We decided to explore Pinnacle Mountain State Park today. A sign near the campground entrance says it's two miles to the state park, so we rode our bikes over to check things out. It was two miles to the boundary of the park, but nearly three to the Visitor Center, and most of the way was uphill. We were again reminded of how much out of shape we are! We walked the bikes up the steeper portions.
The Visitor Center has a room full of interpretive exhibits explaining the geology and history of Pinnacle Mountain and the Arkansas River system. It includes some live exhibits.
We stepped out onto a balcony to take in the vista of the Arkansas River
Outside the Visitor Center is a quarry pond whose water is green. The acidic water doesn't support much life, but blue-green algae thrive in it.
We decided to ride home, have lunch, and come back later in the truck to take the Rocky Valley and East Quarry Trails to the Scenic Overlook. We ate our lunch at the picnic table and enjoyed the river. Although the day started off cloudy, the sky was clear with fluffy white clouds.
It was much easier to drive to the Visitor Center than it had been to ride our bikes! We planned to hike to the scenic overlook, but it turned out that there are actually several scenic overlooks. The first is just beyond the parking lot.
It offers a nice view of Pinnacle Mountain, part of the Ouachita Range. At 1,011 feet, it is the highest peak in the park and attracts attention with its distinctive cone shape.
Walking a bit farther brings you to the actual start of the Rocky Valley Trail, a loop trail. From its midpoint, the East Quarry Trail extends to another scenic overlook. Hiking down the rocky trail into the valley, we realized where the trail had gotten its name. We also realized that the hike out would be uphill.
The start of the East Quarry Trail, blazed in red, shows a much different ecosystem, with tangled undergrowth and bamboo like plants.
We stopped briefly at the "Big Maumelle Overlook" (the second overlook on this hike) before continuing on to the main attraction, the H.L. Dickinson Overlook.
We followed the trail a bit further to the East Quarry site, where the trail dramatically ends in a STOP sign.
We didn't see many wildflowers on this hike, but did take a quick photo of this American Beautyberry.
Altogether, the hike was only 2.9 miles, but we enjoyed the diverse environments and the dramatic views. Walking through the woods as we have recently has given us a chance to see trees in every stage of their lives. Some are small saplings while others have toppled and are decaying. Some stand straight and tall while others have been bent or are leaning. Many fallen trees are visible in every direction. Although they are very long lived, trees go through the cycle of birth and death like all life.
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