Great Bear is one of our most frequented hiking areas from
April through the first serious snowfall in the late fall. It is usually thought of as a winter
park, but it is also one of the primer hiking opportunities within the Sioux
Falls area for the rest of the year.
This city-owned park is located along Rice Street between
Sioux Falls and Brandon and parallels the east flowing Big Sioux River. Going
east on Rice Street, the park is clearly marked on the right side of the road,
just past a rock/sand/gravel processing plant. There is a long paved entrance road that leads up to the
park; the first exit on the left leads to the archery range and the road continues
to gravel parking lot that fronts a large wooden chalet that hosts the winter
activities. The chalet is also used to host various gatherings for the rest of
the year, including weddings.
The Ralph and Doris Wallin Nature Trails system has a main
route constructed of crushed asphalt that provides easy access for nearly
anyone. There are grass trails
that spread out from that main trail so that people can take a more varied
path. In addition, there are trails
that lead up onto the hills that loom over the main route. In fact, there are three sets of hills
that connect with the wide-spread web of pathways through the park. Map boards
are scattered throughout the park, but without a clear notion of ordinal
direction, they can be difficult to follow.
There is a large pond along the right side of the trail that
leads into the wooded area. This
pond hosts a variety of life, including many turtles that are often seen
sunning themselves on moss covered logs just offshore toward the end of the
pond. I have often seen geese and
ducks on the pond as well. Toward
late summer, a large portion of the pond is covered in green algie, although
there are a couple of aerators that keep the keep a portion of the pond clear
throughout the year. The pond is one of the key interest area along the trail.
The main trail passes along the pond, but there is an
alternative pathway at the head of the pond that leads the hiker into a
tree-covered route on the opposite side, and this is the route that I usually
take.
I like moving on natural surfaces if possible, although the improved trail is preferred when there has been heavy rain that makes the natural path muddy.
I like moving on natural surfaces if possible, although the improved trail is preferred when there has been heavy rain that makes the natural path muddy.
If following the alternative trail, the pathway continues on
until reaching the first of several wooden bridges. If going along the improved trail, the hiker turns to the
right at a crossroad, just opposite a set of metal benches developed as part of
a Boy Scout Eagle project. Just
past the first bridge, there is a pathway that leads up hill toward the ski lift
summit. This pathway is rather
steep, but it is part of my regular hike.
It passes the ski lift machinery and continues along the rim of a steep
hill overlooking part of northern Sioux Falls and the Big Sioux valley.
The path moves on to an overlook that provides a panoramic
view of the city; a map board has been erected with prominent Sioux Falls
landmarks indicated. This is really a great view and well worth the effort to
climb the hill.
I noticed that, like many of our nature areas, home
development seems to be in the future.
A sign at the end of this elevated section of the park advertises home
lots for sale. Again, I am so
thankful that the city has acquired this property so that all citizens an enjoy
strolling through wooded hills that have been preserved for the public.
Another steep pathway leads down off the hill, back to the
valley with the main trail, providing a looping aspect to the hike up and down
the hill. The trail continues into the woods for another few hundred yards
until ending at one of the many benches.
I generally pass the end of this trail and double back on the opposite
side of the ravine. There is also
a route up the second set of hills that leads through a meadow and back
downhill to the continuing trail in the second valley. This assent pathway is very steep,
nearly straight up the hill.
As the pathway returns to the crossroad, the main trail
continues to the right and leads over other bridges deep into the second
valley. A roofed rest station is
located at the end of this section of the main trail. This is a nice quite spot to sit for a while and listen to
the birds and the wind blowing through the trees.
On the walk back toward the chalet, just before the pond,
there is another opportunity to climb up the second large hill, this one
overlooking the parking lot, the chalet, and providing another panoramic view
over northern Sioux Falls.
On strolls through these trails, I have seen many types of
birds, including hawks and turkeys.
I have also twice seen lone coyotes moving through, deer on several occasions,
and once a skunk. This is a
wonderful spot for a stroll through the wooded areas and is another of the many
outdoor gems within the Sioux Falls area.
It is one of our favorite hiking areas and is only a few minutes away
from our eastside Sioux Falls home.
Most new hikers to this area just wander around the pathways the first
few times to become oriented to the web of trails.
For the complete set of photographs associated with this narrative, visit my Flickr page at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jayheath/sets/72157629504889318/
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