Take 2 on this one. I had come over to do it a few weeks ago, but there was a car in the parking lot that made me uncomfortable so I called an audible.. back again and mission was successful. There were a couple cars in the lot when I arrived, and the lot was almost full when I finished, yet I only saw 6 people the entire time! I started on the All Persons Trail, which is a lollipop trail that is graded gravel, that very gently climbs ever so slightly before reaching a lollipop loop called Cedar Swamp Trail that included some wooden bridges. The whole thing was very pretty. Several different areas to stop with fancy benches and educational plaques along the way. I picked up Woodland Trail here, which becomes a true hiking trail. Woodland Trail is essentially a big circle, which I took in a clockwise direction. Nothing really of note to see, but the temps were perfect and the light filtering through the trees was perfect. The trails are all really well maintained and marked. On the backside of Woodland Loop is another offshoot called Rhododendron Trail, which drops down and crosses a brook to create another lollipop through some rhododendron stands. The loop essentially follows an inner circle between 2 brooks. The only faux pas of my day was just before crossing the brook to start the lollipop, I inadvertently followed a trail that appeared well established and was flagged following alongside a pond.. this trail however is not on the map (perhaps the flagging indicates it is in the process of being built?). It ended at a road/driveway. I had questioned myself as my little dot on my digital map was off the trail, but sometimes the GPS coordinates on my phone are off, so I wasn't sure and kept going. When I reached the road and determined I really was off track, I just turned around and backtracked before getting on the actual trail and completing the Rhododendron Loop trail. Only added about half a mile extra, so no harm, no foul. Once back at Woodland Trail, I completed the loop and repeated the first section again to return to the parking lot. Super pretty area!
Strava Activity
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| intersection of All Persons Trail and Woodland Trail near the kiosk |
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| Cedar Swamp Trail off the All Persons Trail |
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| Woodland Trail |
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| lots of boulders and open woods with beautiful light this time of year |
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| Rhododendron Loop crossed a power line swath before the loop part |
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this is where I went wrong. I went straight instead of turning left
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| gorgeous light along the not correct part |
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| back on track on Rhododendron Loop |
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| rhododendrons! |
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