Morning Hike at Great Bear

Saturday afternoon was supposed to bring rain, so I got up and going earlier than usual. I'd been looking forward to hiking at Great Bear Recreation Area all week. There were 8-10 cars already in the lot, but only one person had signed the register before me. I think people forget (or are unaware of) how important it is to sign the register. In this case, it is less about alerting authorities if you don't return to a trailhead (this register only requires you to sign in, not check out) than about showing usage for the recreation area.

I headed out on the 3 mile loop, but it wasn't long before I was wishing I'd opted for the longer route (~5 miles). I still felt that way when I got back to the car. I guess that will make me that much more eager to go back soon and hike the longer route!

I've spent time at Great Bear since I was a kid. My mom would take us girls and often our friends and hers for picnics, swimming, exploring, playing, hiking, and reading. It was a super fun place for kids with lots of ruins and old buildings to explore. Over the years the area which is now used for hiking, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing had apple orchards and was a source of spring water. One of the old pump houses is still standing near the river.

piles of stones cleared from farm fields

A volunteer organization, the Friends of Great Bear, helps with trail maintenance and has done wonders to improve the park in many ways.

one of the many foot bridges in the park

Great Bear is my favorite place to hike locally. And with my hike there yesterday I can also cross an item off my list of October goals.