My hope as I researched parks in the area was to check out the Cedar Hill State Park, which hosts a section of the DORBA (Dallas Off-Road Bicycle Association) trail network. I planned to hike and maybe run assuming there wasn't to much bike traffic. Unfortunately, when I called the park for information, I found out that the trails were closed due to the recent rain storm. So disappointed! So I found some back up options, and headed out.
First, I visited Boulder Park, which boasted 10 miles of mountain bike trail. I couldn't get through to anyone for information on the park, so it wasn't until I arrived that I discovered that this was also part of the DORBA system, and therefore, closed. Having made the trip there, though, I decided to just walk a little ways down the trail until I found a wet area, and then turn back. I never found any mud. The whole park was dry! In fact, I would call the conditions perfect - not muddy and not dusty. Just right!
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| Boulder Park Trail |
The trail consisted of a main Blue loop with a number of more technical off-shoot Red loops. In the interest of not getting lost, I stuck to the Blue loop.
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| Cactus and Wild Flowers |
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| Texas Flora |
The creek was running very low, but it contained fish, so it must run consistently enough to support them. It must be an old creek, too, as it looks to have worn its path through the rocks over a very long time.
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| An old but living creek |
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| I love trails! |
I ended up hiking 4 miles at Boulder Park.
At this point, it was still early enough in the afternoon to check out another park only about 10 minutes from my hotel. I was hoping Bear Creek Nature Park would provide a decent place to run during the next week, as the area around my hotel is all highway with no sidewalks.
Bear Creek has a small campground and an equestrian trail. The website had mentioned hiking trails, too, but I think the equestrian trail is all they have, so I ventured out on that.
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| More Flowers! |
The trail headed out around a meadow and into a somewhat forested area. It was a much more dry, brushy park.
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| Bear Creek Trail |
As I hiked, I started to see some familiar man-made structures - a mud pit, a climbing wall, a rusted out van with a cargo net over it... They were the remains of an obstacle run!
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| Old Ford van with a broken kiln inside |
As I was leaving the park, I found a flyer for the upcoming Down & Dirty obstacle run on June 2, 2013. Looks like it's going to be fun!
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| http://www.downanddirtymudrun.com/ |
I hiked an additional 2.5 miles at Bear Creek and then headed to my hotel to shower up and eat a meal. It was a great day of sun shine and movement!
Am I just being an idiot, or is there not a way for me to subscribe via email? Hope you guys are drying out over there in Grand Rapids!
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