Lord Hill Regional Park ~ January 10, 2012

We picked the most gorgeous day for a hike at Lord Hill! There were clear, blue skies and sunshine.

Here you can see the blue sky, as well as my son with a deer-in-the-headlights look!

There were 3 cars in the parking lot when we arrived at 11am. 2 people were leaving and I saw several people just setting off for a trail run. This is a multi-use trail and can be used by hikers, bicyclists and equestrians. We encountered a couple of people hiking with their dogs. Even though we didn't see any horses this time, there is evidence along the trail that they had been there recently - hoof prints and horse droppings. So do watch where you step, as we also saw several piles of dog waste that some thoughtless dog owners failed to pick up.

I love this park because it is so close to home (30 minutes), yet it feels like you are up in the mountains. There are a couple of viewpoints where you can see quite a distance on a clear day. Maps were available at the trailhead, although you could print one ahead of time just to make sure that you have one with you. There was plenty of mud on the trails, so be sure to wear appropriate boots or shoes. We brought a lunch and hiked out of the parking lot on the Main Trail. We cut off on the West View Trail and walked until we reached the viewpoint. The elevation is  not terribly high at 650 feet, and it doesn't give you much of a view during the spring, summer and fall months, but......if you go in the winter when the leaves are off the trees you actually get a decent view of the surrounding countryside! There is also a picnic table and bench at this location, so it makes a nice spot to stop and eat lunch.

The kids had fun playing on a gravel pile where we stopped for lunch.

This is the bench from the viewpoint that I talked about.

After we ate, we walked back the way that we came and headed back to our cars.

There was not much in the way of blooming things or fungus. I did take a couple of pictures though.

I found some brand new stinging nettle peeking through
the leaf litter.

These tiny mushrooms were growing along the trail on some dead wood.

Happy Trails!