Lake Mineral Wells SP - Mineral Wells, TX
The weather forecast was good for the weekend with daytime temps in the 80s and nighttime temps in the 50s so I figured I had better hit the trail now because the Texas heat is on it's way.
Lake Mineral Wells SP is about thirty miles west of Fort Worth and contains an eleven mile loop called the Crosstimbers Trail. Unlike the standard limestone and cedar paths of many other parks, this one is loaded with Oak, Ash, Mesquite, Pecan, Walnut, Willow, Elm and a host of other trees - plus rocks - packed into an area surrounded by the supposedly defunct Fort Wolters Army Base. The base once served as a major training depot during World War II and was the training location for Texas' own Audie Murphy. During the Viet Nam war, the fort was the primary home for helicopter pilot training and eventually ceased operation in 1975. I say 'supposedly' defunct Fort Wolters because I noticed that weapons training was happening and I was treated with the occasional staccato of weapons fire throughout the morning.
The hike is a series of 'sub loops' that ultimately form the eleven mile 'grand loop'. I snaked and twisted amongst the sub loops and climbed small ridges, forded swollen creeks (a rarity in Texas), crossed open fields and trudged through muddy walkways covered by a thick canopy of trees. I even had a decent share of 'road walking' along an abandonded highway used during the days when the Army base was open. I spent most of the day roaming through the sub loops before detouring off to the back country camp area to find a secluded spot amongst the trees. I located a nice little clearing where I set up shop and called it a day. The next morning I headed out early because yard work beckoned back at home. I had the last three miles to myself with the exception of five whitetails that were lurking around one of the meadows. A nice way to end a 'quick fix' overnight.
