Deer Creek State Park

Deer Creek State Park was a really nice park and we enjoyed going on the trail. One of the things we did on this hike was try to find pinecones and other more unique finds. We sometimes go to a park or on a hike with a "plan" like a scavenger hunt and other times, like today, we just looked for things along the way or pointed out something we found cool or interesting.

We went on the Hawkview Meadow Trail and planned on doing a few more trails, but we did another park earlier in the day and the boys were getting tired. While we wish somedays we could stay out longer, we also have a drive to make back home so if the boys are done after a couple of miles we pack it up for the day. 

The trail included or went alongside the Disc Golf so make sure you stay alert and watching for rogue disks flying through the air. E was the leader of this trail and told us which way we needed to go. I am excited that he is showing interest in using the map and finding his way. It is a good skill to develop!

E found along our trail...

1) a Y branch

2) a stump that looked like a pig nose (he thought this was the funniest find of them all!)

3) a GIANT chair that our whole family could sit on

4) a tree that looked like a person with arms and a nose

5) mini "waterfalls" or "rapids" depending on who you ask

Sometimes we get a picture of all of us looking at the camera and other times we get pictures of these little monsters sneaking snacks out of their pockets!

Before leaving the creek E wanted to use the camera and take our picture, and I have to say that he did a pretty good job. 

Some facts and history about this park and it's natural features according to OhioDNR, "Deer Creek State Park lies near the eastern edge of the great till plains of Ohio. These plains receive their name from the glacial debris, or till, which is a mixture of clay, sand, silt, and gravel that was deposited by the glaciers. As glaciers advanced across the northern two-thirds of Ohio, most hills and valleys were covered and filled in by the till, leaving this part of Ohio relatively flat.

This park is a great place for wildlife watching. Local amphibians include the chorus frog, spring peeper, and American toad, and commonly found reptiles include box and painted turtles as well as the black rat snake and eastern garter snake. Numerous mammals inhabit the park including red fox, raccoon, opossum, woodchuck, skunk, rabbit, and white-tailed deer. Songbirds in the area include eastern meadowlark, song sparrow, eastern bluebird, barn swallow, and woodcock. Deer Creek is known for its population of ring-necked pheasant. Other birds of the area include eastern meadowlark, song sparrow, cowbird, eastern bluebird, barn swallow, and woodcock."

Sadly, we didn't see too many animals, but maybe on our next #guentheradventures