Rock Cut State Park 10-9-10

Today we went to Rock Cut State Park. We hiked around the lake in a CCW direction. I have not done this hike before, so thought it might be a good one to do. We started out just before 11 am, and it took us until after 3 pm to finish. We did stop for some play time, and I took a bit of a breather along the way.

My cell phone pedometer and the map both indicate it is somewhere in the 4.5 to 5 mile range, probably closer to 5 then 4.5.

It started out a nice day in the upper 60s, but by the time we were done is was almost 90. I drank the whole 2 quarts of water in the bladder during the hike, and the extra quart bottle when we got back to the car. Wilma spent a lot of time watering herself in the lake and a couple of creeks. Just cannot have too much water. Wilma showed no signs of heat distress as she did once before. It got me more then it did her.

The Outdoor Products water bladder instruction sheet claims that the design allows you to suck all the water out of the bladder. It comes pretty darn close. I must say it is a bit disconcerting when you go to take a sip of water and you get some followed by air as the bladder collapses on itself.

There were a lot of people in the park. We ran across a lot of hikers, both human and canine, and a few bikers, although the path right next to the shore is not suitable for bicycles so there were no bikers there.

I expected this would be an easy hike. It's not real difficult but the trails along the lake are pretty rough, lots of exposed roots, water erosion, etc. Plus there is a lot of up and down as the grade changes. I was pretty pooped when it was over. Wilma seemed ready for another loop around the lake.

We went around the lake in a CCW direction, starting at the Lion's Club picnic area on the southeast side of the lake. Most of the time we were within 20 feet of the shoreline as we went around the lake.

You can see the shelter in the background of this picture taken from the parking lot. There is a paved trail that goes from the parking lot down to the picnic shelter and then to the fishing pier along the lake.

The "You are here" arrow is wrong on this sign. The arrow shows the sign being out by the road, while it is actually about 100 yards north of the road, perhaps 50 feet from the shore, where the two trails are shown meeting south of the fishing pier. 

We followed the paved trail to the east and went along the southern shore of the lake. After a short distance, maybe 100 yards, it becomes a dirt trail. It passes by this deck like structure that goes out over a marshy area that we walked out on. It's not exactly the most level deck as the concrete piers that support it seem to have sunk into the marshy soil different amounts. It's solid, just looks odd that it is so uneven.

 There are a fair number of birds in the water near the deck area, including these mallards.

We go back on the foot path and continue to this foot bridge over a creek!

 Creek time.

 We continue north along the new gravel trail that parallels the road along the east side of the park.

 This is where the water from the lake across I90 gets to the lake on this side. When we saw the dead fish a few weeks ago, there were a couple people fishing back there so we went to visit them. They told us that the runners use these drainage tubes to get under I90 to get to the Olson Annex of the park. Some day we will walk it and take a look.

 Just north of the dead fish bridge we turn to the west and follow the trail along the shoreline.

 On the north side of the trail is an almost hidden and pretty good sized pond. It's not shown on the trail map, but is clearly visible on Google maps. I think it is the pond shown here to the east. I did not see the other one. The drainage tubes in a previous picture are under I90, allowing water to come from Olson lake.

Wilma gets a drink from the pond and checks things out.

 Not sure who they are for, but there are a series of birdhouses on posts out in the pond.

 At this point the trails is no more than 20-40 feet from the shoreline, but is probably 20 feet higher in elevation. You can see the lake sometimes where there is a break in the foliage.

 Much of the trail at this point is like this.

 We pass through the youth camping area. I saw at least one family camping there as well so they may allow regular campers if it is not full of youths.

 Wilma investigated the lake many times as we hiked along.

 Some of the trail along the shore is like this, but much of it in this area is just a mowed field that extends all the way to the road from the shore.

The park has a single cabin for rent. No running water, but it does have electricity. Water is available about 50 yards away by the road. It looks to be a 2 room affair. It's not shown on the trail map, but is just west of the youth camping area. There is a sign calling it "Eagle".

Continuing we find this foot bridge.

The regular campground abuts the shoreline at this point so you are kind of walking in the campers back yards. There were a fair number of campers. Its a three day weekend for many people, and probably the last chance to get any warm weather camping in. Some nice scenery, and a beagle having some fun in the water.

 This is not an uncommon site on the trail next to the lake. Lots of rough patches. It does appear there is another level of the trail farther away from the shore that is much easier hiking. In a few places you can't get real close to the shore. My guess is shore erosion has taken out the trail right at the shore line. In at least one place a pile of brush was placed on a trail to block access to the lake shore. Probably a dangerous area to attempt to traverse.

 We even ran across a number of places where trees had fallen across the trail and not been moved.

 The fishing pier around the corner from the spillway.

 The concession area as seen from the opposite side of the lake.

 The trail head for one end of the Willow Creek bike path that we walked Labor Day week.

 The bridge over the spillway.

 The trail along the road at the top of the earthen dam. Not the greatest trail. Deep ruts make for less than easy going, and many places there is a good 15 or 20 foot drop off just a few feet away.

Tough trail in spots.

 Approaching the concession area the trail is tough in spots. In one place the trail is within a few inches of the water, with maybe a 2 or 3 foot drop off to the water.

 We took a break in this shelter near the concession area.

 The concession shop from the shelter we rested in to the east of the concession area.

 The lake.

 We get moving again. Later on we see this foot bridge - over a creek!

 Wilma finds time to play in the creek.

Lots of geese and ducks as we continue along the lake shore. There was not a lot to take pictures of. Several picnic areas, lots of picnicers, people fishing, and some more forest trails. We finished up back where we started at the Lions Club picnic area. Me tired - Wilma not so tired.