Trails

Even though BCVSP is a small state park  it boasts 8 miles of hiking trails. I was able to visit some great trails.  


This is the official Website to the park map
http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/state_parks/spk00112_summer.pdf

Switch Back Trail would be my first destination.  

From my campsite located by the restrooms, I walked to the picnic area, crossed the swinging bridge over the East Beaver Creek to the picnic shelter, then headed west about 50 yards to the trail that would cross another spring fed brook.  There were boards crossing the creek that danced and swayed with my movements.  The trickling of the brook tinkled under my feet, sometime the weight of myself caused the boards to dip ever so slightly in the cool water.  The forest was coming alive with new leaves being unfurled with every droplet of water that passed below my feet.  The mustiness of the forest and the coolness of the rain that just started to fall livened my pace.  My heart raced in excitement for this new adventure.  The trail was a little difficult as I was taking the northern route that would take me up the steep side of the trail.  I'm glad I took that route as the southern route was much more gradual and easier on my knees coming down.  

At the top of the Trail was a wonderful overlook of the valley below.  

There's a bench to sit, rest, phone home (good coverage up there) and to draw, paint and take pictures.  I did all of the above.  The mist petered out and it was a nice hike back down the trail.  At the bottom of the southern part of the Switchback was what looked like a dried creek bed.  As I walked along I started to notice water, water that was coming from springs.  The water increased in flow as I walked and eventually turned into the stream that originally had crossed, this was just yet another source that fed Beaver Creek.




Big Spring would be my next destination...

I woke early to morning birdsong and a trickle of light through the folds of the tent.  My tent site was right off of the trail that runs along Beaver Creek, hugging the gentle turns of the emerging spring.  Big Spring is the main source of East Beaver Creek where subsurface waters bubble up and exit through cracks in the earth.  (More on this later in the Geology section)

As I walked up the trail, I was wearing a red polar fleece pullover and out of nowhere was buzzed by a hummingbird when I stopped to take pictures of the creek.  I'm always amazed at the little creatures that look so delicate and yet are so vibrantly active.

The nicely mowed trail made for a very easy hike to Big Spring.  I clamored on the rocks and discovered that they weren't as dry as they looked.  They were quite slippery and I realized I could drop into the drink or slip on the rocks and quite possibly hurt myself, so I didn't take all my camera equipment around as I explored the area, just in case I might have a bad fall.  Rocks and cameras don't bounce well off of each other.  

Big Spring bubbles mainly out at this location, if you look directly in the center of this picture, you'll see a shadow and this is just where the rock layers let the underground stream escape.

This is a closer view of the spring coming out of the layers of rock.

While taking pictures I noticed Water Skimmers skirting across the waters' surface.  They aren't much bigger than a half an inch long, but the shadows make them look like monster sized bugs. 

I wandered around Big Spring taking pictures, drawing while sitting on the bench nearby the sunlight was spotlighting through the trees keeping me warm although it wasn't cold, I felt the healing energy and that was what I needed after a long stint in Antarctica.


Plateau Rock Trail and Beaver Creek Valley Trail would be my next jaunts...

I had met two young men who were here camping for the week.  They had come here to fish and get away for some quiet hanging out time.  I asked if I could tag along and take pictures.  I was invited and met them down the road and we headed off north downstream of Big Spring.  We were purposeful and headed across the suspension bridge and took the Beaver Creek Valley hiking club trail till we met up with and crossed the creek.  We would cross it once more after a 20 minute hike.  
The trail was level, mowed and the areas we crossed were wooden foot bridges big enough off a small vehicle if needed to cross the creek.

The pair were fishing buddies and knew the creek pretty well.  We halted and I noticed how the conversation went from friendly chatter to complete silence with the focus in their mannerisms I knew we were at the "hole" they liked to fish at.  Within minutes of their lines hitting the water, the fish were biting and they were pulling Brown Trout of about a nice nine inch size with salmon colored spots that popped to life making them extremely beautiful.  

I left them then to explore the Plateau Rock Trail.  

The sun was no longer overhead, but the day was still warm and I would expect the temps to drop once the sun left the valley and I was motivated to hike the Plateau Rock Trail.  It looked easy enough via the map, but was a bit deceiving.  The trail started steep though the tree laden hillside and moss covered huge rocks, fallen trees and anything that had enough time on the ground was carpeted with a nice layer of greeness

Prairie Shooting Stars met me inches off the trail invited me to study them, take their portrait and rest.  I was then caught by another gathering a few feet from here...

Red Columbine joined the party and I was stopped to enjoy the lichen covered rocks, the green, red, yellow and lilac colors giving the more monotone layer of the trail color.

Hiking down was great, the gravity in my favor, it took me half the time to get back down just as the sun was starting to slide behind the valley walls and the coolness of the valley would soon start to take over.  I followed the Quarry trail for a bit and then cut back across to take the smaller foot path back to my camp exhaust and exhilarated crashing into my tent as the creek sang me to sleep.