Date: 06/27/2020 – Distance: 6.9 mi – Elapsed Time: 4.75 hr – Ascent: 705 ft – Descent: 689 ft – Difficulty: Medium
My first day of hiking, I wanted to do all of the State Park trails. I would leave from my campsite, and head through the woods on the Turkey Creek Nature Center Trail to the Nature Center. From there I would hike around the northern end of the dam at Turkey Creek Lake, to the trailhead for the Lake Trail. The Lake Trail goes to the Shawnee State Forest Backpacking Trail. Then I would hike over to the Lodge Beach Trail and hike up to see the lodge and the incredible view there. Then backtrack down to the beach and catch the Knighton Nature Trail along the south side of the lake back toward the dam. Past the dam, I continued on the Knighton Trail to the campground. I estimated it to be around 7 miles.
I began my second day with a hearty protein specialty of mine that I like to make when I am car camping. Sausage, egg, and cheese skillet.
At the west end of the campground, there is a footbridge which crosses Turkey Creek, leading to the Turkey Creek Nature Center Trail. It’s a beautiful area.
Turkey Creek Nature Center Trail.
Looking back toward the campground.
I’m on the green trail.
Small swamp.
Paw Paw Tree.
There are lots of different trees here and these educational signs along the trail.
American Hazelnut.
Eastern Beebalm
Eastern Red Cedar.
Box Turtle at the Nature Center.
CCC Cabin built in 1930.
Nature Center.
CCC Cabin from the front.
Hey, that looks like a pollinator garden.
Junebug Beetle.
Wild Garlic.
Dense Blazing Star.
Rattlesnake Master.
Yarrow.
River Birch.
Purple Cone Flower.
Butterfly Weed (milkweed variety).
This beauty (Great Spangled Fritillary) is in heaven.
The Webworms like the pollinator garden too.
Dogbane.
Dead catfish carcass on top of the dam.
Spillway.
From the center of the top of the dam.
Dam/Spillway from the lake side.
From the opposite end of the lake you can barely see the lodge peaking out. I will take a picture from the deck right in the center of the picture looking back where I’m standing now.
The lodge is right in the center between the two peaks.
The beach is on the other side.
Some type of sedge looking toward the beach.
Lichen.
The end of the Lake Trail. The Forest Backpacking Trailhead is across the road.
Pitch Pine.
Shawnee State Forest Backpacking Trailhead.
You must register for this trail.
The total length is around 40 miles.
Watch your step.
The beach is this way.
Water pipe repairs.
The sepals on this Wild Teasel are really long.
This is the South Loop of the Backpacking Trail.
The Beach Lodge Trail crisscrosses a Mountain Bike Trail and a Disc Golf Course, so watch the yellow blazed arrows.
Hole #3 on the Disc Golf Course.
The trail leading up to the lodge is steep, but fairly short.
From the back of the lodge looking back toward the dam at Turkey Creek Lake.
In the lodge on the ground floor is a game room. I didn’t want to take a picture of the pool because of people, but it is nice too.
The Shawnee Tribe used to use these hills to scout the pioneers coming down the Ohio River.
I backtracked toward the beach and checked out this hole.
Somewhere out there 154 ft is a hole.
There it is. It takes two very skilled throws through dense trees to get to it.
It took me 10 throws. Lol.
Going down now, but this was the steep climb to the lodge.
Old foundation.
Back at the beach. I want to go along the south side of the lake on the way back.
Waypoint Marker E begins the Knighton Nature Trail (red). It also continues the Park Loop Trail (blue). The dotted red line is the Backpacking Trail.
Beach.
Elderberry.
These blazes will get you to the dam.
I’m really not sure what this structure is, but it’s a nice view.
Looking back toward the beach.
And toward the dam.
Pavement ends and turns to dirt trail.
Spiraea Japonica.
Umbrella Magnolia.
Umbrella Magnolia. I saw leaves on the plant that were three feet long.
Beaver.
Feeder stream.
Leaf gall. Usually an insect inside.
This newt was about three inches long.
I’ve seen these Downy Rattlesnake Plantain (type of orchid), but have never seen them in bloom.
This tree is still growing.
Big ferns.
Very diverse forest.
At the dam now.
The trail continues.
Black Cohosh.
Gamochaeta I believe.
Tufted Knotweed.
Blue Cohosh seed heads.
Some type of Polypore fungus.
I’m not good at identifying fungus, but this could be a chanterelle.
Back at the dam I took a wrong trail called the Turkey Creek Loop because I thought it took me to the campground. I should have taken the Park Loop Trail. However at this intersection the left trail is closed and right takes me back toward the dam. I turned right toward the dam hoping the trail would connect with the Park Loop again, but it was leading me way back to the dam.
The closed trail. I wasn’t about to go all the way back around the lake, and I didn’t know there was another trail south of there which would take me around. I thought this was the Park Loop Trail. So I broke one of my rules and proceeded with caution.
The trail started to get muddy and I soon realized why it was closed. The hillside was falling into the valley due to erosion. I was able to cautiously avoid the dangerous areas. I was navigating a trail on my GPS. I wouldn’t advise this for amateur’s.
The old trail is actually buried about 30 ft downhill.
I made it to the other side of the closed section.
Now I’m back on the Park Loop Trail.
These stairs were probably built in the 1930s by the CCC.
Leave a Reply