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13

Sep

Down the Creek

Blog, News Article, Uncategorized

This is a continuation of the previous post. In this blog, I will explore the woods downstream the Wolf Trap Run (park’s main waterway).

If you peek into the woods behind the West Lot, you will see a bona fide jungle.
Ode to Green. Yet somewhere there in the distance flows the Wolf Trap Run.

There are some unusual views of the Wolf Trap Run to be had, but no trail leading to them.

This is a bizarre tree formation by the service station at the far end of the West Lot.
But again, no trail leading there and none following the creek further (on this side).

There is, however, a way to follow the Wolf Trap Run downstream in the north.
If you can find a small opening in the bushes off of the Trap Road.

Behind the green wall, there is a small path that does what I wanted.
It follows the Wolf Trap Run downstream.

Besides ticks and snakes, there are two dangers alongside this path.
In the spring, it is very muddy and full of paddles.
In the summer, part of it is overgrown and you don’t see where you step.

But one gets to see oceans of vegetation…

…and a pretty cool forest (my favorite in the Wolf Trap vicinity)

After about a quarter mile, I came to an intersection with a paved trail.

The right branch leads to the Shouse Village Pond.

The left branch continues downstream, parallel to the Wolf Trap Run.

This year’s summer storm played havoc to the pavement in one spot.

But one can easily wade around it.

Wolf Trap Run is always nearby…

…and so are little marshes with skunk cabbage (mostly dry in summer)

As I followed the Wolf Trap Run down, I took a series of left turns to stay close to it.
The creek itself is not directly visible (about 50-100 yards to the left).
Once you come closer to it, you will see a partly paved path going left.

This is a short trail (about a quarter mile) going back upstream…

…and leads to a creek crossing I did not dare to take (the sign says “cross at own risk”).
Concrete blocs have been toppled and without their support the plank looked precarious.

So I went back downstream and came to a little clearing with a bench.
From here I took a short connector to the right (north) to get out of the woods.

The exit path leads across this little bridge.

The trail now enters a meadow that feels like a paradise.

This is a look back to the woods I just came from.

There are some rocks in the creek (and a bench nearby)…

…and with a bit of imagination, there are alien spiders crawling out of water.

At the far end of the path, there is another “at own risk” crossing, which I took.

On the other side, one can go either straight and end up on Gingerwood Ct.
Or take a left and start going back upstream (that is the path I took)

Soon a residential area emerges…

…and the trail ends in the middle of Cinnamon Creek Dr
(it is marked by this little free library)

I took left on the street and at its far end (about half a mile) found a path between houses
and a small staircase back into the woods towards Wolf Trap.

First part of the trail follows a boardwalk…

…but soon cuts into the woods…

…with an occasional “adventure”.

Eventually the path emerges at the far end of the West Lot (on the left).
But you can continue straight up and end up at the Wolf Trap tunnel.

–honza–

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