Are You Bluffing?

Do you know the best time to visit Scenic Bluffs State Park and be the only people there?

That would be midweek when the temps are in the 40's.

It's been a while since we walked the trail to King's Hill with the spectacular view of the Mississippi and Queen's Hill from the Minnnesota side of the river.

A new bench has been placed to enjoy the impressive view. We had to laugh because it was chained down. It took us a good while to hike in and I have a feeling too much effort to carry it out.  LOL.

Queen's Hill

Opposite us was Queen's Hill, a steep bluff without trees called a bluff prairie. (In fact KIng's Hill is also a bluff prairie) Either lightening/Indians used to set these prairies ablaze in bygone years.  Then farmers stopped the fires to let their cattle graze these slopes.  Now that there are no more cattle here, burns are being set again to encourage new grasses and wild flowers.  

It's a hike to reach this vista by first crossing a small prairie followed by a walk through the woods before finally reaching the bluff prairie. Our route was that blue one starting at the red dot where we parked and going north until we reached King's Bluff.

blackberry

Along the way especially with all the fallen leaves the variety of vegetation is obvious. The winner of the most color goes to the blackberry brambles with a deep red.

Although nothing is still blooming there is still striking color even though Fall has passed it peak.

This is a pretty color, don't you think? The sunlight really did a number as it slipped through the boughs above us in the thickest part of the woods.

Can you distinguish red oak from white oak? 

One on left pointed lobes's red oak and one on right, white oak

The allee of pine that shelter the woods's path are white pine. Most people aren't sure how to distinguish white pine from red pine. I'll let you in a secret.  A white pine' s needles are in groups of 5. (Red only has 2)

There is also a nature hike path which we used to return on and discovered a wonderful wild apple tree still laden with some huge apples. I don't know why Natureman didn't want to climb it . ???  And as I encouraged him to jump for the lowest laden branch some 7 ft up, he did go through the brambles a bit to pull down a lower branch and get us a couple samples. It was so crisp and sweet. Where's a ladder when you need one? The apple treat was a perfect ending to our brisk fall adventure.

It was an invirogating Fall day to be outside. Natureman was right again sometimes you just have to change the scenery and leave the End of the Rainbow Valley ...

Sumac bidding us farewell...