Drove from Houston, MS to Enid Lake to hike what was supposed to be 28+ miles over two National Recreation Trails. Along the way, I passed the Chestnut Oak Disjunct National Natural Landmark. This isolated stand of chestnut oak is rare for the area, and it’s on private property with no exact location available online. I know I got somewhat close given the description from a 1961 botany paper.
Got to Spyglass Hill Trail at Ford’s Well Recreation Area only to find it completely chewed up by ATVs. This is supposed to be a hiker and equestrian-only trail. It was so bad I had to bail. Tried multiple entry points only to find the same ATV issues. The only part I could manage was one southern loop, and even that had problems. One tiny part was decent, but another had a faded sign saying “HOLES” to warn you about the sinkholes hidden by fallen leaves. It was similar to trying to avoid snow-covered frozen postholes. That loop also doesn’t match with the map or Gaia (see the first photo). Managed less than 5 miles of the intended 20. The campground at the Recreation Area looks nice, anyway. Ford’s Well, which once upon a time contained water that had “healing properties” and thus attracted so many visitors that a small town built up around it, stands close to the restrooms. I had planned to stay at this campground, but since I now had unexpected free time, I canceled my reservation and headed to the north side of the lake to find Rocky Ridge Horse Trail.
Rocky Ridge Horse Trail was not destroyed by ATVs, and the part I did was lovely albeit eroded. The problem comes about a mile in where an uncrossable chasm interrupts the trail. It’s a massive washout, like something Tropical Storm Irene did to the White Mountains.
Left Enid Lake and headed to Oxford and Ole Miss, where the thankfully very well maintained Baileys Woods National Recreation Trail stretches 3/5 of a mile between William Faulkner’s old home Rowan Oak and the University Museum. I passed on the opportunity to check out Rowan Oak itself. Just wasn’t interested.
