A.W. Marion State Park

First off, the full time camper's here were so friendly and helpful! We arrived at A. W. Marion State Park ready to do the Lake Trail which depending on which map you read is either 3.6 miles long or 5 miles long. We pulled up to the campground check in station to pick up a park map (I always print one off just in case, but we try to get the official one too!) The office was still closed, it's still off season, and the map box was empty! Some kids riding bikes recognized that we were new and didn't belong and came over to help, with the verification with their dad or grandma they let us know there weren't any paper maps but we could get one online. So kind!

*Side note: We participated in a Hiking 101 Zoom Class and one of the things they said to do is not to rely on technology and if possible get or bring a paper map. Marcus and I both looked at each other like, "Yes! We do something right!"

It wouldn't be a post from me if I didn't give you a little history of the park or its features, straight from the OhioDNR website, "The landscape features woodlands, plains, and prairies. The prairies, a product of an ancient dry climate, are really small versions of the more extensive grasslands found in the western United States. The eastern portion of these grasslands extends into Ohio and is part of the prairie-forest border or tension zone. Within this zone, the grasslands increased in size during droughts, only to be re-invaded by forests during wet periods. Before settlement began, scrub oak barrens, dense thickets formed by this shrub, were common in the region but have since been cleared for raising crops. The nearby floodplains of the Scioto River are adorned with a variety of wildflowers. Wildlife indigenous to the area includes fox squirrel, ring-necked pheasant, a variety of songbirds, red fox, and white-tailed deer."

We wanted to challenge ourselves with the Hargus Lake Permieter Trail. There were several amazing parts of this trail and one big reason we did not finish it this time, but we will next time! While on this trail we played polaroid camera scavenger hunt... which is just having a scavenger hunt and using the camera to document what we found off of the list! Above is a link for one of the scavenger hunts we use that can also turn into a bingo card or game too. There are a lot of options available online.

Part of the trail went downhill and part of the trail went uphill on "natural" stairs.

 

Part of the trail went over a creek, or it might be a river and I will research and find that out for you! In the meantime let me tell you the reason we did not make it around this trail. When we crossed this part of the trail, somehow, and I am not really sure how to this day while Marcus helping E fell into the water! It was funny after the fact and E just got right out and wanted to keep going, but he was soaked on the bottom half of him so eventually we had to turn back around to get our spare clothes out of the car. (We always bring at least 1 extra set! You never know, especially with kids.) 

We plan on making it back out here and completing this trail, it has made it onto our bucketlist!

After a snack break, B was done walking and I loaded him up on my back for the return trip to the car. He can walk about a mile or longer if I take short breaks carrying him. He is still building up his stamina, I mean he's only two!

Here was a bonus picture that we took of our scavenger hunt. I love hiking with my boys. I love creating these memories and that they want to go outside and they want to go adventuring as they call it. #guentheradventures and many to come.