explorations

Mianus River Park
4 miles
Cool, perfectly comfortable
Off-road cyclists in out-of-the-way places

I walked trails I have never walked before.

River Road to Inner Road which becomes Pine Hill. Left turn on Oak Trail, then Trail A. Trail A gets interestingly small and winds around some small ponds. I got a little lost but followed some faint cycle paths in the leaves until I came to a marker. Deer Trail back to Oak Trail. Oak Trail to Main Road, a small shortcut to a dam. Retraced to Main Road and then a short excursion on Cave Trail. Back to Main Road, then a cutoff on Swamp Trail and Corner Trail intersecting back with Inner Road.

Intricate hike. I would have gotten so lost without the trail map on my phone.

Partially beautiful. Many dead tree trunks returning a rich auburn substance to soil. Small bodies of water. Companioned by a little stream. Narrow paths curving around mountain laurels looking sculptural. Boulders and rocky cliffs with great presence.

deer trail passing a small pond

tree trunk returning to soil

cave trail, stopped at a cliff face

cave trail, treelet growing in cleft

dam trail