Different but the same somehow. Fall colors in northeast Illinois have been bad this year due to the lack of summer rains. Very few vibrant reds. Mostly dying green going to brown.
The spring rains helped with the drought, but the summer itself was pretty dry. Today was a day for staying a little closer to home, so to speak. Back to the horse trails in Palos Heights by the first stable were I used to ride for 7 years. Unfortunately, for the horse people, the trails are still heavily used by mountain bikers, but now there are also more walkers and runners.
Guessing I walked about 6-7 miles total today. I really need to get a pedometer or an app!
First stop - Forty Acre Woods & over to Swallow Cliff.
One of the moraine hills - was a lot higher than the pictures shows.
Since I've been on these trails, the forest preserve has posted various signs, but the man on a paint said the bikers are still rude to the horses.
The old Swallow Cliff toboggan slides. Long removed by the forest preserve due to liability reasons. The forest preserve is slowing taking over the hill. The only remnant left is the stairs which are used by a lot of people. The old toboggan shack is at the top.
Finally!! Horses!! One man on a paint actually stopped and chatted for a while. Found out the owner from that barn, sold about 5 years ago and moved to Peotone. And the second barn where I rode for another 7 years is now under foreclosure. I sure hope someone buys it and keeps it a stable, there is no where to ride except for these 2 barns anymore in the southwest suburbs.
The forest isn't as thick as it used to be. Many trees are marked to get cut down due to being an invasive species. Signs said it's done so the oak have a better chance. You can see how many they have culled in past years.
The bridge is new over the creek, but the guy on the paint says he still goes thru the creek.
The original trail under RT 45 has been rerouted. The woods are taking over.
Since I took the east loop, just hopped in the car to horse tail lake. We used to let the horses eat the grass at the far end of the lake where the west trail meets up to the lake.
Last stop of the day, the Little Red School House - which isn't red anymore! Now an ugly shade of brown and closed, but they have built a new, large nature center with some live critters inside and story boards of the animals in the area. They have also created trails (separate from the horse trails). Nice for the little kids.
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