Maplewood State Park – Pelican Rapids, MN 08/25/2019

Kid Perspective:

  • Running Wild – Absolutely nothing to worry about in this park, let ’em loose!!
  • The Trail – Ever changing. We strolled through prairie sections, wooded areas and along several shorelines. It was absolutely gorgeous!
  • Trail Conditions – Great! No downed trees to deal with this time around thankfully. There were a few patches of muddy trail sections but they were mostly dry so we did not slip, trip and fall like you might expect from mud.
  • Bugs and Pests – We noticed a few mosquitoes when we got closer to meeting up with Beers and Bass Lakes. They bit us a couple times but nothing like we experienced earlier in the season. Dare I say we might have gotten past the worst of the biting season (fingers crossed)?
  • Plants – The trees in this park were ABSOLUTELY gorgeous and I can see why everyone says that you should go here in the fall. I am sure the fall colors would be quite breathtaking. We also encountered some pretty wildflowers and interesting species of mushrooms.
  • Bathrooms – The Hiking Club trail offered outhouses at the trailhead and then within the two campgrounds that the trail took us through – quite convenient!
  • Cell Service – Perfect, no issues.

Trail Information:

  • Length – Our Hiking Club book said 6.2 miles but we clocked it at 6.6 miles (3 hours for us).
  • Elevation Gain – We mapped an elevation minimum as 1,237 feet and maximum of 1,400 feet. That being said, the trail was full of ups and downs, so it still felt like a good stretch of the legs. We certainly did not encounter any big uphill pulls like we did in Montana!
  • Difficulty – Easy. It was a breath of fresh air!

Highlights:

  • Combo – Seeing the horses!
  • Biff – Winning the bet!
  • Blaze – How much the trail changed – it had all sorts of different stuff.
  • Ripper – Squeezing in a hike into our packed weekend schedule when we did not know if we would be able to or not:) Honestly, I just soak up any time that I get to spend time with my family, free from any kind of distractions – it’s what I live for.

We’ve been back in Minnesota for almost a week and had been itching to hit the trails. It was so refreshing to be back to where we are familiar with our surroundings (even if this was a new park for us). Maplewood State Park has been on my To-Do List for quite some time now but the drive has always limited us. BUT this weekend we decided to go for it – we drove for 19 hours to Washington right? Piece of cake! Driving through Pelican Rapids and Lake Lida was a real treat – we need to go back to explore.

Right off the bat, everyone had to make a stop at the outhouse, which was pleasantly clean! We also took a few moments to check out the Pelican at the Trail Center. We did not know it at the time but discovered on our drive home that the city had Pelicans placed throughout their town.

Snapping the obligatory family selfie, we took off down the trail. Biff was pleased that there was a large hill down right off the bat and relished in revving his engines and getting a head start on our group.

Within the first five minutes of our hike, Combo began commenting on how different everything looked compared to Montana. She marveled at how dense the shrubbery was and how leaf filled the trees were. It’s true, Montana is absolutely gorgeous but Minnesota is breathtaking in it’s own way. Sometimes you need to take a step away from your own backyard to truly appreciate everything that it has to offer.

Blue blazes marked the trail and we soon learned that this portion of the trail was actually a section of the North Country Trail – pretty cool! The North Country Trail runs from New York to North Dakota and is definitely something that we would love to section hike (at least a part of it anyway). We’ve been following the progress the trail association has been making in Minnesota, connecting portions of the trail that previously had to use paved bike paths to connect.

The early morning (ok it was not that early) dew still clung to the low hanging plants and some of the leaves on the trees as we continued on our journey. The dew spotlighted a massive spider web, which led the kids to speculate as to where the spider had gone to and just how big of a spider made that web. One of life’s great mysteries!

So I am not sure why, but recently Biff has taken to hiking without his shirt. He usually tells us that he is getting too hot but it was not nearly what I was describe as “hot” when he whipped his shirt off. The kid’s chest is getting to be quite tan!

We continued through a lush green forest, serenaded by the kids singing “Oh Daddy Tree, Oh Daddy Tree” (see Nez Perce post for details). I am seriously starting to think that I will sing the wrong song when Christmas rolls around! They will even break out into this song at restaurants, Target, daycare, etc. This could be trouble…

Biff was still in high spirits at this time, happily running ahead and sitting in the middle of the trail to wait for us. He loves “fasty” cars and gets really into revving his engines and boy oh boy did he rev his engines today! I think the lower altitude and ease of the this trail was just what he needed.

It was here that we began encountering the mushrooms. If you looked closely you could see them spread throughout the park. The kids would stop dead in their tracks, leaving Dad and I to wonder what the heck was going on but all was well, they had just spotted another mushroom. It felt like a scavenger hunt of sorts.

Combo stopped to read each Interpretive Sign along the way and enjoyed telling us all about what she read. Each night she reads from her book and then comes downstairs to tell us three main points of what she had read that night and used this format to describe the signs to us. She loves to read and learn about what is happening around her!

The trail continued it’s winding path and soon we found ourselves in the middle of a large prairie absolutely covered with wildflowers! Biff was a little apprehensive due to his recent bee sting, but this just motivated him to rev his engines just a little bigger so that he could take off with super speed and blow past all of the bees. A kid after my own heart (I have an irrational fear of bees that leaves me squealing and running like a little girl when I see one).

The prairie turned to lakes and we enjoyed staring out at the water. Something about the day made the lakes look especially blue and against the lush green landscape it was beautiful. The water was so clear that you could easily see the bottom of the shore, unimpeded – perfect for fishing or swimming (in authorized areas of course).

This brings us to our first walk through a campground. Of course we had to check out the sites that we walked by and I am happy to report, that while close together, they have a decent amount of privacy and are especially pretty. Adding camping at Maplewood State Park to my To-Do List (I love my lists).

While in the campground, Biff took the opportunity to do his big job, so Combo and I had time to explore and chat, just the two of us. As she gets older she does not always want to hang out with Mom, but on our hiking trips it’s a different story – another big reason I love our family hiking trips.

There were portions of the trail that were absolutely covered in Sumac – both kids were happy to be able to identify and point out the Sumac along the way. Now we just need to start working on identifying other types of flora and fauna, so our scavenger hunt can increase in size.

As we strolled back into the forest we talked about the super powers that we would want bestowed upon us if we ever met a wizard. I, of course, wanted super farts and Biff wanted butt cheeks of steal (he had recently head butted Dad in the butt and discovered that it hurt his nose more than Dad’s butt), and Combo wanted to be a wizard just like Harry Potter (but the girl version lol).

Soon Combo stopped dead in her tracks and I thought for sure that she had found yet another cool mushroom, but this time she had somehow found a wing of a dragonfly – still in good shape. It’s funny just how much kids notice when they do not have the modern day distractions around them. Hiking has given us the chance to really enjoy one another’s company and the small pleasures, creatures, and plants of our world.

And don’t you know (yep true Minnesotan here), Biff next discovered a leaf that was bigger than his face. Of course Combo had to find one bigger than her face and before we knew it a leaf war had ensued!

Which was quickly followed by Biff “hiding” in a bush to scare all of us. Sorry dude, not the best hiding spot this time around. Combo and I could not even pretend that we were scared when he jumped out because we were laughing too hard.

Before we knew it we had stumbled upon a backpack/hike-in site, equipped with a shelter. Of course both kids had to check the shelter out before noticing that we had also found the password!

Continuing on, the kids found a cool caterpillar and walking stick (the walking stick did not last long). The kids were still in good spirits and took this opportunity to cruise on ahead, giving Mom and Dad some time to talk, just the two of us. Ahh…peace:)

What we did not know was that we were just about to get to the lakes. Now when I tell you that the water was clear, I mean that is was crystal clear and absolutely wonderful! As everyone knows, it is important to stop at the water, play in the water, and throw some stick or rocks in the water – so we did! We could have spent all day at this quiet spot but we knew we needed to continue on.

As we were leaving the water we encountered a group of horseback riders and pulled to the side of the trail to let them pass. As Combo was staring in awe at the horses, another group approached us. I thought Combo was going to lose it! We have firmly decided that when we move to Montana, we will have a ranch and Combo will have her horse.

Things were becoming a little tenuous with Biff at this point, so we had to step up our fart jokes and treat game. He was placated…for now.

Passing by some absolutely gorgeous trees, renewed with sugar, Biff began finding treasures along the way to point out to us. These treasures included acorns, feathers, rocks, you name it!

Continuing on, we were all starting to get a little warm and the kids a little tired, so we started talking about our dinner plans (it always comes back to food on the trail for whatever reason). We decided that we would go to our favorite restaurant – Mill Creek Inn. Once Dad promised Combo that he would share his Prime Rib with her, she had tons of energy and was ready to take on the world!

Unfortunately, Biff was not so easily motivated. At some point while the rest of us were strolling through the ever present Sumac, Biff stopped. I mean STOPPED. He refused to take another step. We continued on, telling him that we hoped he would not leave us. Still nothing. I stopped and made a deal with him – as long as he did not throw a tantrum, I would stick with him and walk at whatever pace he wanted. This seemed to do the trick thankfully.

We were getting so close (two miles to go) and it was time to let the kids know just how close we were. We stopped to show them where we were on the Avenza map and congratulate them on just how awesome they were truly doing. These kids are troopers! They hike every single weekend and find a way to have fun while doing so (even when they are tired, sick, or just plain grumpy).

And as our pep talk came to an end, we came upon Dad and all decided to wave at our photographer and the rock of our family.

But Biff was still not convinced that continuing forward was for him. In the distance we spotted a bench and promised him that if he could make it to the bench, we would stop to take a break. Begrudgingly he agreed and continued on.

Unfortunately, what we saw was not a bench…it was an old chair. No place to sit and take the relaxing break as promised. We did stop and relax but this was just not good enough for Biff. Our sunglasses say it all!

And so with Biff in happy form, Combo decided she should pick on him just a little more. Thanks buddy. Some people will put their kids in the same shirt until they get along, we walk away. So walk we did. We stopped a few hundred feet away and waited for them to catch up. By the time they caught up to us they had resolved their disagreement and were chatting away (thankfully).

BUT still Biff was not convinced! Dad decided that he would up the ante and make a bet with him. If Biff made it to the car first, Biff would get an ice cream cone but if Dad made it there first he would get the ice cream cone. This was game on! Nothing like a friendly bet with a sugary reward in the balance to motivate Biff to cheer up and continue on.

Combo was truly in heaven as we entered the horse camp for the park. There were trailers EVERYWHERE for horses and she wondered just where they all were. She did laugh that they had generators for their RV’s – “Mom, why can’t they just use a tent like normal people?” Gosh, I love this kid!

As we neared the “home stretch” Biff became super motivated to make it to the car before Dad. Of course he did not know we were close until he checked our Avenza map – he’s really into tracking the progress of our hikes.

And guess who was the winner?

Dad and I still joke, because while Biff won the ice cream cone we won a happy end to our great day. And a great day it was! Any day that I get to spend outside, exploring, and laughing (even throwing tantrums) with my family is a day that I treasure above all other experiences. I cannot describe the feeling but it centers me and makes me happier than I could ever begin to describe.

On the way to dinner we listened to the “Old Town Road” song but the poop version. The kids LOVE it and giggle like crazy each time the word “poop” is said. Unfortunately, I think this will become a mainstay on our playlist…help me (ok it makes me laugh too but it is AWFUL to have stuck in your head on repeat).

And of course we celebrated with a fantastic dinner at our favorite restaurant. Combo was not disappointed with the Prime Rib and ate until she could eat no more!

That’s it for this one folks! I certainly enjoyed our first hiking trip back in Minnesota and I hope you did too! Let us know what you thought, we would love any input you have to give us. Happy Trails! P.S. we plan to hit up two parks next weekend – stay tuned:)

Nez Perce Peak – Approximately 34.5 miles from Darby, Montana 08/15/2019

Kid Perspective:

  • Running Wild – Despite getting to a summit, we were not concerned in the least with letting the kids loose. We were on a peak but as long as they did not venture to edge there really was not anything to worry about.
  • The Trail – Awesome! We wound along the sides of mountains and ridgelines throughout the entire journey.
  • Trail Conditions – Well..there were downed trees everywhere in the forested sections and when I saw everywhere, I mean everywhere!
  • Bugs and Pests – Bee’s and flies at the summit but nothing else.
  • Plants – Lush greenery!
  • Bathrooms – Outhouse at the trailhead, otherwise practice Leave No Trace.
  • Cell Service – Nada, download any maps or information that you will need prior to heading out.

Trail Information:

  • Length – 11.5 miles
  • Elevation Gain – 1,750 feet
  • Difficulty – Moderate due to the length

Highlights:

  • Combo – Seeing the remains of the old watchtower and the views at the end
  • Biff – Oh Daddy Tree, Oh Daddy Tree (read on for more information)
  • Blaze – The constant scenery and being able to see for miles and miles. The solitude, with the only people around flying high above us in planes.
  • Ripper – Lunch atop the mountain was awesome! And all of the views and changing scenery throughout the hike was a real treat.

Finally the day we had been so looking forward to had arrived – we would be tackling our longest hike as a family yet! We were up at 6:00 am and on the road before 7:00 am, with Nez Perce Peak as our destination. We stopped at the Ranch where “Yellowstone” is filmed on the way out. This was especially cool because this is one of our favorite shows and it constantly reminds us of all of our Montana adventures.

We reached the parking area and trailhead by 8:00 am. The neat part about the parking area at Nez Perce/Castle Rock is that there is a helicopter pad in the middle of it!

Another fun fact (one which we did not realize until much later in the day) is that we actually hiked the other trail that can be accessed by this parking area (Castle Rock) two years ago to the day! After bathroom breaks we hit the trail with our eyes peeled for the Salish Indian grave sites that our book described.

There was an initial steep incline to the trail but by promising that this would be the hardest part, the kids endured it without too much complaining.

The trail took us along our first ridgeline, treating us to spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. We continued to keep our eyes peeled for the grave sites but were unable to locate them.

As we left the trees we marveled at just how completely surrounded we were by the mountains and wilderness. Our souls were at peace and we talked about how the trail was created by the Nez Perce and Salish peoples who traversed the trails many years ago. The kids wondered what it would be like to always travel on foot, especially over and through so many mountains.

My all time favorite movie is “The Sound of Music” and I really felt like we were in the middle of the story line as we continued our journey. I may or may not have broke out into “the hills are alive with the sound of music” at this point – not sure the kids appreciated it too much but they pretended like it was a big deal. And if you looked closely you could see the road that we had traveled the day before – so tiny!

Re-entering the second forested ridgeline we came upon our first (of many) downed trees. Initially this was a fun challenge for the kids but by the end they were done with them.

The forested ridgeline and tree challenge did not last forever and eventually we came to another trek along the mountainside. It was absolutely breathtaking and I could not imagine any better place to be on earth. This trail quickly became my favorite trail to date.

Out of nowhere we heard a loud noise directly to the right of us off the trail, followed by a grouse taking flight. The solitude of the trail thus far had lulled us into a calm and tranquil state which the grouse easily disturbed, lending us to shouting and jumping in surprise. My heart was racing! As we looked for where the grouse went, we disturbed four more grouse, which made us jump again. The funny thing was that the grouse took off from their hiding places but never went far from us – we did not seem to bother them.

Making our way back into the forest we encountered more downed trees. Climbing over trees and happily snacking, we made a deal with the kids that we would stop for breaks every mile, which seemed to please them. We brought many different snacks with and kept switching the treats up.

Branching away from the Divide Trail and onto the Nez Perce trail we encountered even more downed trees.

In the forested section we found woodpeckers that were certainly not afraid of us, large animal prints (we were not along but never saw any of them), and a burned area.

Castle Rock continued to move farther into the distance as we entered another prairie section where we walked the ridgeline.

Dad pointed out a peak and declared that was our final destination. We did not believe him because it looked so incredibly far away…we had yet to learn our lesson…Dad was once again right (grr).

Back into another forested area, we climbed over and under trees, and around them when too difficult for anything else. We were getting our exercise that is for sure!

Eventually we could see the summit!! Everyone became excited with a surge of energy rushing through us. Gummy Bear after Gummy Bear, we approached the top, only to realize we had stumbled upon a false summit. This dashed all of Biff’s dreams, requiring lots of encouragement and treats to keep moving.

Climbing through burnt trees, downed trees, and lush green undergrowth we found several large animal poops and prints. We wondered where they all came from? We also found some really cool rocks!

Biff hung behind, needing many Gummy Bears to continue while Dad and Combo dashed on ahead.

When we reached the top we were breathless but not due to exertion. It was absolutely incredible at the top! We were 100% completely surrounded by mountains and rugged wilderness – no roads could be seen nor people. I could have stayed there forever!

Alternating between a leisurely lunch and exploring the remains of the old watchtower, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The kids found old pieces of glass, screws, and pieces of metal. It was really cool!

Soon we were overrun by bee’s and knew we had overstayed our welcome. It was time to head out!

Combo and I decided we would count all of the downed trees on our way back. In order to count, we needed to either a) have to climb over the tree; b) scoot under the tree; or c) go around the tree because it blocked the trail. Let the counting begin!

Again the hills were alive with music and we were all still in pretty good spirits…this would not last.

It started to get quite warm as the sun was out in full force now and we were not always afforded the shade that the forested areas provided. The open ridgelines started to become long and HOT.

As the force of the sun and heat grew, so did the cheering on for the kiddos – we also broke out the big gun treats. You can do it guys!

Entering another forested area, Combo and I made it to our 100th downed tree and had to commemorate the moment. Now mind you, Combo was going to help in this endeavor but because she is only 8 she was often distracted and needed frequent reminders of the tree count – but it was still a momentous occasion for us.

Biff and Dad teamed up at this point, but Biff was really having a rough time – he was DONE! Dad to the rescue, making up a fun new song…”Oh Daddy Tree, Oh Daddy Tree – I’ll decorate your beautiful butt cheeks”! As you can imagine, each family member was rotated into the song, with innumerable body parts decorated. A week later, I still have this song stuck in my head!!

We counted 132 downed trees and have the bruises and abrasions to prove it, from climbing over those buggers. Dad ended up carrying Biff off and on, while Combo rocked it! When we had 1 1/2 miles to go, we started looking for the grave site again. We were just giving up the search when off in the distance we spotted it and dashed ahead. The Salish Indian had died at 80 years of age in 1990. We noticed that others had left quarters on the gravestone and the kids decided to do the same. It was a humbling experience at the grave site.

As we started our last leg of the hike, Dad dashed on ahead to use the facilities. Mom, Combo and Biff continued at kid pace but in great spirits all the way to the car! 7 1/2 hours and 11.5 miles later, we made it!!

Of course we needed to treat ourselves to dinner!

This was a tough journey for us but we persevered and did it! We are so proud of the kids!! Please take a moment to let us know what you think and if there are any adventures that you would like us to check out. Happy hiking!

Selway River Trail & Bad Luck Creek – Approximately 65 miles from Darby, Montana 08/14/2019

Kid Perspective:

  • Running Wild – We were confident in letting the kids take the lead on the trail. No big cliffs or areas of concerns when it came to the trail (read on).
  • The Trail – The Selway River Trail wound along the Selway River with pleasant up’s and downs, snaking into the forest here and there.
  • Trail Conditions – Great! There was the usual roots and rocks covering the trail sporadically but nothing that impeded our journey.
  • Bugs and Pests – Nada…BUT we did encounter a Rattle Snake along the Bad Luck Creek Trail and the Selway River Trail is known for Rattle Snake encounters and so for this reason I would highly recommend that you watch the kids closely!
  • Plants – Interesting plant coverage – we were surprised by some of the different varieties of plants that we saw.
  • Bathrooms – Outhouses at the trailhead but then nothing along the way – as always, practice Leave No Trace.
  • Cell Service – Absolutely nothing. We lost service approximately 20 miles from Darby, so make sure you have a good idea of where you are going and that you have downloaded any information you may need ahead of time.

Trail Information:

  • Length – The Selway River Trail is 49.5 miles but we did not cover the full trail. Our chosen path was about 7 miles of hiking in approximately 4 hours.
  • Elevation Gain – Not much on the Selway River Trail, but there were several ups and downs which made things more exciting. On the Bad Luck Creek trail we encountered a steepish incline at first, followed by some switchbacks which leveled out into a fairly flat trail. We did not track the specific elevation gain that day so I cannot really comment on the exact gain.
  • Difficulty – Easy, nothing too demanding.

Highlights:

  • Combo – Being the one to actually see the Rattle Snake…even if it was scary!
  • Biff – Throwing sticks into the water at the Paradise Landing.
  • Blaze – The cool plants we found.
  • Ripper – Not getting bitten by the Rattle Snake!

We were up at 5:00 am and on the road by 5:30 am, knowing that we had a 3 1/2 hour drive ahead of us (from Corvallis, Montana). The road was super remote, narrow, and winding. We lost cell service an hour into the drive…solitude!

Finding ourselves back in the Magruder Corridor, we were excited to see Castle Rock once again! The sign warning of the potential poor conditions of Nez Perce Pass brought back fond memories of memorable hike to Castle Rock in August of 2017. We reminisced fondly of that trail and decided that we definitely would need to hike it again (hopefully the Summer of 2020).

Finding the trailhead for Bad Luck Mountain was difficult. We went 100 yards past the Ranger Station, as described in our guide book and found what we thought was the trail but this ended up being a deer trail, so we turned around. We asked the Rangers and they pointed us down the road, where we found a trail and headed out.

The trail meandered along the Selway River, climbing and descending gently.

The river and trail were surrounded by mountains on all sides and we were treated to expansive views each time we would get to the top of a hill.

Always on the lookout for cool finds, Combo spotted another set of bones on the side of the trail. We have no idea where these came from, so if you have an idea, she would love to know!

We knew that we were not on the right trail because the trail itself was not matching our map at all but we decided to keep going because it was so gorgeous! Just goes to show that in this section of the world even the wrong trail is the right trail, as long as your mind is open to the idea.

Eventually we came across a sign for Bad Luck Creek, which turned away from the river and we took off. Encountering several steep switchbacks right off the bat, we became excited!

Stopping for snack breaks here and there, we were cooking! On one such break, Dad pointed out a very interesting plant…we stopped to look around and noticed they were EVERYWHERE! I am not going to post a picture of the plant but keep your eyes peeled if you head out that way.

At another point we were walking by a bush, when we heard a sharp rattle. Combo swore up and down that she had seen a Rattle Snake. Let’s just say that we were all a bit more cautious from there on out.

The trail became increasingly more overgrown as we went on. We were walking through spiderwebs and deep underbrush that nearly covered the trail completely. With our recent Rattle Snake encounter fresh in our minds, we were starting to hear rattles coming from everywhere (they were not – some might have been Dad messing with us while others were a figment of our very rich imaginations). Nonetheless, at the next creek crossing we decided we would head back for the day.

Still jittery about potential snakes (it did not help that Biff was now chiming in with the rattle sounds and pretending to yell at a Rattle Snake), we were all trying to figure out exactly which bush the rattle came from, making progress a little slow. We ended up giving each dried bush that touched the trail plenty of space, just in case (Dad did too, even if he will not admit he was a little freaked out).

The Selway River Trail was littered with manure – were constantly walking over droppings of one sort or another. The trail is actually a used stock trail so the manure was to be expected. When we met back up with the Selway River Trail we found fresh horse manure and guessed that the Forest Rangers had taken to the trail behind us, perhaps to make sure we were ok.

Making our way back along the river, we pointed out cool rocks and HUGE pine cones. Combo and I even saw a tiny snake slither across the rocks – it appeared to be a vibrant blue and was super fast!

Biff was starting to become a little testy and Dad tried to cheer him up by squirting water on him…this did not help AT ALL. What followed next was hilarious! Biff began to lecture Dad on the importance of not wasting water on the trail and how irresponsible doing something like squirting water was. Nothing like the pot calling the kettle black!

So Dad suggested that Biff also squirt water on him and guess what? Biff cheered right up! So much for the lecture eh? Biff was able to squirt water on Dad in such a way as to make him look like he had peed his pants…this really made Biff’s day and it was happier hiking from there on out!

We began discussing which toy the kids would pick out after our hike. The previous night we had made a deal with them that if they were able to make it through the hike without any major meltdowns, we would purchase them a toy of their choice. Boy oh boy did they have ideas!!

As the trail wound closer to the river and became flatter, the kids were renewed with energy, as they knew they had nearly made it and were that much closer to their prizes! Of course seeing the Paradise Landing bridge sealed the deal and they were off!

Kids LOVE the water so of course we had to walk down the boat ramp and soak our feet in the water, while watching Forest Service workers perform maintenance at the boat launch. And we certainly could not miss the chance to throw a couple sticks into the water!

Our drive home was a bit more scary, as we encountered three large Forest Service trucks hauling dirt to even out the road. Each time we encountered a truck it was just around a corner on that tiny dirt road, forcing Dad to stop quickly and back up several hundred feet to the next pull off. We were certainly happy when the road opened up again! All in all, wrong trail and everything, it was another wonderful day that were so thankful to have been able to enjoy!

Thank you for taking the time to read about our adventures and I hope you were able to find inspiration to get outside and enjoy that great big world of ours! Until next time, take care!

Sweathouse Falls – Near Victor, Montana 08/13/2019

Kid Perspective:

  • Running Wild – Feel free to let them eat up the trail but use some caution near the falls, as the rocks can get quite slippery.
  • The Trail – Starts on a road, without a marked trailhead. The trail runs through private property and past an old rock quarry before heading in to the forest and following the Sweathouse Creek. The trail was mostly dirt packed until you get closer to the falls, then you have tons of rocks to contend with.
  • Trail Conditions – No issues, some downed trees but they had all been cleared so it was easy going.
  • Bugs and Pests – No issues.
  • Plants – Lots of massive trees!
  • Bathrooms – Nada, practice Leave No Trace.
  • Cell Service – Decent enough, better once you get to the top/end.

Trail Information:

  • Length – 5 miles
  • Elevation Gain – 1,500 feet
  • Difficulty – Easy

Highlights:

  • Combo – Swimming at Lake Como!
  • Biff – Catching the butterfly!
  • Blaze – The views, the waterfall, and looking down at the valley of the mountain.
  • Ripper – Having lunch next to the falls, laying down and staring at the mountains.

We slept in because we chose a shorter and easier hike, which was only 25 minutes from our rented house. Biff slept through the night and seemed to be feeling much better. We made it to the trailhead just before 8:00 am and boy oh boy was it chilly!

As we were walking the parking area looking for the trail, we came across a deer bone…and then another and another. Eventually we found two nearly whole dear skeletons! The kids thought this was really cool and Mom and Dad wondered how the skeletons came to be in this area and if any critters remained behind to find new prey…

Telling ourselves that the more we moved, the warmer we would be, we hit the trail. We followed a gravel road for a good distance, doing everything in our power to warm up.

In the distance we could make out a large metal vault and as we drew closer we noted that it had “Explosives” posted on it. Dad told us that people blow things up in that box. The kids and I gave the vault a wide berth.

Moving along we soon encountered a rock quarry site that still had equipment, which was awesome. Dad told us all about how they used the equipment before we moved on.

Here the trail entered the forest and we caught our first glimpses of Sweathouse Creek.

The kids were delighted to find that someone had placed three walking sticks at the entrance to the forest. We warned the kids that they would have to walk with the stick the whole way but Combo still chose to grab one…

Eventually we found a fallen tree that would make a perfect walking stick for Biff. Dad had to modify the stick so he wouldn’t get poked by the protruding branches.

Biff enjoyed pointing out treasures along the way, as we continues to get glimpses of the creek.

We found a stream crossing that did not have any water but we still chose to cross the plank over “the ravine”.

Moving deeper into the forest, the kids were both happy with the chosen trail and continued along without any complaints! Biff especially liked looking at bark that looked like puzzle pieces.

The massive trees that towered above us throughout our entire journey were impressive and continued to demand our attention.

We traveled through tree covered tunnels to the first of the rocks on the trail. The rocks helped provide variety on the trail which is something that we really appreciate. The more that the terrain changes, the better for the kids. It helps to keep them interested and motivated to find out what is in store next.

As stated previously, the trail had several downed trees but someone had gone through the trail and cut and moved the trees that were blocking the path – trail angels for sure!

Evidence of Woodpeckers was abundant on the trail and the kids really liked looking into the holes that the Woodpeckers had so ferociously created, in search of food.

Climbing boulders and rocks has always been a favorite activity for our family and this hike was no different. Dad dashed on ahead and stealthily climbed atop a massive rock – of course the kids had to follow.

Soon we caught our first glimpses of the waterfall and we could hear the water rushing ahead of us. This seemed to really motivate the kids and get them in the mood to conquer the trail.

My favorite part of the trail was next. We climbed through fields of boulders and rocky sections to the first waterfall. It was majestic and peaceful – the kids delighted in throwing sticks into the water and watching them go over the edge.

With a quick uphill pull, we heard the water growing ever closer and were itching to find the falls themselves.

And in no time we found them!

Moving on we left the water for more tunnels and fields of rock, in between two towering mountains – very impressive!

Eventually we came to the 2nd waterfall and stopped to take in the views and throw sticks in the water before moving on.

We had a short portion of trail left to reach the end of the trail, which was marked by a large log across the trail and wilderness beyond the log.

We did not spend much time at the end of the trail before turning around. The kids were absolutely thrilled that the hardest part was over and both agreed that this trail had been a piece of cake! This definitely is a good thing because we had much more in store for them before our trip would be over:) At the second waterfall we stopped and took a break near the falls, enjoying the solitude and beauty of everything around us.

Taking off again, renewed with energy and a slight sugar high, we chatted about going into our favorite town – Darby, Montana to stop at the candy store and the Little Blue Joint (our favorite diner). The kids were thrilled to go to the candy store and pick out whatever treats they wanted. We use these treats for trail snacks for upcoming hikes to motivate them further.

While stopped for one last look at the falls, Dad decided to cross the narrow portion of the creek to check out what was on the other side. Combo was a bit bummed that she could not follow but the rocks were just too slippery this time. Biff on the other hand, took this time to play in the water just a little bit longer, throwing sticks in and again watching them race over the edge. The kid could seriously be entertained with this type of activity for hours.

For the remainder of the trek the kids were flying high! Biff pretended to be The Flash and raced along the trail with Dad. Combo was extremely interested in pointing our rocks and flowers with Mom, while informing Mom that “Dad would be the big turd and Mom would be the small one”. Seriously, where do they get this stuff? Biff caught a white butterfly and was super excited. Of course both kids had to try to catch butterflies for the remainder of our journey – but hey that works because the butterflies kept moving and kept the kids hiking. Win – win!

In the car we had a light lunch and when I opened the lunchbox I let out a loud screech, slammed the lunchbox shut and threw it to the floor – there was a MASSIVE spider in our lunchbox!! Dad pulled over to let the spider out on the road and discovered that the spider was not that big – I still do not buy this fact. The of the car ride to the candy store I was a bit jumpy, imagining spiders crawling everywhere.

After hitting up the candy store and getting our fill of a Meat Lover’s pizza we made our way to Lake Como. This year the water was not nearly as cold, thankfully! Combo made a new friend and happily swam around. Biff got out into the water a little too far and began bobbing up and down, gasping for air, and struggling to stay afloat. I ran out, grabbed him, and lifted him to shallower water. Biff and I decided to sit on the beach where it was warmer, while Dad and Combo splashed around. Eventually Dad made his way to shore and used a rock for a pillow to rest on.

Biff had a rough time when a bee plunged it’s stinger into his back. The poor guy wailed in pain and we decided to head home before any further misfortune could befall Little Dude.

Despite the bee sting tragedy, we had a wonderful day! We hope you enjoyed reading as much as we did hiking and swimming! As always, please let us know if there is anything more that you would like us to report on or if there is a particular adventure we should check out and review. Happy Trails!

Little Saint Joseph Peak – Near Florence, Montana 08/12/2019

Kid Perspective:

  • Running Wild – While under the treeline we were confident in letting the kids roam where they pleased. Above the treeline was a different story – when we were not climbing over rocks, we were near steep cliffs where one wrong move could mean serious trouble. Definitely exercise caution the higher you get.
  • The Trail – The first portion of the trail wound gently around a side of the mountain, with simple ups and downs to make it interesting. Once leaving the side of the mountain, you start heading up at a rapid pace. We needed to take several one minute breaks along the way. Eventually, you leave the tree cover and the packed dirt trail becomes quite rocky, at times taking you over fields of rock.
  • Trail Conditions – No complaints in this department. We encountered your usual packed dirt trail, with some roots and rocks interspersed throughout. Closer to the top you needed to do some trail finding, as it was not always an obvious path, but nothing too rough.
  • Bugs and Pests – Nothing to note.
  • Plants – Lots of berries of many different varieties and awesome trees!
  • Bathrooms – None, practice Leave No Trace.
  • Cell Service – Nothing once we left town (T-Mobile). We used airplane mode to save on battery, while we used the GPS on our phones.

Trail Information:

  • Length – 6.8 miles
  • Elevation Gain – 3,030 feet
  • Difficulty – Easy at the start but definitely demanding the farther you trek on.

Highlights:

  • Combo – Seeing the Pika!
  • Biff – Getting medicine to feel better:)
  • Blaze – Watching the clouds and storm roll in. There were times when it looked like we could reach out and touch the clouds and other times when we were above the clouds. It was also awesome to watch Combo’s face when she saw her Pika’s.
  • Ripper – Pushing ourselves and making it to the top. There were moments when the kids wanted to turn back but we were able to keep them motivated to finish strong – that’s always a good feeling.

We planned on hiking Nez Perce Peak but decided to switch to Little Saint Joseph’s because it was closer to town and shorter. We were pretty sure that Biff had an ear infection, so we headed to Missoula Urgent Care right away in the morning. While waiting for Urgent Care to open we purchased a coffee from a local vendor and a new cooler because ours had not fared well on our trip out.

Well we were right, little dude had an ear infection in both ears, this time in his middle ear canal so he needed an oral antibiotic. At least we knew he would be feeling better soon! We waited for his prescription to be filled and were on the road by 9:00 am.

Our GPS did not quite get us to the trailhead but we continued using the map from our book. We knew we made it to the right place when we saw two other trucks parked, as well.

The first portion of the trail wound along the side of the mountain, through a heavily wooded forest.

Almost immediately we were rewarded with awesome views of the area, with the trail promising more along the way.

Often our minds turn to food when we were on the trail, so we found ourselves discussing just what we might like to eat when we were done hiking. Of course there was talk of Macaroni and Cheese and Cheeseburgers from the kids, while Combo also declared that she would like to sink her teeth into some steak (Daddy’s girl for sure!)

Continuing on we noticed that we were going up, up, up and it never relented the rest of the trek. Switchbacks were basically non-existent.

Biff started to become defeated on this portion of the trek and we cheered him up by talking about a booger birthday cake and how we would make it for him (boogers always get a smile). We decided that we would carry cake pans around with us and blow all of our boogers into the pans for the next year, finally molding all of the boogers into an impressive cake. Little man could not help but laugh at the thought of this!

The trail was covered with sparkly rocks and we really enjoyed pointing out especially sparkly ones along the way.

Eventually we caught views of where we were headed and the kids and I thought that Blaze must be joking when he pointed to a peak and said that would be our final destination. No way right?

We were treated to expansive views nearing the end of the tree line and took a moment to appreciate the magnitude of what we were seeing.

Boulders and fields of large rocks began to be the new norm for the trail from here on out. This is where both kids were just about done, asking to turn back. I think they were more nervous than anything. We eventually split up – one parent to one kid, giving words of encouragement along the way and promises of fun games back home.

Nearing the top we came across a man hiking with his dog. We talked about our impressions of the trail thus far before we parted ways. The man (I never did catch his name) imparted words of encouragement to the kids. This is the community that I love. People supporting one another to push themselves and accomplish their goals, while enjoying the vast beauty of the natural world around us.

After our brief encounter we had left the tree covered forest for sparse tree coverage, steep inclines, and rocks everywhere. We held hands from here on out and had to use every trick in our parenting deck of cards to motivate the kids to continue. We were literally scaling the mountain, the temperature was dropping quickly and everyone was tired but we kept moving and were treated to incredible views at the top.

The kids had lunch while Mom and Dad explored. It was getting quite cold and Biff bundled up with my hat but the poor guy still felt cold. At first neither of the kids wanted to get anywhere near the edge of the mountain, firmly planting themselves on various rocks.

After exploring, we joined the kids and marveled that we were actually above the clouds! Eventually we were able to convince the kids to check out the views and they both agreed that it was pretty awesome.

With the clouds continuing to roll in we knew that it was time to head back down, but no one really wanted to take off. The kids were tired and Mom and Dad were so enjoying watching the weather and enjoying the landscape but we knew that we had to. Afternoons can bring storms in the mountains and the previous day we watched a storm that had incredible lightening strikes, both in numbers and magnitude. We did not want to get caught in that!

As we headed back down the mountain, we saw two Pika’s – well we heard them first and then saw them. Ever since our trip to Rocky Mountain National Park last year, Combo has been in love with Pika’s, researching them and taking every chance to collect Pika stuffed animals and pictures. She was elated!

The Pika’s gave the kids an extra boost of energy and seemed like they were going to race all the way down the mountain, with Mom and Dad trying to make sure they did not fall off the edge…yikes!

The steep descent left our toes quite unhappy and we joked about what they could be saying to us. “Man, come on, stop ramming me into the edge of these stinky shoes! What’s wrong with you?!” The kids definitely enjoyed being “the toes” and yelling at Mom and Dad for squashing them. Whatever works, right?

Going down the mountain was spectacular. We were seeing a completely different landscape than when we went up and we were not exerting ourselves nearly as much. The downside was that the rocks were a bit more treacherous on the way down, partly due to our tired muscles. More hand holding to make sure the kids did not take a major digger and have us running to an Emergency Room this time.

Soon after this Biff had enough and no amount of treats, breaks, or jokes could keep his spirits high. We gave him a sandwich and Tylenol, while passing him back and forth between us for a good mile before we had to put him down to walk on his own. This seemed to do the trick as he happily walked the rest of the way.

On our home stretch the kids raced along, laughing and joking along the way because we had once again re-entered the easy portion of the trail and this told them that we were getting close to the car!!

The kids’ eyes lit up when they saw the car and boy oh boy did they take off. Now let me tell you, the road down the mountain was crazy! No scary drop-offs but it was super bumpy with multiple switchbacks. At one point we were able to see what the road looked like from our vantage point and it looked like a little snake. In some areas the road was barely wider than our car! Somehow Biff managed to fall asleep despite all of the bumps, jerks, and sudden stops. He was tuckered out! I carried him from the car, into the house and he immediately laid down and went right back to sleep! Even Combo managed to fall asleep and she usually does EVERYTHING in her power to remain awake.

After cleaning up we went to Fin’s Taphouse in Corvallis, Montana for dinner and enjoyed a lovely meal while sitting outside staring up at the Bitterroot Mountains – gorgeous! Only downside to eating outside was that we were chased by bee’s throughout our meal. Upon returning home, we played Dancing Charades and watched The Sandlot. It was a great day!

Thank you for joining us on our journey and as always I love to hear from everyone with any thoughts about our posts or ideas for new adventures! Take care and happy hiking!

Skookum Butte Lookout – Near Lolo, Montana 08/10/2019

Kid Perspective:

  • Running Wild – Feel free to let the run their little hearts out until you get to the lookout. Once at the lookout, there are steep cliffs and caution is definitely needed.
  • The Trail – We moved through a previously burned area that was mostly flat with gentle ups and downs. Once we moved into the area that was not burned we encountered a steep upward climb all the way to the lookout.
  • Trail Conditions – Mostly single track, packed dirt.
  • Bugs and Pests – Bees among the wildflowers but they did not bother us.
  • Plants – So many wildflowers – it was pretty crazy how they took over the area of the trail that was burned in 2017!
  • Bathrooms – Nada…please practice Leave No Trace.
  • Cell Service – None. Download the trail information before you start the drive to the trail (we lost service early on our drive – T-Mobile).

Trail Information:

  • Length – 2.2 miles
  • Elevation Gain – 1,030 feet
  • Difficulty – Moderate but a strenuous incline closer to the top.

Highlights:

  • Combo – The views at the top!
  • Biff – The fair is next when we are done!
  • Blaze – Seeing the old Fire Tower which was in the process of being restored.
  • Ripper – Meeting friendly hikers along the way and learning more about the area from them.

The road to the trailhead was 12 miles of bumpy gravel. Along the way, we saw several pickup trucks and groups of people either collecting Huckleberries or firewood. We drove through the area that was burned in the 2017 Lolo Peak fire.

The trail started in the burned area and slowly made it’s way along the Montana/Idaho border. The regrowth was impressive and there were many wildflowers covering the wounds left behind by the fire.

As we continued to marvel at the regrowth and the odd path that the fire took, we eventually found ourselves in a lush forest with expansive views of the mountains surrounding us on all sides.

Seeing the burn of the fire was incredible.

We continued on, gently climbing and enjoying the views.

We even saw a downed tree that encapsulated a rock! Combo tried to move the rock to no avail:)

Biff found a stick that was perfect for a walking stick and decided that he MUST take it with him (we convinced him that he should discard the walking stick later because he could jet on ahead much faster without it).

Slowly the trail began to climb and climb, until we felt as if we were going straight up. Game on! It was a little strenous and got our blood pumping for sure!

The kids were doing so great that we actually caught up to a couple pf hikers.

They decided to hike with us. Perry chatted about the area and the lookout at the top. We listened to Perry chatter on as we made our way to the top.

The last leg was a scramble across and up large boulders – very fun!

We stayed at the top, taking pictures and snacking on Combos and Salted Nut Rolls for about 15 minutes, while Perry continued to talk our ears off. He was really a great guy.

We said goodbye to Perry and Sandra and headed back down, sad to leave fellow hikers that felt the same way about the area that we did.

We were glad that we left the tower when we did because the clouds rolled in and it started to rain…I mean seriously rain! Speed up guys! The drops were big, fat and cold!

This gave the kids motivation to kick into gear and they did great!

We made it down in record time…just as the rain stopped. I hope Perry and Sandra made it out ok!

The road down was just as windy and awesome as the way up.

The entire day we had been promising the kids that if they did a good job hiking we would go to the Western Montana Fair in Missoula, Montana and we did just that!

Bear Creek Overlook – Near Victor, Montana 08/10/2019

Toddler Perspective:

  • Running Wild – Feel free to let the kids run wild and free until you get to the top. Once at the top, there are steep cliffs that require extra caution and care (we held onto them tightly while looking over the ledges).
  • The Trail – Awesome! Switchbacks all the way to the top with awesome scenery along the way. The switchbacks stopped closer to the top and it was a long line of incline until we reached the overlook.
  • Trail Conditions – No issues…some rocks and roots along the way but nothing that impeded our progress.
  • Bugs and Pests – We saw several moths and a gigantic ant but nothing that worried or bothered us.
  • Plants – Nothing poisonous or concerning along the way. Huckleberries were plentiful and the kids loved finding them!
  • Bathrooms – Nada…make sure to practice Leave No Trace.
  • Cell Service – We had service throughout (T-Mobile).

Trail Information:

  • Length – 5 miles
  • Elevation Gain – 1,200 feet
  • Difficulty – Moderate to Easy

Highlights:

  • Combo – The scenery at the top!
  • Biff – Being with his family (this kid sure knows how to warm his parents’ heart).
  • Blaze – The view, memories, and that it had switchbacks.
  • Ripper – Revisiting one of our favorite trails from two years ago and experiencing the trail in a completely different way (we didn’t have to carry Biff at all this time lol!).

We were up at 6:00 am and started to get ready. We packed lunches and made breakfast. We were finally able to get to eat the trail treats we purchased and made (Oreo’s, Rice Krispie Treats, Moose Poop, Ham Sandwiches, and Beef Sticks from Von Hanson’s)!

As we left the house, Dad pointed out that we could clearly see the mountains – the fog from yesterday had disappeared and the smoke we encountered two years ago was non-existent. Driving in the Bitterroot Valley is awe-inspiring, you are literally surrounded by mountains on all sides. Seeing the mountains and driving towards one of our favorite hikes made my heart and soul happier than I could ever put into words. This is truly my happy place!

Bear Creek Overlook never disappoints! What an amazing hike but the drive to the trailhead can leave you white knuckling the steering wheel. Let’s just say that it took 30 minutes to drive around 8 miles. Usually I have to close my eyes on these roads because they leave me in a state of panic but this time I promised myself that I would conquer my fears and keep them open…yikes!!

Once we parked, we snapped a photo and happily hit the trail!

We’ve done this one in the past but this year was far more green and lush due to all the rain.

Biff was a real trooper for most of the trail with just a few meltdowns. The kids loved finding the numerous Huckleberry bushes along the way!

On the trail we discussed who would be who on “That 70’s Show”. I would be Kitty, Dad would be Red (we decided that he’s not laid back enough to be Hyde), Combo is definitely Jackie and sadly Biff is trending in the direction of Kelso.

We enjoyed finding cool rocks and feathers, while grazing on Huckleberries to the top.

We gained 1,200 feet in elevation in just over 2 miles, with many switchbacks on a rock and root covered single track, packed dirt trail. Combo and I laughed because Blaze said he needed to stop to relieve himself and we should go on ahead. When we looked a ways in front of us, Biff had pulled a ways off the trail and was also relieving himself! We were surround (like father like son)!

We soon realized we were no longer encountering switchbacks and knew that we were nearing the top! A newfound energy seemed to rejuvenate the kids!!

Once at the top we were greeted by 2 very friendly dogs. They were jumping all over us and licking us. Biff LOVED it! But I was started to get nervous that the dogs were going to knock him over the edge. The owners soon leashed them up and went on their way.

We stayed on the top for nearly 30 minutes, soaking in the beauty. We promised ourselves we would be back!

On our way down the kids really picked up the pace and we made really good time!

We happily chatted about the food we would eat at the Western Montana Fair (hotdogs!), how we wanted to paint our faces, the rides we wanted to check out and the animals we would see. We just had one more short hike to knock out. Biff was thrilled that it was only 1/2 of what we had already done:)

When we made it to the trailhead it was packed and we were happy that we had gotten an early start!

On the way down we encountered 2 different cars – one of which was going so fast that we nearly collided – it was scary! On top of the mountain it was 66 degrees and when we reached Victor it was 73 degrees. Onward and outward to Skookum Butte. We had Biff take a nap while Combo read her book on the drive out.

Afton State Park – Hastings, MN 07/27/2019

Toddler Perspective:

  • Running Wild – There might be a few areas of the trail where you would want to watch the kids a little closer but nothing that would stop me from letting them run wild and free. Having said that, the sheer number of people at this park makes us keep the kids closer in certain areas. The portions near the swimming beach, picnic area and along the river are heavily trafficked and we keep the kids closer out of respect for others on the trail. BUT as you get farther away from these areas the traffic dies down and we have no problem letting the little bundles of energy loose!
  • The Trail – Upon entering the trail system there is a serious flight of stairs down to the river but once you reach the river the trail flattens out and follows the river until you reach the limits of the park. We took the river trail for a ways and then branched off and entered the woods. Here we encountered meandering switchbacks with a descent incline. Once out of the woods the trail wound around and through a gorgeous prairie with gentle inclines along the way. Eventually we wound our way back into the woods and it was a steady decline to the valley floor. We followed the trail towards the ski slopes and found a stream along the way! Once past the ski slopes we knew we had just one more ascent until we were done. Biff was very excited and dashed up the hill with renewed energy, with the promise of our picnic lunch at the front of his thoughts.
  • Trail Conditions – Great! No issues today. The trail is quite varied at this park. There are stairs, short paved portions, bridges, packed dirt, gravel and grass. Diversity is key!
  • Bugs and Pests – No mosquitoes, this was a shocker! We did see bees, butterflies, so many baby toads, and a bunch of different caterpillars.
  • Plants – Wildflowers galore and lush green vegetation for as long as the eye could see.
  • Bathrooms – One thing is for sure, this park has great access to bathrooms throughout your hiking experience. We passed three different places to stop and relieve yourself, if necessary. This is definitely a plus when you have little people in tow that may not be the best at waiting to use the facilities.
  • Cell Service – Great, no issues but this is to expected so close to the cities.

Highlights:

  • Combo – The river.
  • Biff – Baby toads!
  • Blaze – It was a nice day and a nice hike. He liked how much the trail changed throughout our journey.
  • Ripper – I really liked the diversity in the park. The trail never got boring and monotonous. Another thing that I really like about this park is that each time we come back, we find and experience something new. There are so many areas to explore and we relish in taking a different route each time.

Today we went to another park in downtown Hastings, looking to try something new but after a mile we decided to turn around and head to Afton State Park. We just were not feeling the paced trail, devoid of any change in elevation or scenery. We were basically walking in people’s backyards…

We were pumped that we only had a 15 minute drive to take us to the park that we knew would be more our speed. We actually go to this park probably twice each year, once usually in the early spring or winter when there is still snow on the ground because this park is open to hiking year round.

Of course our first stop was the bathroom because Biff just could not hold it any longer. While Combo and I waited, Blaze pointed out a massive moth just chilling on the outside of the restroom. The moth never moved an inch and we were able to get right up close to it for an intense inspection. We noted how hairy the moth appeared to be and the stickers it had on it’s legs. Pretty cool!

While waiting I nearly crushed a tiny baby toad and Combo was thrilled when I pointed out to her. Of course she had to pick it up and hold it for a moment before releasing it back into the wild. This was the first of many toads on this hike, the little guys were everywhere if you kept your eyes peeled for them, which we did. The other thing that was plentiful in the park was the wildflowers. They were a treat for our eyes.

We stopped at the overlook just passed the bathrooms for our annual picture and headed for the stairs down to the river. We encountered an elderly couple that were just finishing the stairs but were waiting for the throngs of people to pass them so they could navigate the stairs without interference. We stopped and waited so they could finish their trek and they were so grateful thanking us profusely as they passed by.

The problem with popular state parks is that you sometimes encounter people that are not aware of trail etiquette. Typically, you should always move over so people making the ascent do not have to break stride, as it is much easier for you to regain your momentum going down than it is for them going up. Furthermore, common sense should really dictate that you move over for weaker hikers that may be having trouble navigating the trail.

As we headed down the stairs we encountered a woman with music blaring from her cell phone. Again, not great trail etiquette. Listening to music on the trail is a personal preference. I for one do not prefer listening to music on the trail but others may not feel the same, which is completely ok BUT it would be nice if they would keep their music to themselves, especially when the music is not G rated. Moving on.

As we walked down the stairs we told the kids that we would show them the areas of the trail that were flooded when Blaze and I hiked it at the end of March. We were surprised to see that there was still flooding along the river banks but luckily the water did not reach the trail! The picnic area was now dry and the kids actually recognized the tables that were underwater in the pictures that we showed them in the spring.

Next to the river we found a cool flowers and berries as we snacked on dried apricots – Biff was not a fan at all and opted for nuts, raisins, and gummy bears for the rest of his snacking fun.

Soon we heard wings fluttering and looked up to see a hawk soaring above us, looking for it’s next meal. Because the trail was surrounded with trees we were not able to capture the moment but it was really cool! Combo also spotted a “yacht” on the river and wondered if this was similar to the boat that our neighbors vacation on. We attempted to persuade her that this was not a yacht but she was convinced. Oh well, another time.

Now there were tons of acorns along the trail and Biff stopped to collect them as he passed by. We had to keep encouraging him to move along, because he was stopping every couple feet. But it did help to keep him entertained.

Before we left the water, Biff had collected a ton of “nuts” (or acorns as the rest of us might call them). He exclaimed “look at my nuts!” and what we saw next had us rolling with laughter. He had collected several “nuts” and placed them in his pocket for safe keeping and to show us how many “nuts” he had collected he grabbed his pocket and pushed the pouch of “nuts” forward. Both kids wondered why were laughing but it soon dawned on them the hilarity of Biff’s statement, which brought on more trail talk that I will leave to your imagination.

Taking a left off of the main trail, we headed into a forested tunnel and came across first horse poop pile…yuck. Biff and Combo wondered why the horses could poop off the trail and we laughed thinking the horses pooped to lighten their load and make the trek up the steep hill easier. Should we follow suit?

We had also traveled this portion of the trail in March and it was really fun to see what it looked like blanketed with leaves and green vegetation this time around. The incline here reminded us of some of the trails that we have trekked in Montana and we excitedly began talking about our planned hikes in Montana this summer…it’s less than two weeks away and we seriously cannot wait!!

I was first introduced to hiking by the pastor at my church when I was in high school and immediately fell in love. Our pastor had arranged for our youth group to attend a camp in Montana, where we could either go on one overnight trek or backpack for 5 days. I chose to do both over the next four years, finding that backpacking was my favorite.

Fast forward to 2016 when Combo was 6 and Biff was 2. Blaze and I were planning our first real family vacation and somehow I managed to convince him to go to Montana and our adventures in hiking as a family were born. We made our first family trip out to Montana and chose the Bitterroot Valley, South of Missoula, MT and immediately fell in love. We loved it so much that we went back in 2017. In 2018 we went to Colorado, which was amazing but we found ourselves missing our home away from home. This year we had planned to hike a portion of the Superior Hiking Trail for our grand adventure but it just never felt right. SO, over the Fourth of July this year we made the decision to cancel our plans and head back to Montana and it felt SO GOOD! We were able to find accommodations and immediately began making plans for our adventure. I have a countdown on my phone and as the number drops, my excitement swells.

We will be taking a break from our posts while we are out there to be able to truly enjoy ourselves but rest assured we will have some amazing things to share when we get back…but I digress. Back to the trail at hand (see how easy it is for my mind to wander to our home away from home?)

Unfortunately, the excitement of Montana was not enough to keep the kids going strong and we soon had our first tantrum of the day…from both. This was too much and Blaze and I decided to continue without them, they had to catch up eventually right? We continued to find creatures along the way and stopped for a moment to examine a fuzzy caterpillar.

Biff and Combo were still bickering with one another as we cruised ahead and entered the prairie. We thought we had seen many wildflowers earlier but it was nothing compared to what we saw on the prairie.

The kids finally figured out that we did not want to be around them when they were constantly fighting and they caught up to us at the top of a steep climb. Combo did not look pleased AT ALL and was not cooperative when we stopped at an overlook to snap a photo but Biff on the other hand turned it around and was all smiles.

Determined to have a good day, I worked on Combo as Blaze and Biff went on ahead. It took some serious convincing but eventually I had her smiling and back to her old self. Lesson learned, as she had a different outlook for the remainder of our journey.

Soon we could see the familiar pillars that let us know we were nearing a shelter that had an old windmill and piece of farming equipment on the ground for the kids to check out. The promise of finding something cool had them dashing on ahead, despite the heat and additional climb.

Our stop was brief because we were completely exposed to the sun and man let me tell you it was getting HOT. Debating whether or not we wanted to make it a longer day was not a difficult decision…why not? The kids had been gone for a week and we wanted to spend as much quality time together as we could, so further into the prairie we went.

As Blaze was giving us a thumb’s up to encourage us along on our journey he nearly stepped on a Daddy Long Legs and of course Biff needed to take a moment to check the little guy out. It was pretty cool and the little guy did look pretty fierce to us for some reason, like he belonged there and owned that portion of the trail. Sometimes we find ourselves developing little back stories for the creatures we stumble across on the trail and this time was no different.

Did I mention that it was getting warm? On the exposed trail we were really starting to break and had to stop frequently for water, as the kids’ faces were starting to look like little cherry tomatoes. The heat prompted an impromptu version of Nelly’s Hot in Herr by Biff, who had recently removed his shirt.

As previously stated the park has many outhouses throughout and we soon came upon one, which of course we had to stop at. Thankfully we did not need to hear about having to go potty for prolonged periods of time on this trail. The outhouses were located in a shady area and we found a snakeskin to occupy our minds while waiting for everyone to use the facilities.

AS we set back out into the prairie we were greeted with a wonderful breeze which had us stretching our arms to fully enjoy it’s gentle caress. We felt like we were on top of the world as we enjoyed the reprieve and marveled at the clouds.

Again we were faced with the decision of extending our hike or taking the shorter route back. Yes it was getting hot and the kids were starting to peter out but we decided to give it a go anyway and continue to explore. We just did not want to miss anything.

A couple of years ago we went on a guided hike at Frontenac State Park and learned all about Sumac and how to make Sumac tea. I guess this must have really stuck in Combo’s mind because when we encountered Sumac on the trail, Combo pointed it out right away and suggested we make Sumac tea. Of course we could not take it from the park, which put a damper on her spirits but this was quickly turned around when we told her that we have some growing in our backyard and could maybe give it a shot. We shall see…I am not entirely convinced of this idea but it could be cool to try.

Unfortunately, the good spirits did not hold out and eventually the kids were complaining about the heat and the distance back to the car. We attempted to distract them with snacks and talk of the things we wanted to do in Montana besides hiking – the Water-park, Insectarium, Natural History Museum, the Little Blue Joint and so much more.

Now earlier in the day we had made a deal that we would take them swimming afterwards if they were able to keep it together on the hike and we needed to remind them of this arrangement. BUT they continued to complain so Blaze and I pushed ahead telling them to rejoin us when they were ready and if they wanted to still go swimming. Yes, sometimes we resort to bribery.

With renewed spirits, we continued on finding some trail treasures along the way – a tiny feather and a really pretty Monarch butterfly.

Eventually we were treated to views of the now green ski hills and asked Blaze if he wanted to ski down them later in the year. Combo laughed as she recalled the story of Blaze’s failed attempt at snowboarding several years ago. Let’s just say he ended up unhooking his snowboard, walking down the hill and spending the rest of his day in the Chalet while I continued to snowboard.

Just after the ski hills we saw that the trail would be re-entering the woods. Both kids were excited to learn that the rest of the trail should be mainly downhill, with the exception of one final pull up. Plus we would have the added benefit of walking in the shade again! Bring it on! I am not going to lie, we were all pretty relieved to finally get out of the sun.

Getting back into the shade also meant that we were getting back to horse poop on the trail. Biff enjoyed pointing out a particularly long stretch of poop saying “Look I found a Daddy!”

As we continued on, we began discussing the types of foods we wanted to bring with us to Montana, in particular what types of bars we wanted to make. We decided that 7 Layer Bars, while so yummy probably would not hold up in the heat. Now Rice Krispy Bars could be a solid option. Biff is in favor of making these treats out of Chocolate Cereal, Combo is in favor of Lucky Charms, and Blaze believes that Cinnamon Chex are a strong contender. Let the negotiations begin!

We found several more baby toads along the way but the kids were most excited to find a creek that they were able to get into! The water did feel spectacular, even if they threw it at me, taking me completely by surprise.

As the trail started to head back up both kids recalled that this meant we were almost done and swimming was close! They were really troopers – it was hot and they were both tired but you wouldn’t have been able to tell. They cruised up that hill like little pro’s, making Blaze and I very proud.

And just as we entered the parking area we heard another plan above us. Throughout the day we heard and saw several planes coming in for a landing and wondered just where they came from. This plane was loud and when we saw it, we knew why. It was SO close to us! It seemed like we should be able to reach our hand out and touch it as it flew overhead. Hiking near the cities has it’s benefits sometimes.

This was a nice end to our day. While we were all hot and sweaty we thoroughly enjoyed our time at Afton State Park and will certainly go back to see it again.

I hope everyone enjoyed the park as much as we did and we look forward to sharing more with you! Thank you for taking the time to read and I hope you will come back for more.

Happy Trails!

Split Rock Lighthouse State Park – Two Harbors, MN 07/21/2019

Toddler Perspective:

  • Running Wild – For the most part we were fine with letting Biff and Combo run free but a few areas closer to the lake required a little more supervision.
  • The Trail – We did the Hiking Club trail which was a 5.8 mile loop. The first portion of the trail was actually along the Gitchi-Gami bike trail. For those not familiar, this is a paved trail that when completed will run from Two Harbors to Grand Marais, along Lake Superior. This was mostly a winding path without any obstacles. Once we found the dirt trail, it curved in a loop throughout the park with enough ups, downs, and flat portions to keep it interesting. For portions of the trail you walked along Lake Superior and other portions took you deeper into the woods. The terrain ranged from hard packed dirt with rocks and tree roots to grassier sections. We encountered several bridges and a set of stairs that we really steep. The spur trail we took to Conundrum Mine all but disappeared in the tall grass and vegetation as we made our way to the lookout.
  • Trail Conditions – Great! No muddy patches as we usual encounter on the North Shore.
  • Bugs and Pests – There were mosquitos but they were not plentiful, which we were grateful for. We also saw several cool species of butterflies, moths, and dragonflies.
  • Plants – Flowers, flowers, and more flowers. There were so many different kinds of flowers at this park, it seemed like every time we rounded a corner we were treated to a new and interesting species. Very cool!
  • Bathrooms – There was an outhouse located near the entrance to the cart-in sites and spaced throughout the cart-in sites and backpack sites.
  • Cell Service – Spotty. We were able to catch a signal when we were on higher ground but traveling through the woods and lower areas we turned our phones on airplane mode to save the battery, as they continued to search for a signal.

Highlights:

  • Combo– The Eagle!
  • Biff – Initially Biff said the big rock was his favorite but when Combo piped in with the Eagle, he added that to his list, as well.
  • Blaze – A cross between the view from up top and being so close to the Eagle. Blaze has never been that close to an Eagle outside of almost hitting one with a car.
  • Ripper – Stretching our legs in a mostly bug free zone. The trail was amazing!

Biff and Combo were going to spend the next week with Grandma and Grandpa Goober and we needed to meet them in Duluth by 4:00 pm so we decided to find a trail along the North Shore. We made the 3 1/2 hour drive to Two Harbors while listening to Podcasts and music, while the kids researched hikes for our upcoming trip to Montana.

We did not park within the park but at a wayside just South of the park, to save on extra driving time. We had stopped at this wayside last year while we did the Split Rock loop on the Superior Hiking Trail (SHT) so we were familiar with the area.

After a short walk we were on the Hiking Club Trail. We decided to do the paved portion first instead of entering the woods, so we could save the best for last and walk on the paved path before it got to be too warm.

Immediately we noticed the many wildflowers along the trail. They were gorgeous and plentiful. Combo wondered what it would be like if we had one flower of each species in our backyard. We discussed that we most certainly would not have enough space in our yard to accommodate such a request, despite the fact that we found some really TINY ones.

At this point an adventurous bug started to swarm my hair and stalk me. The little bugger followed me for several moments before giving up. Combo thought this was hilarious and enjoyed pointing out each time the little guy decided to land in my hair.

We purchased new hiking shoes for Combo and Biff the day before, so today was their first day testing out their new kicks. Combo was thrilled that she was finally getting bigger and able to get out of Toddler sizes! And Biff thought he should test out his shoes by running races with Daddy.

In several places we saw what looked like spit on various plants and initially thought they were pupa’s but upon doing further research it appears that this would be Spittlebugs – who knew!!

Eventually we met up with the portion of the Gitchi Gami that ran near the SHT and found that backpackers had left their gear next to the trail. We tried to come up with a good reason to leave their gear but the best we could not come up with anything. Mystery left unsolved.

Combo spotted the familiar shining path on the bike trail which led her to a snail!

As we enjoyed more wildflowers and checked out what we imagined to be an old portion of the path, Biff and Combo had fun telling a new story – Daddy was the butt, Mommy was the toilet paper, Combo was the toilet, and Biff was the person. Of course this led to a conversation that I felt good about being the toilet paper because I would only get smeared with poop or pee once while Combo would be stuck swallowing poop and pee for the rest of her life. GROSS!!

We encountered several massive ant hills and we wondered just how big they were underneath the ground.

The park was FULL of berries that we had to constantly remind Biff not to eat. Combo does have a book about edible plants in Minnesota but we did not think to bring it with on the hike.

In true Biff form, he was soon racing along the trail at MACH speed…but he would tucker out and sit down on the path to take a break.

And of course when Biff stopped to take a break he was a little reluctant to get up so Dad came up with a good way to entice him to take up the chase again!

As we meandered along we talked about the clouds and wondered if we would get rained on, as the clouds appeared to be getting a little darker. While pondering what the weather held in store for us we stumbled across a really cool tree.

As Biff raced along, Dad scooped him up and tortured him with tickles!

We continued to look at the new flowers and vegetation along the path, as we checked the map to see just how much farther we needed to go before entering the woods and starting our adventure.

And just as we started to tire of the pavement, we found a bridge!

And as we rounded the next corner we were treated to bright yellow flowers lining the trail. This of course had us singing our own rendition of the “Yellow Brick Road” – the “Yellow Flowered Road” and we were “off the see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of Split Rock!”

More flowers awaited us just before we came to our turnoff for the dirt trail we so desired to travel!

At this point, just as we were getting to a steep hill down, Combo told us that her shoes were working REALLY well and she was not even falling! WELL…then Combo nearly took a spill and quickly recanted her last statement.

The trail finally brought us near the water and Combo and Biff carefully navigated the rocks while Daddy snapped photos of the lighthouse. We wanted to spend more time but there was so much more to do and see for the day.

We passed by a friendly group of hikers that wished us well along our journey, marveling at how exuberant the kids appeared. There is nothing like nature to connect strangers that would likely never talk to one another when passing by on the street.

As I had mentioned previously we were in the car for approximately 3 1/2 hours and because we did not enter the park to park our car, we did not have the opportunity to use the restrooms prior to hitting the trail. Needless to say, Combo, Biff and I found ourselves really needing to make a pit stop. We were excited to pass by some campsites as we knew that with campsites come facilities to resolve our issues!

Freshly renewed, we strolled through the cart-in sites and backpack sites along the trail, noting where we might like to stay in the future. We especially liked that this park had signs at the sites which noted which sites were occupied and which were still available.

At this point we made a wrong turn and ended up on the trail for just the campsites and had to turn around to make our way back to our intended path. Biff told us that he needed to use Oklahoma speed to get back on track. Apparently you only go really fast when in Oklahoma. Last year we drove through Oklahoma and we greeted by SO MANY bugs and Biff still remembers this – when we stopped at a gas station to go to the bathroom we literally ran as fast as we could from the car to the gas station to avoid the swarms. It is funny the things kids remember – anything and everything can be a memorable moment.

Biff’s latest obsession is hiking without his shirt and when he saw me take my long-sleeved shirt off he decided it was time for him to take his only shirt off. This shirt was then used to swat at the air and battle the imagined bad guys along the trail.

As Biff battled the bad guys, Dad called out to us excitedly, telling us there was a treat in store just up ahead. Boy oh boy was he right! We encountered massive rocks and steep stairs that led us closer and closer to Lake Superior.

The stairs added a fun obstacle and the kids enjoyed telling me just how I should walk down the stairs to avoid falling.

As the trail leveled out and we began walking on grass, we started to discuss the rest of our plans for the day which of course included ice cream. What flavors would we eat? What other treats might we get? And what were the conditions of being able to get ice cream? Well, I told the kids they would need to stay in front of me to get the ice cream. Game on!

As Biff was racing ahead to secure his ice cream, he discovered another bridge and his energy was renewed…maybe we should start calling him Flash?

As we started a steeper ascent we began to debate where we would find the password.

  • Mom – At the next overlook
  • Dad – At the last overlook down by where we parked
  • Biff – At the fire tower (there was no fire tower along our journey!)
  • Combo – Full of preteen attitude (how is that even possible?!), Combo declined to guess

And just as we were finishing up our guesses we stumbled on the password – we were all wrong! Biff studied the password carefully.

We met another group of friendly hikers and they told us that we should really check out the spur trail to the Conundrum Mine. We checked out the map, saw that it was not too long of a detour and decided to give it a shot. It was really cool to see the remains of the mine – Biff especially enjoyed checking it out!

As we headed to what the hikers called “the big rock” we noticed that the trail was overgrown, seeming to disappear in some places due to the growth. We enjoyed climbing over the obstacles that mother nature placed in our path.

Dad even found a TINY strawberry that the kids were sad they could not eat.

As we reached the top of “the big rock” we were treated to gorgeous views of Lake Superior! In true Combo fashion, Combo took a moment to sit by herself and take it all in.

Biff and Combo were getting hungry so we took a moment to enjoy a snack and the beauty around us. We talked about how cool it would be to camp on top of the rock and Combo worried that she would accidentally roll out of the tent and fall off the side of the cliff…maybe not the best place to camp.

On our way back down we discussed what the kids wanted to be for Halloween this year. Biff decided that he wanted to be Groot and Combo could not decided between Harry Potter and Hermione. While discussing this, Combo also pretended to trip and fall along the way.

Renewed with snacks and sugar, Biff began to race along upon leaving the overgrown portion of the trail. Combo and I continued to discuss the pro’s and con’s of each of her costume choices, finally deciding to wait to see what each costume looks like before making a decision.

While Combo, Dad and I admired a cool tree on the trail we heard a thud and turned back to see that Biff had finally taken a biff. He was not pleased and needed to be carried and then consoled with a Reese’s Pieces before beginning his journey anew.

Seeing the water and having the opportunity to throw rocks in the water seemed to rejuvenate Biff. We marveled at how awesomely clear the water was!

We continued along and Biff and I decided to mess with Combo – we raced ahead! Remember, Combo needs to stay in front of me to get her ice cream. WELL this got everyone moving but Combo became too worried that she could not keep up and would not get her ice cream so we needed to call it quits on the racing.

Backpacking sites were plentiful on this trail and we decided that this one was our favorite and decided that we needed to check it out next time we were in the area to camp!

And as we continued, talking excitedly about ice cream (can you tell we are a family that loves food?) we were swarmed by butterflies – it was REALLY cool!

We encountered our last overlook of the hike and looked to where our car would be parked and just how much farther we had to go. Truly we did not want it to end, we were having such a splendid time!

BUT we decided that there were several things we wanted to do in Duluth, including getting into the water so we raced on ahead!

Until we saw two hikers stopped, staring into the sky. When they saw us, they told us to look up because there was a Bald Eagle directly overhead! WOW! There it was, watching us carefully. Majestic and Powerful. It was truly an amazing experience. If you look closely at the last photo, you can still see the Eagle sitting in the same tree even after we hiked out of the park.

Our hike had ended but the fun for the day was not over. As we drove towards Duluth, Dad looked up a place to stop for ice cream and we made plans with two of our close friends to go to “The King of Cream” for treats. YES!!

And as we enjoyed our treats (Ice Cream, Soda, and of course CHEESE CURDS) we made plans to go to Canal Park for our final leg of our adventure. We wanted to get our feet wet and look for cool rocks.

As we parked, Combo took the opportunity to scale a lightpost while Biff attempted to follow in her footsteps.

While finding our way to the water, the kids found a sculpture that they had to stop to check out.

We spent a decent amount of time at the water, looking for cool rocks and feathers while also taking the opportunity to catch up and check out the cool sail boats that were in the bay.

Our last stop was to check out the pier. We discussed the trials and tribulations of being parents and how that changes your life. The ups and downs, the good the bad and the ugly. But most of all the importance of family. It was awesome to be able to have such a wonderful hike topped off by enjoying Duluth with friends that we do not get to see often enough. We also enjoyed seeing the planes flying above us for the airshow that was taking place in Duluth at the same time!

As we prepared to say our goodbyes to our friends but also to our little one’s we stopped to check out a cone and sprinklers. We let Biff and Combo run through the water without care because why not? They would be wet in Grandma and Grandpa Goober’s car right?

We said goodbye to our friends with promises to make sure we came back up to visit and headed back to the car. As we waited for Grandma and Grandpa Goober to come, we all began to talk a little less. We knew it was almost time to say goodbye. After Grandma and Grandpa Goober showed up we said our goodbyes, with extra hugs, kisses, and I love you’s. I am not going to lie. This week will be hard and I cried for a long while driving home. Recounting our journey has helped me feel close to our kiddos and I guess that’s the basic reason we do this. Create the memories, they last forever and keep you warm when you are not together.

Enough of the mushy stuff. I hope you enjoyed reading, we enjoyed exploring! I would definitely recommend this park!! As always, please let us know if there is anything that you would like to hear more about or if there is a park that you are interested in learning more about. Until next time, HAPPY HIKING!!

Interstate State Park – St. Croix Falls, WI 07/14/2019

Toddler Perspective (What You Need to Know):

  • Running Wild – We let them run wild but we are confident in their ability to stay away from the sheer dropoffs and cliffs. If your little people are not used to this, I would recommend keeping them in hand as you get near the cliffs.
  • The Trail – The trail is AMAZING! Several steep ascents, winding through a majestic forest. This is one of our favorite hikes and we make sure to hit it once each year.
  • Trail Conditions – Perfect! No mud to speak of and only one fallen “tree” that was easy for the kids to climb over (or crawl under as Biff would have it).
  • Bugs and Pests – A few mosquitoes but nothing that would impede the fun and leisure of the hike.
  • Plants – Nothing poisonous or scary. The trees are amazing, the vegetation gorgeous and the landscape cannot be rivaled!
  • Bathrooms – Restrooms near the trailhead are closed for the season but they do have another set of restrooms a short walk away.
  • Cell Service – No issues, great service (T-Mobile).

Highlights:

  • Joey – Swimming!
  • William – Swimming!!
  • Dad – The beach, the water was really nice (dirty but the temperature was perfect). And the view from the bluffs.
  • Mom – Feeling like we were transported into a wonderland!

We had not planned to hike but made an impromptu trip to one of our favorite parks. We rarely make multiple trips back to the same place but this one is definitely worth it each time! And each time it changes, enthralling us with it’s beauty and wonder. I could not have more positive things to say about this park!

Biff and Combo were worried that we had packed snacks for along the way when they saw this sign. We assured them that as long as we did not leave a trace, the goodies safely packed away in my pack would not be a problem. We hit the trail and it was HOT AND HUMID! We were sweating within minutes.

Biff was tired and immediately threw a tantrum but we kept going!

As we approached the rocks, Combo and I talked about how much fun it was to climb them and soon Biff joined us.

Soon Combo, Biff and I talked about how important it is to stop and smell the roses when hiking. Yes, getting to the scenic overlooks is amazing but taking the time to enjoy the trail is far more important. The overlook will be there when you get there but the precious memories you make climbing random rocks, finding wildlife and enjoying one another’s company can be easily overlooked and never regained.

We made it to the top of the trail after a strenuous climb for Combo and Biff and were rewarded with amazing views and a nice breeze.

At this point Combo and Biff were feeling good and decided to take the lead! Go for it guys!

This park is fairly small and we could have decided to get back to the car but we chose to head to another trail that would take us down to the river.

Biff found his favorite “cave” along the way.

And both Combo and Biff enjoyed climbing on the numerous rocks along the trail. Have at it guys!

As we came closer to the river the trail became a hiking wonderland and we felt like we transported into a forest full of wonder, intrigue and new adventure!

With the river in view we spotted rock climbers! Rock climbers love this area and you are almost guaranteed to see at least two or three groups out. It’s pretty cool.

At the river we took time to stop and smell the roses – enjoying the peaceful beauty around us.

As we headed out from the river we remembered a really cool fireplace and asked Biff and Combo if they wanted to get to it. The answer was a unanimous yes and we started our search! Biff decided to crawl under a “fallen tree” while Combo decided she should supervise his endeavors.

We reached the fireplace and the views were oh so peaceful.

As you know, Biff likes to be able to throw things in the water so of course we had to get a bit closer.

After we left the water Combo shot on ahead with Blaze, while Biff lingered behind to check out the fireplace.

As we headed back we encountered the fun trail that we know and love! We sang:

  • Achy Breaky Heart – Don’t smell my farts…my stinky, stinky farts!
  • Baby Got Back – I like big farts, you other farts can’t deny!

We soon reached our car and Biff was sad to learn that we were not done. “Why do we have to do two hikes in one day?” We explained that this was one hike on two trails because we wanted to see everything. We also told him that this trail would end in a trip to the lake for swimming and he was on board!

As we hit the River Bluff Trail Biff found an acorn that he was sure would make a squirrel follow us for the rest of our journey. Soon we needed to stop for a bit of water!

It was pretty HOT and we definitely had a good sweat going as we made our way to the top of the River Bluff Trail.

We reached the top of the bluff.

Cliff jumpers used to find this a favorite spot and now there are several signs warning of the dangers of diving.

Again we encountered rock climbers and Combo was really interested in why on earth they would want to do it. I told her to ask them but she was too chicken to do it:)

We took a moment to look over the edge of the big cliff.

And on the way to the overlook we stopped to check out the scenery.

At the overlook Combo was not having it but Biff was really into checking out the views. Again, the views at this park are AMAZING!!

Blaze and Ripper FOREVER!

On our way back down the kids needed a reminder that our end goal was to go swimming and boy oh boy did it work. They started to cruise!

But Biff needed to stop to be a “farmer.”

And then we made it to the beach!!!

It was an AMAZING day! This park never disappoints! The only downside was that Blaze was sting when we were ready to leave.

I hope this inspires you to get out and enjoy this park! It is AMAZING and we love hiking here in the spring, fall, and summer! Maybe winter is up next? Comment below and let us know what you would like to hear more about!