Average ratings are based on the published values and not the values entered in your own log entries.
I hiked most of upper Purgatory Creek today. The one exception was the Paraiso Trail, which is closed through the end of May for Golden Cheek Warbler nesting. I'll come back another time to mark that part off.
The weather was pleasant today and not too hot. There were some muddy sections to navigate given the recent rains but much of the trail is rather rough and rocky so the was not much of an issue.
During my hike I spotted two white tail deer and even a wild turkey. Unlike the deer, the wild turkey didn't seem too disturbed by my presense.
Because there is a trail righ near the water line and one above it the milage stated here is about right. The main trail is an out and back you don't elect to try the lower trail when turning back at the dam.
Texas Parks and Wildlife was running some program for women outdoors this weekend, so the park was fairly packed with campers and day visitors. Even so, there were not that many people on the trail itself.
I have to admit it's not really that great of trail, though it is well maintained. It provides a nice little stroll for park visitors who are there, but I wouldn't recommend travelling very far for it.
If getting your dog outdoors is your goal then Veterans Memorial Park is a great place to visit. There is a large lease-free dog area divided into two sections, one with a pond and one for owners who don't want Fido getting wet.
Coppertone and I walked around the perimeter of the park on the partially paved and partial crushed granite trail. It's very flat and straight most of the time. Not particularly scenic but a nice way for neighbors to get a mile of walking under their belts.
It may be worth a trip from out of the area for your dog though!
Coppertone and I walked the western portion of the trail that we had not yet mapped out. The western path we hiked is all paved and makes for easy walking.
Though not a tough hike by any means we experienced an equipment malfunction that had us making decisions on how to proceed. Coppertone's boots started to come apart as the soles separated from the boot. Her boots were old, but we had no warning that they were on their way out. Halfway through the hike she removed one, then both soles and walked the rest of the way in the boots with no souls (soles). At times we planned how to have me walk back to the car and pick her up, but she made it all the way back.
Our first stop after the hike was to REI to purchase a new pair of boots. REI was kind enough to let her wear the boots out of the store.
I encountered very few people in the middle of this hike. Near the trailhead and turnaround point (about halfway between the Birch Creek and Nails Creek Units) there were a lot more people, but the trail is long enough in between to really filter out the less adventerous.
Though horses are allowed on the trail it looks like it gets far less equine traffic than McKinney Roughs. There's less stuff to keep an eye out on, but it still pays to pay attention.
The fishing along Yegua Creek at my turnaround point must be really good. I was quite shocked at the number of cars parked there, all of which seemed to have people with rods and reels coming and going.
The views on the trail are not great, but there's a good deal of mileage here and the elevation changes are not too tough. I wouldn't drive across Texas to hike this one, but I don't like THAT far away and I'm a sucker for wanting to map the remainder of the trail, so I'll be back.