Hitting the Trails--Part 2

It has been a year and a half since I blogged about walking, i.e. Hitting the Trails.  Now that I am retired full time, daily walking has become a standard routine for us.  However, the actual locations for that walking have evolved, so it is time for an update.

Due to multiple minor sprains and strains, our daily walks have been cut back to the 3 - 3.5 mile range rather than the 6-7 miles we were doing earlier.  We might return to the longer walks at some point, but the shorter walks seem to be working well now.

Other than the distance, the biggest difference between our current and previous walks is the location.  This is due to the completion of several new parks nearby and/or the receding of floodwaters at Lewisville Lake.  Our current walking locations of choice are usually one of three nearby locations:  Doubletree Ranch Park, Lake Park, and LLELA. 

GPS tracks of some of our recent walks/hikes

These are vastly different locations, but all take advantage of their proximity to Lewisville Lake.  Even more importantly, they are all VERY close to us, only a few miles and a few minutes away (OK, maybe as much as 10 minutes at rush hour through school zones).

Doubletree Ranch Park.  Doubletree Ranch Park is a new City of Highland Village park in the northeast corner of Highland Village.  It opened to the public at the end of August, but is still not completely finished.  It is a very upscale community park with soccer fields, walking paths, 3.5 acre pond with fishing pier (under construction), splash pad (under construction), upscale pavilion, enclosed concessions building and more.

Doubletree Ranch Park Master Plan. 

One loop of the paved sidewalk around the park is approximately one mile, so we typically do three laps.  Although this is very much a city park, we still often see herons or turtles on the pond and hawks in the trees near the lake.

Sunrise over the pavilion at Doubletree Ranch Park

 

Concession and restrooms building.  The round building in the distance on the right is the pump house for the splash pad.

The pond and partially completed fishing pier, from near the lift station looking to the west northwest.

Looking south along the trail next to the fishing pier.

We were pleased to see that there was even recognition of the history of the site. When we moved to Texas 35 years ago this property was still some type of ranch.  Occasionally they would ride horses from the ranch as far as our house.  Later I remember voting in one of the buildings on the property after it became more of a meeting location for the city.  However, its history goes back much further than that.  It was apparently a dairy farm before Lewisville Lake existed.

Several features on the master plan, such as the bird blinds and the unpaved trail at the far south end of the park overlooking Lewisville Lake, do not currently exist.  I am not sure whether those will be added later or not, but hope so.  Even without those, it is a very enjoyable place to walk.  We are glad that it finally opened this fall.

Lake Park.  Another location we have been visiting recently is Lake Park, which is a huge City of Lewisville park on the shore of Lewisville Lake.

GeoJeep at Lake Park with the new hike and bike trail in the foreground and Lewisville Lake in the background

The 660 acre park includes an 18 hole golf course, an executive golf course, driving range, Frisbee golf course, athletic facilities (including the soccer and softball fields Gwen used years ago), and multiple lake related facilities. The lake related uses include an RV campground, beaches, boat ramps and picnic facilities.

We had not made much use of the lake part of the park for many years since it requires a fee.  However, at least this year, the annual pass to LLELA that I got for Christmas (thank you, Santa!) also includes Lake Park.  This was great except, as I blogged as far back as May 2015, much of the park was badly flooded.  Until very recently the day use area remained closed, first due to the high water, then to construction of a new hike and bike path.  Although some construction is continuing, I am glad to report that the park is now open. 

The new hike and bike trail is a great place to walk with lots of ducks and other water birds nearby.  In fact, the city provides a guide to hundreds of birds that have been seen there.

Ducks along the shore, including some that were scared off when I stopped to take their picture.

We rarely see many people in the day use area other than a few fishermen near the water or boaters at the boat ramp.  However, on one Saturday morning we got to see part of a cricket match on the cricket pitch, which is at the end of the road--near J on the map above.  One of the players let us feel the cricket ball, which is about the size of a baseball but harder and smoother.  No wonder the pitcher and batter wear all kinds of padding.  It would definitely not feel good to get hit by one of those.

We originally were walking on the path on an out and back route, but expanded that by walking along the athletic fields to make a grand loop.  On weekends, that means lots of soccer players and the accompanying support parents, but during the week the fields are home to a flock of Canadian geese.

Flock of Canadian geese on the soccer fields.

Tucked back near the end of the walk is also a plaque about an archaeological site, now submerged under Lewisville Lake, which contained evidence for one of the oldest civilizations in the western hemisphere.  Who knew???

Historical plaque in Lake Park

LLELA.  Last but not least is LLELA, Lewisville Lake Education and Learning Area.  LLELA is a 2000 acre wildlife management area below Lewisville Dam created in the early 1990's on land leased from the Army Corps of Engineers. There are three components to its mission:  the preservation and restoration of native habitat and biodiversity,  environmental education, and environmental research.


LLELA is relatively undeveloped, i.e. no visitor center, but there is still plenty to do.  Many people enjoy fishing on the Trinity River below the outlet from the lake.  There is also paddling on the Trinity River or on a paddling trail.  Our interest is primarily in the seven different trails with miles of hiking opportunities. 

There is also an 1870's pioneer homestead (originally located off of 407 in Highland Village, but moved to LLELA in 2005 and since restored), and lots of birding opportunities with very nice bird blinds.

LLELA is run by a consortium comprised of the University of North Texas, the City of Lewisville, and the Lewisville Independent School District.    The operation of the site has undergone significant changes in the past several years, with the City of Lewisville taking a more active role. LLELA used to be open to the public only Friday-Sunday, but is now open seven days a week.  New this year, the annual pass for LLELA also includes Lewisville Lake Park.  These two changes make it much more attractive to us.

We hiked on the Black Jack trail several times starting last January. 

The Frog on the Blackjack Trail in January, 2016

Unfortunately, the other trails were partially or completely submerged under water due to large water releases from Lewisville Dam.   The campground was essentially destroyed and has yet to be repaired. 

We were finally able to hike on the Redbud and the Bittern Marsh trails for the first time this fall.  They still need work and are quite muddy after rains, but are passable. 

Early morning view of the Trinity River from the Redbud Trail

We rarely encounter other people on the trails.  However, there are plenty of interesting birds.  On our most recent visit we even saw an osprey eating his breakfast high in a tree.   We have also fleetingly seen deer on multiple occasions, including a buck with a large rack.  

On the boardwalk to the bird blind on Bittern Marsh

 There are also more interesting plants than we will ever be able to identify.

A bur oak acorn--that is Texas size!!

Walking along some of these trails, it is hard to believe LLELA is within the city of Lewisville and only a few minutes from our house.  We have not spent much time at LLELA, but hope the weather cooperates so we can hike these trails much more often in the future.