DePauw Nature Park, IN

ABOUT THE PARK: 

De Pauw Nature Park - De Pauw Univeristy

DIRECTIONS: 

GPS Coordinates 39.63543, -86.88549

TRAIL MAP: 

Nature Park Trail Guide - De Pauw University

 

HIKE DISTANCE:  4.2 miles

THE HIKE: 

Drive 'n hike New Jersey to Missouri to help my mother who recently had hip replacement surgery.  This is hike 2 of 2 on the day 2.  Where I usually would drive 4 hours, hike 8-10 miles, then drive another 4 hours, I broke this down into shorter drives with two shorter hikes because of where I am  with working my way back to full speed after my hip replacement surgery.

If you are in the area, this hike is not to be missed.  This was a limestone quarry until 1977 and is reverting back to nature.  It is a very unique place.

We started on the Rail Trail.

Trail names are painted on boulders at intersections.

Right on the Creekside Trail.

The Creekside Trail follows Big Walnut Creek.

Lots of spring wildflowers along the trail.

Big Walnut Creek

The Creekside Trail loops around and heads away from the creek.

After a break at that picnic bench, right on the Rail Trail.

The Creekside Trail where we just came from visible to the left below.

Right on the Woodland Trail

Left towards the Rim Trail.

Quarry Pond in the quarry.

The Rim Trail follows the rim of the quarry with views along the way.

To put the massive size of the quarry in perspective, the red arrow points to a college student jogging on the other side.

Tiny people below in the quarry.  We'd be heading down there later.

Down into the quarry on the Quarry Trail.

Vultures everywhere.

Coming up out of the quarry.

Back at the parking lot.

A stop in Terre Haute, IN to stock up on the best vegetarian ham ever that is no longer available in New Jersey.

Then on to St. Louis where ...

... my mother has had a mourning dove nesting in the ornamental eagle over her front door for the past  3 weeks.

I arrived just in time for the babies!  This was taken with the zoom lens on my camera from way out at the street.  We come and go through the garage as much as possible to avoid disturbing them.

John Bryan State Park, OH

ABOUT THE PARK: 

John Bryan State Park - Ohio Department of Natural Resources

 

DIRECTIONS: 

GPS Coordinates 39.78696, -83.86276

TRAIL MAP: 

John Bryan State Park Trail Map - Ohio Department of Natural Resources

 

HIKE DISTANCE: 3.3 miles

THE HIKE: 

Drive 'n hike New Jersey to Missouri to help my mother who recently had hip replacement surgery.  This is hike 1 of 2 on the day 2.  Where I usually would drive 4 hours, hike 8-10 miles, then drive another 4 hours, I broke this down into shorter drives with two shorter hikes because of where I am  with working my way back to full speed after my hip replacement surgery.

A connector trail to the North Rim Trail from the parking lot.

At the North Rim Trail we turned left.  Shawnee and I had hiked the opposite direction back on November 30, 2009.

There are overlooks and access points for rappelling but even with little foliage, not much to be seen down below.

The view from an overlook.

The trail was lined with bluebells.

Right on the John L Rich Trail down into the gorge.  The North Rim Trail continues but ...

... it soon entered Clifton Gorge Nature Preserve where dogs are not allowed.

Descending on the John L Rich Trail.

At the bottom a bridge crosses over Little Miami River.

I managed to dig up some pictures of when Shawnee and I hiked here previously.  April 16, 2021 compared to November 30, 2009.

Crossing the bridge over ...

Little Miami River (2021 and 2009)

Now on the South Gorge Trail which follows along Little Miami River.

A wood duck in a tree.

Wouldn't it be nice to live in that house?

At a fork the South Gorge Trail is to the left, we went right closer to the water.

The trail seems to get a fair amount of use as it is well-defined but there are several downed trees to go over or around.

But the views are great from this level.

Coming up on the bridge to cross back over to the other side.

A gorgeous yellow-throated warbler.

Now on the Pittsburgh-Cincinnati State Coach ...

... to where it ends at the park road.  A hard right just beyond the gate ...

... leads back to the North Rim Trail and the connector trail to the parking lot.