Buckskin Trail; a Good Hike

Today was predicted to be the coolest day of the week so we took Matey and went the two miles up the road to Buckskin Mountain State Park. We all walked around the developed part of the park. It’s a bit larger than River Island but we thought River Island was prettier.

Bud and Matey drove back and I hiked back on the Buckskin Trail. The first section is called Lightning Bolt Trail, probably because it zigzags up the hillside.

I took a bit of a side trip to the overlook so I could get that shot of the campground.

Then it was back to my route, across the highway on the pedestrian bridge. The trail I was taking is the one that winds up the hill on the other side.

There are several trails on the other side and all are accessed from this very nice pedestrian bridge.

Walking east along the top of the hills you would never think…

there was a river lined with houses behind you.

This first part of the trail is quite wide and very well made.

After about a mile the trail passes some abandoned mines.

This one was vertical and deep, and it was fenced off.

At this point the hills stretch out all around you.

The trail crosses an ATV road. I could have walked out to the highway on it, but I kept to the trail.

By now the trail was narrower, but still very easy to follow.

There were trail markers every two tenths of a mile. On this side of the ATV road bicycles are allowed on the trail.

With terrain like this…

biking is not something I’d try.

When I stopped and took this video I was looking around this vast area of rugged mountains and thinking there is nothing quite so friendly in a place like this as a good footpath. I am grateful to those that build them.

Where would I be without them?

Even though sometimes they seem perverse in their ups and downs. That’s a bench up there and I was headed for it.

There was a nice vista when I got to it. Scenes like this relax my eyes and fill my heart.

Later, down in a wash, I came across this California barrel cactus in bloom,

and that just made me happy.

Near the end of the trail it descends into a large wash…

and you follow that out.

Finally you get a glimpse again of the river,

and you can see the bench on top of Wedge Hill.

And then you’re at the end of the trail.

There’s just a bit of a path out to the highway and you have to walk a few hundred feet along the highway to the entrance to River Island Park.

When I started this trail I was wondering if I wanted to walk the whole way alone. I almost always have those moments of doubts. But I go on because so far I have never done a hike where I have not been happy that I went. As long as I can see and as long as I can walk, I will go.