Hikers find trail off the beaten path at Lake Leatherwood

Hikers work their way through rock formations Sept. 16 while exploring Lost Ridge Trail at Lake Leatherwood in Eureka Springs. The remote route is part of the trail network at Lake Leatherwood City Park, which features about 21 miles of trail for hiking and off-road cycling.
Hikers work their way through rock formations Sept. 16 while exploring Lost Ridge Trail at Lake Leatherwood in Eureka Springs. The remote route is part of the trail network at Lake Leatherwood City Park, which features about 21 miles of trail for hiking and off-road cycling.

EUREKA SPRINGS -- Hikers who make the effort to find Lost Ridge Trail are rewarded with a maze of rock formations, lush hardwood forest and a good dose of healthy exercise.

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NWA Democrat-Gazette

Part of the hike follows Leatherwood Creek, which can be mostly dry in early autumn.

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NWA Democrat-Gazette

Hikers follow the Beecham and Hyde Hollow trails to reach the Lost Ridge Trail in the southern tier of Lake Leatherwood City Park. Lost Ridge Trail climbs about 300 feet on a series of switchbacks.

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NWA Democrat-Gazette

Dora Brach (left) and George Riggin keep a safe distance Sept. 16 while photographing a copperhead snake.

Locating this back-country trail at Lake Leatherwood City Park in Eureka Springs was the mission of the Hill 'N Dale Hikers when they gathered Sept 16 at the shimmering 85-acre lake. It was the hikers' third attempt to reach Lost Ridge Trail, but not because it's hard to find. High water in Leatherwood Creek kept the group from making the mandatory creek crossings on two previous visits.

Lake Leatherwood trails

A network of 21 miles of trail meander through the forest at Lake Leatherwood City Park on the west edge of Eureka Springs. A main trail circles the 85-acre lake for a 4.5-mile hike. Spurs, such as the Lost Ridge Trail, guide hikers and mountain bikers through the forest at the 1,600-acre park.

Lake Leatherwood City Park is located along U.S. 62 on the west edge of Eureka Springs.

Information: www.lakeleatherwood…, 479-253-2866.

— Staff report

Third time proved to be the charm when the 22 hikers successfully navigated Lost Ridge Trail during a tough 4.6-mile outing. Reaching the summit may be more accurate. After a fairly level walk along Leatherwood Creek, it's up, up and up a series of switchbacks to the ridge. Eureka! They found it.

It's worth the 300-feet of climbing to the top. At the summit, Lost Ridge Trail levels out and follows a ridge top with rock gardens and bluff walls galore. Up here the forest is more open than down below, with less underbrush and larger trees. Getting to Lost Ridge Trail is part of the adventure.

Trip leader George Riggin of Bella Vista led the group south from the Lake Leatherwood park office near the water. The trail goes through the campground, crosses a drainage stream and heads into the forest.

The hikers started on the Beecham Trail and hiked about one-half mile to the first creek crossing. The water was thigh-deep on the last attempt to reach Lost Ridge Trail. The creek was dry this time.

Farther along they came to the Hyde Hollow Trail and followed it south, up Leatherwood Creek. The group crossed the dry creek maybe four more times. Puddles were the only obstacles. The rock was slick in a few spots. All hikers trekked with dry feet, single-file along the creek.

On the way up Hyde Hollow, someone hollered the magic word, "Snake!" Dora Brach, president of the Hill 'N Dale Hikers, spotted a copperhead a few feet off the trail next to a hardwood tree covered in moss. The hikers kept their distance, but almost everyone wanted a look at Mr. Copperhead. Hikers from the back of the pack stepped to the front. Cameras clicked for an image of the crimson reptile with diamond-shaped markings from neck to tail.

After sitting still as if to pose, the snake slithered slowly away and disappeared under the root of the mossy tree trunk. That kept the conversation lively until they found Lost Ridge Trail deep in the forest. A weathered wooden sign pointed the way. The group took a right and started uphill.

Lost Ridge Trail is Riggin's favorite hike at Lake Leatherwood. The switchbacks are healthy exercise, and the rock gardens and formations are sculptures of nature. The route soon dropped back into the bed of Leatherwood Creek. They followed Bench Loop and Twin Knobs trails back to the creek and their cars.

This 4.6-mile route is one of the more ambitious hikes to be had at Lake Leatherwood. The trail map says Lost Ridge Trail is a 2.5-mile hike, but that doesn't include the hike to the start.

An easier hike is the 4.5-mile Beecham Trail that circles the lake. The best route starts at the park office and heads north toward the Lake Leatherwood Dam. There's a nice waterfall at the dam spillway and good views of the lake.

Flip Putthoff can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @NWAFlip

Sports on 09/29/2015

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