Trail 1

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Fall Colors · River/Creek · Spring · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Park entrance has a fee—take cash or cards.

This trail starts at the visitor center, runs along the top of the ridge to the observation tower, then down into the gorge, winding around slump block, and then back up to rejoin the road at the top of the ridge. Connects to trails 2 and 3. Fantastic spring wildflowers along the ridge and some mini waterfalls (seasonal) moving their way to the gorge. Mud a plenty and mixed rocks on the lower portions of the trail, while gravel on the ridgeline.

Due to the gravel terrain on most of the trail, the stretch between the Observation Tower and the trail's intersection with Trail 2 is very steep and somewhat difficult to go either up or down. This stretch also becomes a muddy creek after a rain. My dad nicknamed this stretch "killer hill," since it was usually our last incline before we got to the parking lot by the Nature Center.

Trillium, Cutleaf toothwart, bloodroot, bluebells, and moss all around. Squirrels and birds, including red headed woodpecker and downy woodpeckers.