Date: 10/26/2021 – Distance: 2.8 mi – Elapsed Time: 1.25 hr – Ascent: 197 ft – Descent: 177 ft – Difficulty: Medium
Blendon Woods Metro Park is my laboratory, being 5 minutes from my house, and having some good hiking trails with a variety of landscapes, it allows me to take a quick hike after work, test gear, or check the status of seasons. I hike here all the time. Today, I was here after work to see the fall color, which is at peak here.
I parked at the Nature Center today for a hike on the southern half, which is more open and would show me good color.
I first headed toward the Goldenrod Trail, but changed my mind due to the angle of the sun. So I opted for the Sugarbush Trail which leads out toward the west side and would give good prairie views with the sun blasting the trees on their eastern borders.
Even the Poison Ivy is beautiful now.
This is the edge of the prairie where the Goldenrod Trail is, seen from the Sugarbush Trail.
Dogwood.
Sassafras.
The woods on the Sugarbush Trail are big and beautiful.
Lots of maples.
Maples have a great variety of color variations.
Sassafras also has great colors.
When I hit the road crossing I went left, then looked back.
It’s like a box of crayons out here. Green, yellow, orange, red, purple, burgundy, brown.
The sun sets quickly in the evenings this time of year.
Sycamore.
I chose this spot for a set of successive images of the Maples.
I started back and zoomed and walked closer for several shots of the same subject.
So beautiful.
More detail.
It’s a colorful mix.
The maples won’t last long.
Dogwood.
Lots of oranges in this one.
This Sassafras has all the colors on one tree.
Apple.
Self portrait.
Black Diamond Trail Ergo.
One of the only times of the year that they open this road.
Maples.
The pipeline right of way has a picturesque view.
It was getting dark, but I decided to check out the pond blinds.
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