Stats: 4 miles (out and back), no elevation, forest walk starting at beginning of E Loop in Heart O’ the Hills campground.

This trail is a really nice accompaniment to your morning coffee. It starts with a bridge over a very pretty little stream and is wide enough along the first part to easily accommodate 2 hikers side by side. Having the trail all to myself from 7-9 a.m. more than made up for getting seriously pelted by green fir cones (presumably Douglas squirrels) at several spots along the way. The trail meanders through a lovely forest with lots of puncheons and turnpikes, including one that must have been ¼ mile long! Beware that after about 1 ½ miles, the logout work done so well along the beginning of the trail stops (we’re talking more than 20 blowdowns they’ve cut through and cleared plus re-routes past giant root bolls). After that, there are about 5-6 remaining blowdowns to negotiate, none of them difficult (how LOW can you GO??). This is a really nice stroll for all ages and abilities with lots of huckleberries when I went and also many birds. You can go as far along the trail as you want – there’s no big payoff waiting at the end, so if you’re satisfied after ½ mile, rest and be satisfied – you’re only missing more of the same.

For more photos, go to http://www.flickr.com/[…]/ (Hurricane Ridge Set), look for “Heart O’ the Forest” tags.