— Although I had not planned or made any resolutions for the new year, I was glad that I started 2021 with lots of activities. On the very first day of the year, I went over to Doeskin Ranch at Balcones Canyonlands NWR. I have noticed that the park has become more popular recently. It has even expanded the parking area. This popularity is likely in part because of the pandemic. However, no matter how full the parking lot is, I have never experienced crowds in the park. In fact, I have hiked several of the trails only encountering a half a dozen or fewer people.
Since it was a beautiful morning, I decided to start off by hiking along the Creek Trail (0.7 mi – 1.1 km) before crossing over it to other trails. There was a little bit of water flowing, but nothing substantial for the waterfall area. Nevertheless, it was nice being the only person along that trail and experience its tranquility. With the sun shining on the grass, it was as if the prairie was lit up.
Once I was done exploring the Creek Trail, it was time to hike the Rim Rock trail. Whereas the Creek Trail is an easy hike with no elevation change, the Rim Rock trail has a more challenging path. Although only a 1.8-mile (2.9 km) long loop, the trail does have an elevation gain of 298 ft (91 m). Once the hiker makes it to the top, the views surrounding the park are beautiful.
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