#hike5 - Eagle Mountain Park

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Date: February 3, 2018

Location: Eagle Mountain Park - Fort Worth, TX

Distance: 5.5 miles

Trails: All but purple and yellow, see this map for reference

Eagle Mountain Park is one of the locations in Fort Worth that I don't mind revisiting, especially if the weekend doesn't allow for an out of town adventure.  My friend Nikki joined me for this hike and I was thankful to have someone along to chat with about nature, news, and pop culture.

This was the fourth time I was at Eagle Mountain Park, located on the east side of Eagle Mountain Lake, and I was expecting a familiar route with my friend, but we were constantly distracted by things we hadn't noticed before.

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  • Was that log always there?
  • DId you ever notice that forest area?
  • Was that tree always down?
  • OOH, deer!
  • Oh, look at that bird! What kind of bird is that?

Rediscovering a familiar place is a treat and part of the reason these hikes are important to me.  As we walked, we kept discovering things that went under the radar before and reminded me that I need to slow down and be a bit more observant.  Nikki suggested we educate ourselves, so we are going to learn more about plant identification and various other information related to the ecology here in Texas.

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Things to know about Eagle Mountain Park

  • There are hills, they're not terrible, but they are there so be aware
  • The trails wander between wooded and wide open areas, so you can find shade in the summer but always plan ahead with a hat, sunscreen, and water
  • Take the shoreline trail - it's beautiful and you usually can catch a nice breeze
  • If you want to avoid crowds, get there before 7:30am
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This hike was especially refreshing, both mentally and physically, after a week of travel and getting back into the workflow.  I'm thankful for good friends, good talks, and slowing down and seeing the little things in a familiar place.  Happy trails!