Exploring some trails in Forest Park

My original plan was to start at the Tolinda Trail head and hike up but bridge traffic was so bad I could not make the turn. So going to plan B I went up to the Leaf Erikson Parking lot and started there. I have no memory of hiking the Tolinda Trail or the Waterline Trail before so those were the main objective of this outing. So I was going to have hike down the Tolinda trail first to get my plan back on track.

The Tolinda trail starts on an old road bed that climbs up to a flat area that was planed to be for housing that was never built. Form there it converts to a dirt trail that clearing has been altered for mountain bikes to sail down even though it is mark for no mountain bike. After getting back to Leaf Erickson walked a short ways and started up the Waterline trail. I was surprise find towers and a large grass meadow at the end of it. After exploring these new trail I head on some standard trail to get some mileage in. The hike was 8.3 miles with 1150 total elevation gain in 3 1/2 hours.

Burnt Bridge Creek Greenway Trail Walk

I went for an exploratory walk this Sunday morning between rain fronts. I have been wanting to check out the first part of this trail for several years but I had heard the homeless situation was bad. I thought I would go until I hit the first tent then turn back. Fortunately, I was able to go a couple of miles, through some beautiful area, before hitting the first tent. I also did a little side trip to see the Gnome Trail. A fun project being done by locals in the area.

Nick Eaton to Deadwood Hike

This conditioning hike uses several trail to make a lollypop loop. I started out at the Herman Creek trailhead at about 200 ft and took this trail to the Nick Eaton Trail. I then climbed up the Nick Eaton Trail to the first summit spot at about 3200 ft. From here I continued along the ridge trail to the Deadwood trail cut off and follow it down to the Gordon Creek Trail. I spent a little time looking for the old Deadwood camp site but it appears to have been wiped it out in the burn. I then headed back on Gordon Creek trail to rejoin the Herman Creek trail and return to my car. It was about 9.5 miles, 3000 elevation gain and on the trail for about 6 hours.