We started this trail from the north end and hiked it clockwise. The first part of the trail parallels the road and leads to the visitors center. There are some very pretty rock outcroppings on the right. We then picked up the official beginning of the trail at the south end of the field just past the visitor center. The trail starts to ascend the south side of a ridge and continues around to the north with several switchbacks until it reaches the top of the ridge. Shortly after you reach the first summit you come to the junction of the short loop that goes back to the visitor center for a 1 mile loop. We took the long loop that stays on top of the ridge for a nice easy hike through some beautiful woods. Following the ridge, the trail turns south-west then north-west. Once it leaves the top of the ridge it descends steeply to the hollow. What makes this trail a 3 instead of a four is at the steepest parts, where the trail could get technical, there are stairs. Once in the hollow, we passed a rock bluff off to our right. At the bottom of the bluff is a cave that I would suspect is part of the old rock quarry. The rest of the trail follows the creek bed and you can see many signs of the quarry operations that used to dominate the area.
Lime Kiln Trail: 3.2 miles difficulty 3-4 beauty 5
The Lime Kiln trail is another one of the really nice trails in Rockwoods Reserrvation. The trailhead is at the same place as the Prarie Trail trailhead. As you leave the field and enter the woods you see the forty foot tall namesake lime kiln. Interestingly, this kiln was built for amnufacuring the motoar one single building residence. They would dump the limestone into the top from the hill side above, fire the unit with a wood fire, and heat it until it was a powder and ready to use for mortar.
We hiked the trail counter clockwise. The first part of the trail heads east then switches back and forth until you reach the top of a ridge. This section contains many of the rock outcroppings that are so prevalent in Rockwoods and has sections that are a bit technical, that is you have to watch where you place your feet rather than just watching the scenery. As the trail starts to level out, it follows the top of a ridge heading in a north-westerly direction. The first summit of 755 feet is passed shortly thereafter. The trail them paralels the south side of the ridge heading in a north easterly direction. At any time along this part of the trail it appears that you are about to reach the second summit but just like a line at Disneyland, you only see the next section that looks like the summit is up ahead.. This part of the trial has a gradual rise and covers some really beautiful woodland. The second summit of 804 feet is also passed to the south. The ridge continues on in a more northerly direction until the third summit of 807 feet is reached. At this point is a well place bench place there as an Eaglescout project.
The trail then takes a turn to the south and starts swithing back down a loow until you reach the bottom of a three way hollow. The trail them ascend along the south side of the hollow. As you rise, you watch the creek bed drop off to your right. The trail then drops very quickly where again there are places that are slightly technical and comes to the bottom close to the road. The rest of the trail heads southwest passing a spring to your left. You use several well placed stepping stones to cross the water flowing from the spring then cross a wooden walkway where the soil is probably very wet in the springtime. The trail then goes through a stand of pines where you end up back at the kiln and your car.
Prairie Trail: 500 yards difficulty 1 beauty 4
The Prairie Trail is an interpretive trail of restored natural prairie. When we were there in late September, the grasses were as tall as us. Mixed in with the grasses are wildflowers including thistle and large stalks of dried mullein. Throughout the trail, you could see places where animals, presumable deer, have trailed and bedded down
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