Beaver Creek Nature Center - Early Winter

We decided to check out Beaver Creek Nature Area this past Saturday; it is unusual at this time of the year to still be able to hike these trails. Normally, snow has covered the landscape and effectively closed down the hiking trails for the season. Since the temperature was up into the low 40s, we encountered a few other people eager to take advantage of these relatively tropical conditions.

Over the past ten days, there was a light dusting of snow, perhaps an inch or two, but most of it had melted. What little snow there was tended to be dry and powdery and was most visible along the surface of the trails.

Beaver Creek is now ice covered, and that added a seasonal touch to the landscape.

I felt as though we were privileged to be able to roam about this nature area in December. It was as though we were witnessing a shutdown of park life just before a deep blanket of snow covers the area.

Moving along the trail, one can look deep into the woods through the leafless trees and see an aspect of the landscape that is hidden by vegetation from spring through fall. It really is a wonderful time for a stroll in the woods along the trails and up and down the hills.

Our walk on Saturday was for the usual hour or so, and we felt invigorated by the stroll. As nearly always, we were accompanied by our eight-pound miniature poodle; a remarkably agile 13-year old dog with great endurance; we feel good to be able to keep up with him!

Great Bear Recreation Park: The Northeast Loop Trail: Early Winter

The first snowfall of the season began this morning in Sioux Falls. Great Bear Recreation Park is about to assume its winter role as a regional skiing site; the park began “making snow” this week, two inches or so fell today, and the temperatures are expected to be chilly this next week, all of which supports the early opening of the park for winter sports activities.

So, my wife and I decided to take our Saturday hike at Great Bear, along the northeastern loop (Cactus Hill), as probably our last hike in this park for the season. Great Bear is one of the primer hiking locations within the Sioux Falls area and is part of the city parks department. There are two general pathways to take on a hike at Great Bear. The more comfortable and accessible route is to park near the lodge and walk down to the pond and continue along a loop of improved trail. There are several extensions along this trail; my favorite is to hike up the steep slope that leads to the top of a ridge overlooking much of northeast Sioux Falls. There is a branch trail that leads along the ridge to a bench and mounted map that points out major buildings clearly visible from this elevated point. There are a couple of other extended hikes over two rows of hills that extend east. These trails are rated as “most difficult,” but I enjoy making my way through the woods and up and down the slopes.

Access to the northeastern loop is either through the parking lot adjacent to the lodge or from the parking lot near the entrance to the archery range. With operations at the lodge gearing up for the season, we parked at the small lot near the entrance to the archery range and walked up to the trail.

This trail is rated as “more difficult” on the Great Bear hiking map and circles around a meadow before leading up the slope through the forest. The trail passes along a ravine and moves through a tunnel of trees to a rather steep climb leading to another upland meadow.

Crossing the meadow, the trail leads over to the edge of the archery range and then continues down the slope.

There is a fork in the trail with a branch leading deeper into the woods on a downward slope. The other fork continues along the border of the archery range past the clubhouse for a local archery club. There is signage along the way to indicate the border of the range so that a hiker doesn’t stray off the path. These trails join together again at the bottom.

We took the trail through the woods that leads down to the bottom of the hill and then winds along the lower meadow. There is a bench along the lower trail near a pathway that takes a hiker back to the lodge parking lot. We only went down that trail to check out the extent of snow pack that has been developed for the opening ski season. Our hike this afternoon was for about 1.5 miles and took us about 40 minutes.

Great Bear offers the opportunity to get a glimpse of wildlife in the area. We have seen many deer, an occasional coyote, turkeys, a skunk, and lots of birdlife. The area is heavily wooded, but the trails are very well maintained. The park is popular with hikers during the spring, summer and fall months. The original purpose of the park was winter activities, and skiing and snowboarding characterize park activity from December through March. I like to go to the lodge on a winter weekend to have a cup of hot chocolate and watch the activity. This winter I plan on using my snowshoes at Great Bear and will describe that experience in a month or so.

Great Bear is on the northeast of Sioux Falls along Rice Street toward Brandon. It is one of the outdoor jewels of Sioux Falls and is in our regular hiking rotation. I generally visit the park twice a week during the hiking season.

Beaver Creek Nature Center - Late Fall 2011

The Beaver Creek Nature Area is located northeast of Sioux Falls. I generally go east on Highway 42 until past Rowena, turn north on 484th Avenue at the tall broadcast tower on the left side of the road, and then continue north about 3 miles to a sign indicating “nature area” and turn back west on a gravel road for a mile or so.

This nature area is located along Beaver Creek and provides a great two-mile hike through lowland grasses, a climb up a hill above the creek, and then a varied path that leads through upland forest, prairie grasses, over several hills. The trail continues back down a steep path to the bottomland along the creek before ending at the homesteader cabin in the picnic and activity grounds of the area. There are a couple of options that extend the hike along the way – branching trails that loop around and rejoin the regular trail.

I generally begin my hike at the shelter at the eastern end of the park. The currently maintained trail leads through the grasslands to a pedestrian bridge across Beaver Creek.

After crossing the bridge and continuing for a hundred yards or so, I take the left fork in the trail that leads up the slope and winds around a hill. There is a blocked off pathway to avoid that was in use until floods took out a portion of the trail, and an indication of that closed path is visible. At this time, a hiker just continues climbing up the trail toward the hilltop.

Once on the elevated trail, a hiker can turn left for a stroll along the ridgeline overlooking the creek and lower park area. I generally walk along this trail for a few minutes just for the great view before turning back and continuing along the main trail.

The upland trail continues around the hill and then begins a descent toward a ravine spanned by a suspension footbridge. The trail then begins another ascent to a meadow-like area lined with plum trees.

The trail soon reaches another descent toward the bottomland, a climb down on a set of inset log steps. The view from this point is one of the highlights of this park. The lowland wooded area spreads out in a landscape that reminds me of fantasy stories. This view is my wife’s favorite spot along the hike. After descending the steps, the trail continues its way down to the bottomland, where it moves through a wooded area back toward the banks of Beaver Creek.

A hiker walks along through the shoreline woods along the banks until the trail curves back into a meadow. At that point, there is a pathway that intersects with the outgoing route and takes the hiker back to the pedestrian bridge over the creek.

I turn to the left and continue along the trail as it leads past a cultivated field into the picnic/activity area around the Samuelson cabin (1872). The cabin area has been used by the Siouxland Museum for youth summer activities and is also where the annual fall homesteader day activities are held.

While Beaver Creek is a state nature area, no park sticker is required to enter. This is one of the premier hiking areas in the area and is quite popular with bird watchers. My hikes along this trail generally take about an hour.

The trail is rated by the state as “very difficult, extremely hilly, with very uneven surfaces.” The YMCA uses this setting for part of their summer youth programming. For me, a hike at Beaver Creek is in my regular rotation, and I do it two or three times a month from April through November. I took the hike yesterday and thought about how the trail and park will soon be nearly impassible with snow.