The spirit of adventure prevailed on Friday during a hike around Lake Leatherwood.
About 15 hikers from the Hill ’N Dale hiking group were up to the challenge of circumnavigating this beautiful lake on foot. Neither rain, slick trail or swollen creeks kept the intrepid trekkers from their rounds.
The journey began in a steamy, steady rain. In a few steps the trail led into a jungle of lush greenery. It was easy to imagine the group carrying machetes instead of hiking sticks. Onward we walked, through muck and briers, unfazed by the task at hand.
But lo, our path was blocked by the thigh-deep water of Leatherwood Creek, a challenge we would face more than once on our journey.
OK, so our Friday jaunt was really a nice 4-mile hike on a well-worn trail at Lake Leatherwood City Park in Eureka Springs, transformed into a rain forest by showers. It was the last hike of the spring season for the Hill ‘N Dale group, based in Bella Vista, and a pleasant trip for hikers of any skill level.
We started near the boat house and parking area and began a counter-clockwise loop around the 85-acre lake. One-quarter mile in, we found Leatherwood Creek running high and full. Crossing would require wet wading at the very start of the hike, and doing the rest in soggy shoes. Trip-leader George Riggin had us do an aboutface. Time for plan B.
In short order we were trekking clockwise around the lake. The route leads to the stone and concrete dam made by Civilian Conservation Corps workers in the 1940s. Rain fell on this warm, humid morning.
“You can’t tell if you’re wet from rain or sweat,” one hiker piped.
A waterfall cascades over the lip of the dam and tumbles 40 feet in a curtain of spray. There’s a narrow walking path on top of the dam that lets hikers or mountain bike riders cross to the east side of Lake Leatherwood.
Fifty more yards and we were standing in an open area where rock was quarried to build the dam. It’s a fascinating area where hikers may also see eastern collared lizards scurrying about. They run on two legs, like lizard wheelies.
Riggin, our leader, announced that we were exactly halfway around the lake and halfway into the hike. He posed a question to the group:
“Do we want to turn back or go on around the lake and wade the creek at the end?”
Ah, the spirit of adventure. The vote was to soldier on and brave the creek-crossing finale. Truth be told, most of the group brought two pair of shoes for going to lunch at a nice restaurant after the hike.
The path eases along the east shore close to the lake. We hopped over a couple of small creeks along the way and navigated some slippery footing. The route is mostly wooded, with a small glade or two.
There’s a moderate climb near the end before the trail drops down to Leatherwood Creek and our anticipated crossing. The Hill ‘N Dale group is evidence that we all grow older, but one doesn’t have to grow up. Hikers were like kids splashing through the water, whooping and giggling.
Hikes that are easy with beautiful weather are fine indeed. Rainy hikes with a little difficulty are the ones we tell stories about years down the road.
Hike Leatherwood
Lake Leatherwood City Park is located on the west edge of Eureka Springs off U.S. 62. It is one of the largest city parks in the nation, taking in 1,600 acres. Lake Leatherwood is 85 acres The loop trail around the lake is four miles. There are a total of 21 miles of trail in the park. All are open to hiking and mountain biking. Most of the facilities in the park were built in the 1940s by workers of the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Source: City of Eureka Springs
Flip Putthoff can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @NWAFlip