Jackson Creek Nature Trail Loop Forest Park, Jacksonville

Best laid plans turned into Better trod paths in Jacksonville’s Forest Park, which is full of 25 trails. We’d planned to drive to Parking Lot 3 and hike the Grotto Trail. Route to P3 was closed and the road was in rough condition. Snow had accumulated in the higher areas.

Our collection of eight hikers returned to P1 to park and then enjoyed a 4½-mile hike on the Rail, Norling, ol’ Miners’, Boulder, and Ridgeview Trails, making three loops. The upper Ridgeview section had more snow and climbed through absolutely beautiful evergreens, madrone, and manzanita; and it gave us a magnificent view westward from the highest point that opened up at the site of a viewing bench.

The Boulder trail meandered along the steep hillside above the creek, and Norling and others were close to the creek with the soothing sound of trickling water.

Finally, we celebrated the beautiful day for hiking, mostly clear skies and sunshine (a welcome break from so much fog recently). Following our hike, six of us enjoyed a holiday lunch at La Fiesta in Jacksonville town near Britt.

Hike Leader: Elisabeth

Photos By: Gladys, Valerie