What a hot, humid summer it has been--better for swimming than hiking! The boys and I have had our share of pool visits this summer, but I've found myself craving a little exercise. Plus I didn't want to miss the late summer wildflower show when all the tall, leafy "weeds" finally pop into bloom. So, I took the humidity as a sign to pull my bicycle out of the garage and finally try out the bike trailer I found on craigslist at the beginning of the season. At least the boys and I would get a breeze to dry off our moist brows.
Since it's close to home, we headed to the Avoca trail head on the Little Miami Scenic Trail for our trial run. At first, I tried to let the boys ride along, but a tattered big wheel and a bike with shaky training wheels felt very out of place on this particular trail frequented by professional cyclists more than families. My almost three-year-old could not grasp the concept of staying to the right side and my older son kept ending up in the grass, so into the trailer they went!
The first ride was wonderful--me with the breeze on my cheeks, them chilling in the trailer behind, smiling people passing by, and plenty of wildflowers all around. We even saw two deer crossing the path. We have returned several times since and I finally took my camera to capture some of the trail for the blog. Have a look! And stay tuned for upcoming posts regarding bike paths in the area.
[Click on the slideshow below to see the whole album with captions and comments containing more information or click HERE.]
Showing posts with label Bike Paths. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bike Paths. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Fast Facts: Sharon Woods
11450 Lebanon Road
Sharonville, OH 45241
http://www.hamiltoncountyparks.org/parks/sharonwoods.shtm
View Larger Map
Kids Will Like
Sharonville, OH 45241
http://www.hamiltoncountyparks.org/parks/sharonwoods.shtm
View Larger Map
Kids Will Like
- Playground
- Indoor Play Area and Nature Displays
- Outdoor Water Playground
- Boating on Sharon Lake
- Hikes Along the Gorge and Around the Lake
- 19th Century Village
- Special Events for Kids
- Admission: $3.00 daily or $10.00 for the year
- Small fees for Indoor Play Area, Water Park, or Boat Rental
- Heritage Village is Free for ages 4 and under (Small fees ages 5+)
- Picnic Shelters Available for Reserve
- Snack Bar at Water Park
- Gift Shop at Visitor's Center
- Restrooms and Water Fountains Available
- Golf Course on Site
Synopsis
Sharon Woods is one of the large Hamilton County Parks which offers something for everyone: nature, history, art, sports, and relaxation, togetherness, or alone time. Our hike on the Gorge Trail featured waterfalls and educational signs to enhance our experience. The paved trail around the lake is perfect for a good stroller workout. The water park is a must-do summer activity for kids and the 19th century Heritage Village is an added attraction not found in most local parks. The convenient location also makes this a definite go-to park throughout the year.
Trail Tale: Sharon Woods, Gorge Trail
By the end of March in Cincinnati, the family is going stir crazy. Not enough sun and very little signs that spring is around the corner. To give Mother Nature a little encouragement, we all headed out for a hike on a gray, chilly Saturday at Sharon Woods in Sharonville. We chose to take the Gorge Trail and walk along the creek. Sharon Woods also has a multi-use paved trail which circles Sharon Lake.
We began at the trail's south entrance. When arriving at the park from Route 42, take the first left. There will be parking on your left near a picnic area. To get to the trail head, cross the street and walk a few yards further down the road. You will be greeted by a sign for the trail:
This end of the trail also closer to the visitor's center where you can find an indoor play area--a great place to go with pre-schoolers in the winter--a nature display area, restrooms, and a gift shop. There is also a room which contains revolving nature-themed art exhibits. Just outside the nature center is a play area and beyond that, the Heritage Village Living Museum. Visit the park's website for more information.
Let's get to the trail!
The path is gravel and plenty wide. Since it goes out and back, there are a lot of people and dogs to pass along the way. Even on this chilly day, we encountered enough people and their pets to make it a friendly hike, but no so many that it felt crowded. Shortly into the walk, you get a good look at the gorge on your right. My younger son demonstrates the meaning of "gorge" as he gets a little too close to the edge!
In the beginning of the trail, it's important to keep an eye (and a hand) on small children. Later, there are fences near the dangerous areas. Just ahead, we encounter our first waterfall.
The boys and their Dad take some time to toss pebbles into the creek while I repeat "be careful, be careful" like a mantra. There is a nice deck and bench for those who would rather contemplate the falls than to risk falling off the bank.
We venture on, further into the woods. You can see the steep drop in the following picture:
Soon the trail moves away from the edge of the gorge and I find it's okay to exhale and start enjoying the hike.
There are several attractive informational signs created by the Hamilton County Park District along the way creating an added educational experience especially for older kids, like me. Here is just one example, which discusses animals in the area during the Ice Age:
About half-way into the hike, the trail crosses the creek with a solid wooden bridge.
Here is a view of the creek from the middle of the bridge:
The next section of trail passes by a small portion of the 18-hole Sharon Woods Golf Course. But my oldest, Marshall doesn't notice. He is too busy balancing on logs from a fallen tree.
Next up is a neat-looking tree that contains three large trunks coming from the same root ball.
And, of course, it beckons to be climbed upon.
This would make a great spot to kick back and read a novel all day--in another lifetime, anyway... Just behind this tree, I spot my first sign that spring is indeed on it's way! This may be the bud of a Buckeye tree, but I'm not a botanist, so I'd have to see it in bloom to know for sure. What promise lies in this perfect little bud!
Next, we come across another of the creek's Falls and Miles and I stop at the deck to admire them.
Marshall, however, is off and running through the woods!
The picture above is a good representation of how most of the trail appears. If you look closely, you can see some green growing up from the matted brown leaves. Most of the plants are wild onions.
Only in the last leg of the trail do we find a slope with footholds to give us an extra workout.
Once at the top, we get a glimpse of Sharon Lake's waterfall as it empties into the creek beneath a pretty stone bridge.
The trail ends at the road across from the lake. Watch for cars when crossing. My kids had their eye on the lake and would have just run out into the road if we had not been aware!
If you enter Sharon Woods from Kemper Road, you will be closer to the lake than the Visitor's Center and can reach the Gorge Trail by passing the large parking lot for the lake, then turning left. There will be a small parking lot for the trail on your right. You could also hop on the paved trail that circles the lake at this point. A future post will be dedicated to the loop trail. On this day, we gazed at the lake for a bit and then headed back the way we came.
We ended our day out at the park by driving over to Adventure Station, the indoor play area at Sharon Centre, where we also made use of the water fountains and restrooms and found warmth for our chilly bones.
I look forward to returning to Sharon Woods to explore the Heritage Village. In summer, this park has an outdoor water park for the kids near the lake. It's also possible to rent pedal boats, rowboats, motor boats, pontoon boats, or canoes. And if you like to fish, the boathouse offers supplies.
Sharon Woods is one of the "Big Four" of the Hamilton County Parks, along with Miami Whitewater, Woodland Mound, and Winton Woods. It's the kind of park that offers something for everyone. It's big enough for family reunions, "stay"-cations, and day trips, yet close enough and small enough to visit often and spend just an hour or two at a time. The two hours we spent hiking and playing inside was just the mini-break our family needed from long winter days spent indoors.
We began at the trail's south entrance. When arriving at the park from Route 42, take the first left. There will be parking on your left near a picnic area. To get to the trail head, cross the street and walk a few yards further down the road. You will be greeted by a sign for the trail:
This end of the trail also closer to the visitor's center where you can find an indoor play area--a great place to go with pre-schoolers in the winter--a nature display area, restrooms, and a gift shop. There is also a room which contains revolving nature-themed art exhibits. Just outside the nature center is a play area and beyond that, the Heritage Village Living Museum. Visit the park's website for more information.
Let's get to the trail!
The path is gravel and plenty wide. Since it goes out and back, there are a lot of people and dogs to pass along the way. Even on this chilly day, we encountered enough people and their pets to make it a friendly hike, but no so many that it felt crowded. Shortly into the walk, you get a good look at the gorge on your right. My younger son demonstrates the meaning of "gorge" as he gets a little too close to the edge!
In the beginning of the trail, it's important to keep an eye (and a hand) on small children. Later, there are fences near the dangerous areas. Just ahead, we encounter our first waterfall.
The boys and their Dad take some time to toss pebbles into the creek while I repeat "be careful, be careful" like a mantra. There is a nice deck and bench for those who would rather contemplate the falls than to risk falling off the bank.
We venture on, further into the woods. You can see the steep drop in the following picture:
Soon the trail moves away from the edge of the gorge and I find it's okay to exhale and start enjoying the hike.
There are several attractive informational signs created by the Hamilton County Park District along the way creating an added educational experience especially for older kids, like me. Here is just one example, which discusses animals in the area during the Ice Age:
About half-way into the hike, the trail crosses the creek with a solid wooden bridge.
Here is a view of the creek from the middle of the bridge:
The next section of trail passes by a small portion of the 18-hole Sharon Woods Golf Course. But my oldest, Marshall doesn't notice. He is too busy balancing on logs from a fallen tree.
Next up is a neat-looking tree that contains three large trunks coming from the same root ball.
And, of course, it beckons to be climbed upon.
This would make a great spot to kick back and read a novel all day--in another lifetime, anyway... Just behind this tree, I spot my first sign that spring is indeed on it's way! This may be the bud of a Buckeye tree, but I'm not a botanist, so I'd have to see it in bloom to know for sure. What promise lies in this perfect little bud!
Next, we come across another of the creek's Falls and Miles and I stop at the deck to admire them.
Marshall, however, is off and running through the woods!
The picture above is a good representation of how most of the trail appears. If you look closely, you can see some green growing up from the matted brown leaves. Most of the plants are wild onions.
Only in the last leg of the trail do we find a slope with footholds to give us an extra workout.
Once at the top, we get a glimpse of Sharon Lake's waterfall as it empties into the creek beneath a pretty stone bridge.
The trail ends at the road across from the lake. Watch for cars when crossing. My kids had their eye on the lake and would have just run out into the road if we had not been aware!
If you enter Sharon Woods from Kemper Road, you will be closer to the lake than the Visitor's Center and can reach the Gorge Trail by passing the large parking lot for the lake, then turning left. There will be a small parking lot for the trail on your right. You could also hop on the paved trail that circles the lake at this point. A future post will be dedicated to the loop trail. On this day, we gazed at the lake for a bit and then headed back the way we came.
We ended our day out at the park by driving over to Adventure Station, the indoor play area at Sharon Centre, where we also made use of the water fountains and restrooms and found warmth for our chilly bones.
I look forward to returning to Sharon Woods to explore the Heritage Village. In summer, this park has an outdoor water park for the kids near the lake. It's also possible to rent pedal boats, rowboats, motor boats, pontoon boats, or canoes. And if you like to fish, the boathouse offers supplies.
Sharon Woods is one of the "Big Four" of the Hamilton County Parks, along with Miami Whitewater, Woodland Mound, and Winton Woods. It's the kind of park that offers something for everyone. It's big enough for family reunions, "stay"-cations, and day trips, yet close enough and small enough to visit often and spend just an hour or two at a time. The two hours we spent hiking and playing inside was just the mini-break our family needed from long winter days spent indoors.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Fast Facts: Otto Armleder Memorial Park
5057 Wooster Pike
Cincinnati, OH 45226
http://cincyparks.com/parks-events/east-region/otto-armleder-park/
http://www.hamiltoncountyparks.org/parks/armlederpark.htm
View Larger Map
Kids Will Like
This park seems most commonly known for it's dog park, playground, and paved trails--all excellent facilities that see plenty of use, but are never overcrowded. There is a nice hiking trail that runs along the Little Miami River as well as an access point to the river that deserves more attention. At this summertime writing, I have only hiked a very small portion of the trail since it was too overgrown to continue with kids in tow. I look forward to a fall or winter hike--especially if the river freezes. Now, that would be neat!
Historical Information
Otto Armleder:
http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/a/armleder/armleder.htm
Cincinnati, OH 45226
http://cincyparks.com/parks-events/east-region/otto-armleder-park/
http://www.hamiltoncountyparks.org/parks/armlederpark.htm
View Larger Map
Kids Will Like
- Playground
- Seeing Airplanes from Lunken Airport Flying Overhead
- Running, Playing Ball or Frisbee, Flying Kites in Open Fields
- Riding Bikes or Walking on Paved Bike Trail
- Spotting Wildlife in the Prairies/Meadows and Along Hiking Trails
- Wading and Throwing Stones in the Little Miami River (when water level is low)
- Watching Dogs Romp Around Dog Park
- No Admission Fees
- Paved Parking Lot
- Stroller Friendly Paved Path-1.9 miles
- Playground Area
- Designed for Ages 2-5
- Water Fountain
- Shelter with Picnic Tables
- Restroom Rating: A+
- Playground is Not Shaded
- Little Miami River Access Area
- Parking Allowed in Grass
- Bike Rack Available
- No Restrooms or Water Fountain
- Hiking Trails
- Trail Head Located Near River--Follow Park Signs
- Trails Run Beside River
- Overgrown in Late Summer
- Poison Ivy Present
- Dog Park On Site
- Small Fishing Pond On Site
- Park Closes if Flooding Occurs
- Soccer Fields
This park seems most commonly known for it's dog park, playground, and paved trails--all excellent facilities that see plenty of use, but are never overcrowded. There is a nice hiking trail that runs along the Little Miami River as well as an access point to the river that deserves more attention. At this summertime writing, I have only hiked a very small portion of the trail since it was too overgrown to continue with kids in tow. I look forward to a fall or winter hike--especially if the river freezes. Now, that would be neat!
Historical Information
Otto Armleder:
http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/a/armleder/armleder.htm
 |
Informational Sign about Otto Armleder at the Playground Area Paved Trail  Hiking Trail  |
Little Miami River in August
Trail Tale: Otto Armleder Memorial Park, August 2010
My son, Marshall, simply calls it "The Otto Park." We have been visiting the playground at Otto Armleder Memorial for well over a year now. I think the first time I was there, Miles (now a month away from two years old) was still hanging out in the Baby Bjorn. The playground, designed for ages 2-5, is just the right size for my two tykes. The facilities are fairly new, with playground, restrooms, water fountain, and picnic shelter just off the parking lot. Huge open fields surround this area, allowing caregivers to ease their minds about traffic and just let the kids run, run, run. It's never crowded, but there are plenty of people utilizing the paved bike trail so you don't feel deserted: runners, hikers, and dog walkers. The dog park at Otto Armleder gets good reviews. My golden retriever neighbor enjoys it too.
Beyond the playground, the paved trail beckons.
As many times as I've taken the boys to the Otto Park, it was only recently, that I struck out with the double stroller and went exploring. Wow! The boys and I found ourselves immersed in a vibrant Prairie. In this late summer, the grasses and flowering plants were growing high above our heads. How nice to explore it from the comfort of a paved trail. In recent years, I've become more and more interested in native plants, secretly hoping to turn the big, sun-drenched, weed-filled side yard of my house into a beautiful wildflower garden. Maybe when the boys are a little bigger. I wonder if anyone would notice a big patch of missing prairie out here? Hmmmmm... Probably not a good idea. But, the camera captures a few patches pretty well:
The boys and I slowly made our way down the path,
the butterflies,
the vultures...
This bold bird took some time out of his busy day to make our acquaintance (or he was eyeing Miles as his next big feast--he was awfully close--eek)!
From behind the playground, we had walked down the path to the right (heading south, I believe) and come to a place where the Little Miami River can be accessed for fishing, canoeing, and tossing stones. Here, there is a large grass patch reserved for cars to park, and a bike rack. There are no restrooms or water fountains, though. You can also access a hiking trail here. If only I had known! Since we had already spent quite a bit of our morning at the playground and on the bike path, I knew hiking would be pushing the limits of the all important nap-time and I wanted plenty of time to explore. So, next time I will make it a point to park near the trail head for a hike. (Look for another post in the near future).
I did let the boys spend some time at the river. The water here is shallow enough that we could walk out into the middle of the river with only our ankles getting wet. What a neat feeling! Of course, the boys stooped down to collect stones and little shells for throwing, so they ended up with wet butts too--one of these days, I'll remember to bring extra clothes. Oh, well.
Playground
Shelter
Beyond the playground, the paved trail beckons.
As many times as I've taken the boys to the Otto Park, it was only recently, that I struck out with the double stroller and went exploring. Wow! The boys and I found ourselves immersed in a vibrant Prairie. In this late summer, the grasses and flowering plants were growing high above our heads. How nice to explore it from the comfort of a paved trail. In recent years, I've become more and more interested in native plants, secretly hoping to turn the big, sun-drenched, weed-filled side yard of my house into a beautiful wildflower garden. Maybe when the boys are a little bigger. I wonder if anyone would notice a big patch of missing prairie out here? Hmmmmm... Probably not a good idea. But, the camera captures a few patches pretty well:
The boys and I slowly made our way down the path,
checking the plants,
the butterflies,
the vultures...
This bold bird took some time out of his busy day to make our acquaintance (or he was eyeing Miles as his next big feast--he was awfully close--eek)!
From behind the playground, we had walked down the path to the right (heading south, I believe) and come to a place where the Little Miami River can be accessed for fishing, canoeing, and tossing stones. Here, there is a large grass patch reserved for cars to park, and a bike rack. There are no restrooms or water fountains, though. You can also access a hiking trail here. If only I had known! Since we had already spent quite a bit of our morning at the playground and on the bike path, I knew hiking would be pushing the limits of the all important nap-time and I wanted plenty of time to explore. So, next time I will make it a point to park near the trail head for a hike. (Look for another post in the near future).
I did let the boys spend some time at the river. The water here is shallow enough that we could walk out into the middle of the river with only our ankles getting wet. What a neat feeling! Of course, the boys stooped down to collect stones and little shells for throwing, so they ended up with wet butts too--one of these days, I'll remember to bring extra clothes. Oh, well.
Looking down river, I could see cars moving along the Beechmont Levy bridge. Just beyond the bridge is Lunken Airport. The airplanes come and go continuously overhead, entertaining the kids, and reminding that we're not as far into the wild as it may seem. With all the hustle and bustle of our little city, it's easy to forget how many natural places do exist here. The Otto Armleder Park is a great place to bring the kids or the dogs, the roller blades or the running shoes. But, I encourage you to look beyond the nice, new facilities and take some time to explore the natural wonders beyond. I'm glad we did and can't wait to try the hiking trail next time!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Fast Facts: Avoca Trailhead
8063 Wooster Pike
Cincinnati, OH 45227
http://www.hamiltoncountyparks.org/parks/littlemiamigolfcenter.htm
View Larger Map
Kids Will Like
[August, 2010] The Avoca Trailhead Park is a small, but very busy place with cyclists, runners, and walkers starting out on a trip from the paved parking lot or making a pit-stop to utilize the restrooms, water fountains, and small shaded picnic area. With a big enough grassy field, people playing soccer, baseball, frisbee, and such can easily utilize this park as well. The hiking trail is fairly short, about a 15 minute hike one-way, and ends at the banks of the Little Miami River. Caution should be taken after rain as the water may be high. I recommend holding hands! If the water is low, however, there is a large "beach" of smooth stones to wander upon while getting a good look at this lovely State and National Scenic River as it rounds a bend.
Further Information
Little Miami State Scenic River: http://dnr.state.oh.us/tabid/1862/default.aspx
Little Miami Bike Trail: http://www.miamivalleytrails.org/miami.htm
Armstrong Family Mills: http://www.indianhill.org/History/Ppl003.htm
Armstrong Family Mills: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohhamilt/histhc/254c.htm
Cincinnati, OH 45227
http://www.hamiltoncountyparks.org/parks/littlemiamigolfcenter.htm
View Larger Map
Kids Will Like
- Close-up view of the Little Miami River
- Throwing Stones into the Water
- Riding Bikes on the Little Miami Scenic Trail
- Playing Ball or Frisbee in Field Nearby
- Spotting Butterflies Along the Trail
- Hamilton County Parks Sticker Required
- Paved Parking Lot--Plenty of Spaces
- Small Covered Shelter with Picnic Tables
- Water Fountains Available
- Bathroom Rating: A
- Bike Trail is Busy in Summer
- Strollers Welcome on Bike Trail / Possible on Hiking Trail
[August, 2010] The Avoca Trailhead Park is a small, but very busy place with cyclists, runners, and walkers starting out on a trip from the paved parking lot or making a pit-stop to utilize the restrooms, water fountains, and small shaded picnic area. With a big enough grassy field, people playing soccer, baseball, frisbee, and such can easily utilize this park as well. The hiking trail is fairly short, about a 15 minute hike one-way, and ends at the banks of the Little Miami River. Caution should be taken after rain as the water may be high. I recommend holding hands! If the water is low, however, there is a large "beach" of smooth stones to wander upon while getting a good look at this lovely State and National Scenic River as it rounds a bend.
Further Information
Little Miami State Scenic River: http://dnr.state.oh.us/tabid/1862/default.aspx
Little Miami Bike Trail: http://www.miamivalleytrails.org/miami.htm
Armstrong Family Mills: http://www.indianhill.org/History/Ppl003.htm
Armstrong Family Mills: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohhamilt/histhc/254c.htm
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Trail Tale: Avoca Trailhead, August 2010
I usually think of cabin fever as a wintertime occurrence, but the stifling August heat can also do the trick. To avoid a scene like a WWF-style cage match in our basement / playroom--yikes, I decided to take an early, short hike at Hamilton County Parks' Avoca Trailhead off Wooster Pike between Mariemont and Terrace Park. From the parking lot, he trailhead is located across the Little Miami Bike Trail and behind a small picnic shelter. You can see it in the very center of the photo below between the two tall trees.
An informational sign provided by Hamilton County Parks marks the beginning of the trail which ends at the edge of the Little Miami River.
[A little Google searching led me to some historical information about the Armstrong family. I placed a couple links at the bottom of the blog entry 'Fast Facts: Avoca Trailhead.' if interested.]
The trail starts with plenty of room and even terrain and turns into what looks like an old driveway for a few feet before narrowing down again.
Along the way, we spotted a few splashes of wildflowers among the green, green understory. Looking through the sun-dappled woods, I caught glimpses of some small, open prairies with patches of tall yellow flowers that could have been Wingstem or Brown-Eyed Susan. If the boys weren't trudging along ahead, I may have been tempted to venture off the trail a bit to get a closer look, but then I would be breaking the code of conduct to stay on the marked trail and not disturb the wilderness! I think, instead, I'll remember to bring my binoculars next time I hike (and some plant identification guides). It would be fun to have the boys use the binoculars and try to find the plant in a book--if I could get them to stop long enough!
About halfway into the short hike, I found a cool tree to add to my collection of cool tree photos. Check it out:
It almost looks like an eye is peering at you from the bark--kind of eerie. But no, it's a street sign lodged in the tree with the bark growing over most of the letters. I wonder how it got there? A person, most likely. Or perhaps the river flooded after a storm and the rushing water hurtled the sign into the tree! Okay, probably not. Hiking always stirs my imagination...
Getting toward the end of the trail, the path becomes more congested and the plants tower above our heads. You can tell you are quite close to the river when you reach a fork in the trail, as seen in the picture below.
Either one leads to the river, but the one to the left is a bit easier to navigate, even though the plants close in on you quite a bit. There is a little patch of poison ivy stretching into the path as well. And, it dips down just enough so that you have to watch your footing. If I had a stroller, I'd probably park it near the fork in the path. I ended up carrying my youngest, Miles (in football hold, of course) and grabbed Marshall's hand to steer him through the ivy.
We suddenly encountered another hiker at the dip and she graciously stood back into the tall plants to let us bumble our way past. The last time I hiked this trail, in the spring, the river was high and I'd say, dangerous if you are not careful. But on this sweltering August day, I was delighted to find plenty of space to let the boys roam. Their eyes were big at the wide beach of smooth stones before them and they each set out to toss as many of the stones as possible into the river lazing by.
In the olden days of cabrewing (ahem--canoeing!), this would have made a perfect spot for the crew to put down the oars and take a little "snack" break. But today, I just enjoyed the beautiful scene, so deserving of it's status as a State and National Scenic River. And, tried to keep Miles from getting too close to the flowing water.
It was still before noon, but the humidity had already wet our brows and the boys were getting red-cheeked. The hardest part of our hike was coaxing poor Miles to leave his beloved rocks. He ended up in the football hold once more and we made our way back along the trail. I noticed the canopy to this patch of woods and realized there were quite a few massive Sycamore trees providing our shade. If my camera had not run out of batteries at the river, I would have snapped a few shots of their tall, wide trunks and papery bark--next time.
We ended our hike at the small picnic shelter, used the water pump to cool our faces, and gobbled up a quick snack while chatting with a friendly Biker...I mean, Cyclist--sorry guy, next time I'll get it right! All in all a quick, enjoyable hike that I can come back to anytime I need to deter the boys from duking it out in the basement during a hot summer spell.
An informational sign provided by Hamilton County Parks marks the beginning of the trail which ends at the edge of the Little Miami River.
[A little Google searching led me to some historical information about the Armstrong family. I placed a couple links at the bottom of the blog entry 'Fast Facts: Avoca Trailhead.' if interested.]
The trail starts with plenty of room and even terrain and turns into what looks like an old driveway for a few feet before narrowing down again.
Along the way, we spotted a few splashes of wildflowers among the green, green understory. Looking through the sun-dappled woods, I caught glimpses of some small, open prairies with patches of tall yellow flowers that could have been Wingstem or Brown-Eyed Susan. If the boys weren't trudging along ahead, I may have been tempted to venture off the trail a bit to get a closer look, but then I would be breaking the code of conduct to stay on the marked trail and not disturb the wilderness! I think, instead, I'll remember to bring my binoculars next time I hike (and some plant identification guides). It would be fun to have the boys use the binoculars and try to find the plant in a book--if I could get them to stop long enough!
About halfway into the short hike, I found a cool tree to add to my collection of cool tree photos. Check it out:
Getting toward the end of the trail, the path becomes more congested and the plants tower above our heads. You can tell you are quite close to the river when you reach a fork in the trail, as seen in the picture below.
Either one leads to the river, but the one to the left is a bit easier to navigate, even though the plants close in on you quite a bit. There is a little patch of poison ivy stretching into the path as well. And, it dips down just enough so that you have to watch your footing. If I had a stroller, I'd probably park it near the fork in the path. I ended up carrying my youngest, Miles (in football hold, of course) and grabbed Marshall's hand to steer him through the ivy.
We suddenly encountered another hiker at the dip and she graciously stood back into the tall plants to let us bumble our way past. The last time I hiked this trail, in the spring, the river was high and I'd say, dangerous if you are not careful. But on this sweltering August day, I was delighted to find plenty of space to let the boys roam. Their eyes were big at the wide beach of smooth stones before them and they each set out to toss as many of the stones as possible into the river lazing by.
In the olden days of cabrewing (ahem--canoeing!), this would have made a perfect spot for the crew to put down the oars and take a little "snack" break. But today, I just enjoyed the beautiful scene, so deserving of it's status as a State and National Scenic River. And, tried to keep Miles from getting too close to the flowing water.
It was still before noon, but the humidity had already wet our brows and the boys were getting red-cheeked. The hardest part of our hike was coaxing poor Miles to leave his beloved rocks. He ended up in the football hold once more and we made our way back along the trail. I noticed the canopy to this patch of woods and realized there were quite a few massive Sycamore trees providing our shade. If my camera had not run out of batteries at the river, I would have snapped a few shots of their tall, wide trunks and papery bark--next time.
We ended our hike at the small picnic shelter, used the water pump to cool our faces, and gobbled up a quick snack while chatting with a friendly Biker...I mean, Cyclist--sorry guy, next time I'll get it right! All in all a quick, enjoyable hike that I can come back to anytime I need to deter the boys from duking it out in the basement during a hot summer spell.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)