Overlook and ponds--improved trail needs more trees!

A pleasant little swath of silverpuffs, a member of the daisy family (similar to, but not the same as dandelions).
User: plectrudis - 10/7/2017

Location: Southeast Metropolitan Park

Rating: 2point5stars
Difficulty: 3stars  Solitude: 2point5stars
Miles Hiked: 5.40 Miles  Elapsed Time: N/A

Comments:

We hiked the primitive trail loop and then, to pad out our steps, took the unprimitive sidewalk around the playing fields to a jeep track to the shoulder of 71, then back to the trailhead.

The good: the primitive trail is nice and shady and includes a scenic overlook and couple of ponds.  There are flush toilets and picnic tables near the trailhead.

The meh: It's pretty-ish, but it's no Wild Basin or Turkey Creek.  Lots of mesquite.  The primitive trail (the only part that feels like "hiking") is a little short, and much of the paved/graveled non-primitive path is hideously treeless and exposed.  And we accidentally wandered onto private property and had to take the 71 shoulder to get back to the park, which was no kind of fun at all.

The uncategorizable: the battered and dessicated corpse of a mid-size mammal lay in the middle of our path.  We couldn't tell what it was--young coyote? Juvenile hog?  It was certainly interesting, but, lordy, it did not smell good.  



Log Photos
"Silverpuff" fluffballs along the trail
Mesquite scrub
one of the ponds
Area around Southeast Metropolitan Park
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