont mix of beech, pine, hickory, and sweet gum.  I-485 forms this park's southern boundary, and while the forest and hills filter out some of the noise, highway sounds are your near constant companion on this hike.

Starting the Quartz Trail

            1.9 miles into the hike, you reach the Heelsplitter Trail's south end at a junction with the Quartz Trail, which goes right and left.  The trail going left leads to a secondary parking area on Hooks Road, so you want to turn right to begin your return route.  The initial segment of the Quartz Trail follows a power line corridor, and I had to navigate a few muddy areas when I hiked here on a warm afternoon in early March.

            After curving right to leave the power line corridor, the trail passes some small exposed quartz veins that give this trail its name.  At 2.4 miles, you reach a stack of bricks, all that remains of an old homesite.  Some daffodils growing here were just getting ready to bloom on my visit.

Old homesite

            Just past 2.5 miles, you reach the north end of the Quartz Trail at an intersection with the Heelsplitter Trail.  You walked through this intersection about a half hour ago: this intersection closes the south lobe of the figure eight.  Turn left to begin retracing your steps on the Heelsplitter Trail, then at the next intersection angle right to begin the Sawmill Trail.  One of several nice benches sits at this intersection, providing ample opportunity to rest, rehydrate, and have a trail snack.

Hiking the Sawmill Trail

            The Sawmill Trail travels through a stand of young forest with skinny dense trees.  This land was cleared not too long ago, and while there is no evidence of a sawmill on this property, the adjacent town of Mint Hill had many sawmills in the 1900's.  At 3.3 miles, you reach the north end of the Sawmill Trail at yet another intersection with the Heelsplitter Trail you passed through before.  This intersection closes the north lobe of the figure eight.  Turn right to retrace your steps to and across the wetland to return to the nature center and complete the hike.

Paul Grist State Park: Red Trail (Blog Hike #1008)

Trail: Red Trail
Hike Location: Paul Grist State Park
Geographic Location: north of Selma, AL (32.59877, -86.99130)
Length: 3.7 miles
Difficulty: 4/10 (Moderate)
Date Hiked: February 2024
Overview: A loop hike around Valley Creek Lake.
Park Information: https://www.alapark.com/parks/paul-grist-state-park
Hike Route Map: https://www.mappedometer.com/?maproute=957206
Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming February 7, 2025)

Directions to the trailhead: From the intersection of US 80 and SR 22 on the north side of Selma, take SR 22 north 11 miles to CR 222 and turn left on CR 222.  Drive CR 222 west its full length of 1.7 miles to CR 37 and turn right on CR 37.  Drive CR 37 north 1.2 miles to the signed park entrance on the right.  Turn right to enter the park, pay the park entrance fee, and drive the main park road to the park office, which is located at the entrance to the main campground.  Park in the parking lot in front of the park office.

The hike: Somewhat of a hidden gem in rural western Alabama, 1080-acre Paul M. Grist State Park has a long and somewhat tortured history.  The park was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930's as Valley Creek State Park.  In 1973, the Alabama State Legislature renamed the park to honor Paul Malone Grist, a nationally famous director of the YMCA who lived and worked in this area.

            In 2015, the park was closed by the state due to budget cuts, but 2 months later an agreement reached with Dallas County allowed the park to reopen under joint county/state management, a status that continues today.  The cozy park is centered around its 100-acre Valley Creek Lake, and it features swimming and fishing on the lake, a small 11-site developed campground, some picnic areas, and several trails open to hikers and equestrian users.  The hike described here forms the shortest loop around the lake.  I came into this park with a little trepidation, but I had a great hike and left the park with a high opinion of it.

Lake dam at end of park road

            The park road runs right along the west lake shore, and therefore this hike begins and ends with a road walk.  Head south along the park road, walking back out the way you just drove in.  At the first road intersection, turn left to stay close to the lake, heading for the primitive campground.  After 0.5 miles of road walking, you reach the primitive campground near the lake's dam.  The park road ends here.  Walk across the dam, looking for red trail markers.

Trail markers near spillway

            Upon reaching the spillway, the trail rolls off the right (downstream) side of the dam and crosses Valley Creek on a raised concrete structure.  Now the trail leaves the developed park area and enters the woods, where we will stay for most of the rest of this hike.  The forest here features some beautiful large beech trees, but the most common tree is the pine.  All of this park's trails are open to horses.  While this park is most famous as an equestrian destination, the trails did not show signs of heavy horse use on my visit.

Hiking the Red Trail

            At 0.75 miles, the Orange Trail exits right for the first of 4 times.  In all cases the Orange and Red Trails come back together, and the Orange Trail forms a looser loop around the lake.  Thus, you could use the Orange Trail if you wanted to lengthen this hike, but I chose to stick with the Red Trail to get better lake views.  I saw a large number of Canada geese and other birds in the lakeside areas of this hike, and some benches encourage you to sit, rest, and enjoy the lake.

Looking across the lake

            1.5 miles into the hike, the trail curves right to leave the lakeside area and embark on a rolling course in and out of a couple of ravines.  Soon the Orange Trail exits right for the last time, and shortly thereafter the trail starts heading northeast up one of the 2 main feeder streams for Valley Creek Lake.  A steep hillside can be seen to the right, and a marshy wetland area can be seen to the left.

Bridge over feeder stream

            2.1 miles into the hike, the trail curves left to head into the wetland.  Plenty of wet areas will need to be negotiated, but both of the main feeder streams are crossed on nice wooden bridges.  I managed to keep my shoes mostly mud-free while walking through the wetland.  A low ridge is crossed in between the two bridges, and this ridge provides the steepest areas on this hike.

Returning to the lake

            At 2.9 miles, you cross the second feeder stream.  The balance of the hike heads south on a wide trail.  The hillside rises on your right while first the wetland and then the lake appear on your left.  Ignore the Green Trail where it exits right.  At 3.5 miles, you come into the small developed campground, and 1000 feet later you return to the park office to complete the hike.