Rest Of Four Notch

This is my second (Day #2) log of the Lone Star Hiking Trail - Four Notch Section.  This log covers the remainder of Lone Star Hiking Trail (LSHT) from the junction of the LSHT and the Four Notch Loop Trail between mile markers 49 and 50 all the way to the where dirt roads FS 207 and FS 202 meet (mile mark 54.2).

After camping overnight, I parked my car along the road where the LSHT meets FS 200 near mile marker 52.  I hiked NW to the junction (described above) and back (I'll call this Leg #1) then to the end of the trail and back (Leg #2).

Leg #1 was similar to, but not as nice, as the trail I hiked the day before.  It had some rolling hills, a nice pond, but it was not as scenic and the trail was not maintained as well.  The vegetation had overgrown quite a bit and required a little bit of bushwhacking.  Had it not been for the excellent trail markers on the trees, the trail path was not easily visible due to the large number of dead leaves that had fallen.  I had to pause at a few points to find the trail because experience has taught me that sometimes when the path gets thick and rough it could be a sign you've wandered off the beaten path.  In this case, I didn't wander off the trail, it just wasn't a beaten path!  My impression was that this part of the Four Notch Section was not hiked nearly as much as the Loop.

Leg #2 was a whole different (and less enjoyable) experience.  It is known as the road walk because the LSHT goes along a couple of dirt roads for a few miles since private property cuts off the nature trail.  Frankly, I found the road walk long and boring.  You do pass by the Huntsville Compressor Station (natural gas) and the Big Woods Ranch, but otherwise it's just a long dirt road.  It was nice (and very tempting) to see the trailhead of the Big Woods Section at the corner of FS 207 and FS 202, but unfortunately that section is closed at the present time due to a large number of fallen trees.  I can't wait 'til they open it back up - just the name sounds exciting.

It was nice to finish up the Four Notch section, but I was only impressed with the loop I hiked the day before.  The road walk is simply necessary to get you to the Big Woods section.