A lovely brown moth keeps landing on me and I am trying not to bump it as I get some water. I hike down the Floral Trail and over to the park fountain to fill my water container. I want to make sure he does not get run over by a jogger. I move down the trail and watch to make sure he safely makes it to the side. This it the first time I have clearly seen the sharp nails on the front feet and the large claws on the back feet. He has a glorious red head and large yellow spots on his front legs. In the middle of the trail is a male Box Turtle. When I reach the Lower Dogwood Trail I literally skid to a halt. I see a lovely little Vireo staring down at me. The Forest appears to be sparkling as the sun twinkles between the leaves. My hike is quiet and peaceful, a wondrous breeze is delicately moving through the leaves. Beautiful Oxeye Daisies look glorious, they are some of the last flowers still blooming in the park.įrom the Goat Rock Trail I connect with the Upper Dogwood Trail. Hidden in the heated rocks I find Wildflowers still struggling to survive. The Goat Rock Trail is empty and I wonder if the joggers and hikers are still waiting for a colder day. I enjoy the quiet beauty as I hike along the trail. Next I head over to the Goat Rock Trail for an extra workout while it is a relatively lower in temperature. When I reach the trail head I decide to enjoy the cool breeze and hike down the Gulpha Gorge Trail. It is tiny and delicate with a mighty beak. I love how it beeps and hops then stops and taps on the wood. I follow the sound and spot a sweet male Downy Woodpecker. Further along the trail I hear a lovely tapping sound far off in the green. I love how its new voice joins the forest choir.
A quick drink then I head over to the Hot Spring Mountain Trail, a juvenile Cardinal awaits me as I step onto the path. I head up the Mountain via the Dead Chief and Short Cut Trails reaching the top in record time. I have never witnessed a Rabbit rolling in the dirt and wonder if this is a normal activity. He begins to dig in the dirt, rolls around and then lays flat against the earth.
I head up the Tufa Terrace and am greeted by a lovely male Eastern Cottontail. The Sun is kissing the top of the cloud sending rays across the blue sky. It is a glorious morning, a little cooler and a light breeze tugs at the edges of my hair. HSNP Tufa Terrace Trail Juvenile Cardinal HSNP Dead Chief Trail Glowing Changing Leaves HSNP Arlington Lawn Flowering Bush Black Wasp If you see a nocturnal animal moving about or trying to approach you during daylight hours report it to park officials. Note to fellow hikers… Please remember there have been an increasing number of confirmed cases of rabies in the Hot Springs area (including the central city). Heading home on the Honeysuckle Trail I wonder how much longer we will wait until rain feeds the park. The deep rust color has spread across the Forest floor and up into the Trees above me. The soft golden light gracefully illuminates the path ahead leading me to the top of Hot Springs Mountain.ĭrying leaves are providing a colorful display as I hike down the Hot Springs Mountain Trail. Above the Rocks Heavenly Bamboo spills out of the Forest in a colorful rainbow of color.Īs I hike up the Dead Chief Trail the sun begins to crest the ridge line piercing the gaps in the Forest Canopy. The contrasting bands of white glow in the early morning light. I stop to admire the beauty of the Quartz veins running through the dark Sandstone outcropping.
JUVENILE CARDINAL PATCH
Near a steam vent a lovely patch of yellow Sneeze Weed stands alone in the dried straw color grass. The heat and drought conditions are sucking the life out of even the mightiest of Trees. On the Carriage Road I stand before a Tree that has dropped its Leaves in a display reminiscent of Autumn. Lovely pink Crepe Myrtle blooms on the ends of cropped branches. A Juvenile Cardinal sitting in a bush glances over its wing showing me the insect in its beak. On the Tufa Terrace Trail near the Hot Water Cascade the Trees are a rich green and Wildflowers are blooming. Where there is water life is lush within Hot Springs National Park. HSNP Tufa Terrace Trail Juvenile Male Cardinal TransitionĪ morning song of Love resonates throughout the Forest reaching out to open Hearts. HSNP Hot Springs Mountain Trail Summer Red Leaf HSNP Hot Springs Mountain Trail Summer Leaves HSNP Hot Springs Mountain Trail North Mountain View HSNP Honeysuckle Trail Hikers Hut (Wedding Chapel) View HSNP Honeysuckle Trail Hikers Hut (Wedding Chapel) HSNP Fountain St Lawn Female Squirrel (Bob) HSNP Fountain St Lawn Dead Bush from Drought HSNP Dead Chief Trail Juvenile Carolina Wren HSNP Carriage Road Juvenile Mourning Dove HSNP Arlington Lawn Silver Spotted Skipper Butterfly Hot Springs, Arkansas – Medical Arts Building
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