A Long Fall Walk In Spring

This log encompasses numerous locations I hiked on my long walk through Spring, Texas.  For those of you not familiar with Houston's geography, it is flat and prone to flooding.  To control flood water, there is a complex network of drainage gullies, creeks and bayous to drain the water away.  Many of these have hiking trails along the banks.  This is the general setting for my extended hike.

I started my hike at Old Riley Fuzzel Preserve.  There is an open area where you can park your car.  I first took the trail down to Alligator Pond, but was dismayed to find out that the trail ended and you could not go around the lake.  So, I turned around and headed back to the parking area where I caught the main trail along Spring Creek heading west.  In numerous places, the trails forked in more than one direction, but there were no signs or maps.  As a result, I ended up picking a trail and seeing where it wentgoes.  Part of the trail took me right down to the sandy shores of Spring Creek and then led me back into the woods.

When I came out of the woods, I noticed there was a drainage gully that pours into Spring Creek.  I was pleased to find that there are dirt trails on each side of this drainage gully known as the Herman I. Little, Jr. Memorial Channel III-F Hike & Bike Trails.  I decided to follow the trail north along the east bank of the gully to see where it went.  It went on for miles and miles, past Fox Springs Park and eventually past Imperial Oaks Park.

Just north of Imperial Oaks Park, I ran into another drainage gully heading east.  I had hiked quite a ways by this point so I decided to stop heading north and to follow this other drainage gully until I picked up a concrete path that led me back to Imperial Oaks Park.  I then hiked through Imperial Oaks Park to see where those trails went and eventually got back on the Herman I. Little, Jr. Memorial Channel III-F Hike & Bike Trails.

On my way back, I decided to hike the trails in Fox Springs Park before heading back to the Old Riley Fuzzel Preserve.  When I got back to Old Riley Fuzzel Preserve, I was still feeling strong and there was a little daylight left so I headed along Spring Creek, under Riley Fuzzel Road, and entered the Peckinpaugh Preserve.  I followed the trails to the Spring Creek Greenway Nature Center, around a beautiful manmade lake, and then into the woods.  I hiked a couple of miles, but I was unable to hike all of the trails for two reasons.  First, some of the trails were impassable due to heavy rains from several days before and also because I was running out of daylight.

In all, I had a great hike.  I plan to go back soon because I did not hike the other side of the Herman I. Little, Jr. Memorial Channel III-F.  I would like to log in some more miles to see where it goes.