This conservation area must be working – even just walking around the surrounding neighborhoods, I saw an otter, an eagle remodeling its nest, a buck, a fawn, and so many does that I lost count. Ironically, within the conservation area itself, I didn’t see more than squirrels, chipmunks, crows and smaller birds, but handwritten signs at the trailhead warned of an aggressive owl and a very recent bear sighting.
Road: paved
Parking lot: avoidable potholes, with room for around 40 cars. Half-full at 9 AM on a sunny Saturday; nearly completely full at 11 AM. Port-a-potty was dirty and smelly (definitely a “hover-don’t-sit” situation), but it did have a little toilet paper and hand sanitizer at 9 AM.
Trail condition: my walk was short – just the Wetland Plateau Trail and Southern Traverse Trail, on my way from one neighborhood to another – but the trail was relatively flat, obstacle-free dirt often covered with fallen leaves. It was surprisingly not very muddy. The overlook marked by Gaia on the Wetland Plateau Trail must have grown over long ago; again, the conserving seems to be working. 😊
Navigation: every intersection had a sign. A map is always handy, with so many options, but if you know the names of the trails you need, there’s a good chance there will be arrows pointing you where you need to go.
People: didn’t run into anyone until right before I got back to the car, when I ran into six groups in the last ten minutes or so.
Fall colors are still lingering, mushrooms were colorful, and it was a lovely little respite from the rest of my week. I plan to go back another time to explore other trails.
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