Two nice day hikes

Comments: There are two nice hikes here. The shinnery ridge trail is only about 1.5 miles through the woods. The other, the Bosque trail, is from 2.5 miles to 4 miles depending on the route. I started at the scenic overlook, which is the first stop on the one-way road, and hiked counterclockwise around the lake. The first part of the trail leads down the bluff to the edge of the lake and is fairly steep. Much of the trail is at lake-level and not too strenuous. Apparently at one time there was a bridge across the creek at the top edge of the map, but it was gone when I got there. I had to walk upstream aways to find a suitable crossing. There is a second lookout point just before you get to the primitive camping area. The end of the hike leads across the earthen dam that created the lake. Although the map shows the trail ending at the campgrounds, this area is impassible. It is necessary to turn the other way and descend into the creek area. You will want to do this anyway, because the creekbed is stunning, and invisible from anywhere else. It is easy to pick up the trail at on the other side of the creek. The extras are the Little Springs Trail and the Little Forest Junior Trail. I tried to hike the Little Springs Trail, but the trail is not well marked. I enjoyed wandering around in the area, but I was definitely not on the trail. The Little Forest Junior Trail was easier to follow. It has a short prairie section before crossing the road. Except for the dam, the rest of this hike is through forest. I made it to the first parking area OK, but I had a hard time picking up the portion of the trail that leads between the two parking areas. All-in-all, an enjoyable hike.