We’re hiking to where!?

We have a lot fun trips planned for this upcoming year and have decided we really need to get in shape.  It’s been a while since we’ve been serious about eating healthy and exercise.

We headed out this morning to visit Lost Maples State Natural Area. It was a pretty cool morning with light clouds. We decided to take the East Trail today.  We’ve hiked it a couple of times in the past.

Lost Maples is a beautiful park.  It is one place where you can see the unusual Texas Madrone Tree.  This small tree has pretty red berries and very unique peeling bark.

This tree is showing the smooth, new bark.

We took our binoculars and saw a few birds including Raven, American Kestrel, Field Sparrow, American Goldfinch,  Ruby-crown Kinglet, Northern Cardinal, and Green Kingfisher.

American Kestrel 

Green Kingfisher

The trail is quite steep in places (going up and coming down).  But, the view at the top is well worth the hike.  There is a 400 foot elevation change that takes place in less than a 1 mile.

 Steep trail heading back down.

View from the top.

The trail crosses the Sabinal River several times.  

 The water here is some of the clearest you will ever see.

Teri