Goldmine Road and Cane Creek Trails

 

After a tiring hike on Saturday, we were ready to take a more restful one on Sunday - a mere 7 miles, with more gradual ascents and descents. Once back to camp, we were able to check off two more trails - the Goldmine Road and Cane Creek - as completed.

Thanks to the advice from one of the volunteers at the visitors center, we found a parking spot outside of the park, which saved our legs a few miles (and which made the other hike from this trailhead even possible to do in one day). It was raining lightly when we started down the trail, and we decided we could use umbrellas, but we soon put them back in our packs.

For some reason, I was imagining this hike along the creek to be out in an open meadow. Instead, it's a forest creek, and we were in the shade all the way to the park boundary. On the way we passed Backcountry Campground #2 and an old cemetery. I was so excited to be able to do some family history even out in the middle of nowhere!