Coyote Run Hiking Trail—Again

Cooper Lake State Park publishes a trail map, but it has very few trails. There’s an extensive equestrian trail near the Buggy Whip Equestrian Camping Area. There’s a half mile nature trail in the Honey Creek Day Use Area. And there’s the Coyote Run Hiking Trail, a nearly five mile round trip in and out trail in the far eastern area of the park, starting at the Heron Harbor Day Use Area.

With little water in the lake, we're the only vehicle in the parking lot at the trailhead, which also serves the swimming beach (closed) and day use area.

We hiked this trail the last time we were here, but didn’t remember much about it. Turns out that’s because it’s really not very memorable. The trail is fairly wide and mostly level. It winds through forest and “pocket prairies.”

Several points of interest are called out on the trail map, but we were unable to locate some and others weren’t much to see. For example, “Harper’s Hill” at 33° 17' 39.42"N 95° 38' 15.65"W gets this description:

In spring 1873, George Harper built and operated Harper’s Toll Bridge near this hill, one of very few crossings along this part of the South Sulphur River. For 10 years, travelers heading to
Sulphur Springs and other points south paid 5 cents to walk across the river, 10 cents to cross on horseback, 15 cents for a single horse and buggy, 25 cents for a team of two horses or oxen
pulling a wagon, buggy or carriage, 50 cents for four horses or oxen, or 75 cents for a team of six.

Notice that the toll bridge is actually nowhere near the map coordinates or the trail. You can’t even see a river. Nothing marks that spot except a rise in the ground and the same trees and leaves as the rest of the trail.

We did see a couple of squirrels and some butterflies and maybe a mockingbird. We also saw evidence of the devastation caused by wild hogs rooting and tearing up the ground.

On the way home we drove through the campgrounds and noticed lots more campers—and lots of orange cones marking sites. A local couple explained that local people call the park and the workers mark sites for them. I guess this is technically different from reserving sites, since Texas state parks do not offer reservations on specific sites…..

This evening we finally watched the last episode of season one of Last Tango in Halifax. We really like Derek Jacobi, who plays Alan. He and Celia were sweet on each other as teens but were separated by an accident of fate. Years later their kids get them onto Facebook, and they are reunited. It’s basically a British soap opera, but wildly popular. Somehow we managed to miss recording Season Two this summer, but we’re sure the episodes will air again.