A hiker's path: Taking the Timberdoodle in Columbia Mine Preserve
It was a beautiful weekend to be out on the trail. The temperatures were in the low 60s and the sky was sunny and blue. Early October and it was beginning to look like fall, though the leaves on the trees in some places were holding on tight to their summer colors.
I was in southern Indiana exploring the Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge and the Columbia Mine Preserve.
Today I will be writing about the preserve as I wrote about the refuge last week.
Located in Pike and Gibson counties, the preserve is 1,043 acres and is owned by the Sycamore Land Trust. It officially opened in 2012 and is managed by the land trust in partnership with the Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge, which is adjacent to the preserve. The preserve features a mix of wetlands, prairies, woods, lakes, and marshes.
It’s home for many species of Indiana wildlife, including owls, bobcats, river otters, the American woodcock, and Indiana bats to name a few. There are several walking trails at the preserve and it was hard for me to decide which trails to hike.
I finally decided on a shorter trail first, the “Timberdoodle path.” It was a half mile in length and connected to another trail that I wanted to hike, the ”Overlook” trail.
Timberdoodle is another name for the American woodcock which makes its home in the preserve. The term was first used back in the mid 1800s. American woodcocks are short, plumb, wading birds. They have very long beaks and large heads.
They blend in with their environment and stay hidden in the forest or fields most of the time. Their favorite food are earthworms.
Needless to say, I did not see any while on this path as they begin migration to winter habitats in early October.
I soon came to the place where the path intersected with the Overlook trail. I turned off and followed a mown, grassy path. I soon found myself surrounded by beautiful tall grasses, small trees, and late season wild flowers.
The earth-tone colors of the autumn foliage were stunning against the backdrop of the bright blue sky. The overlook trail was 0.75 miles in length one way.
I enjoyed taking photographs and, as I made my way in and back out again, I was feeling very peaceful and relaxed in my surroundings. There were many more trails left in my day but I opted to sit and enjoy the scenery while eating my picnic lunch that I had brought with me. I took a seat by a small lake in the area.
There were Canadian geese making their way across the sky in their classic “V” flying pattern. A late season blue heron stood in the water at the far end of the lake. This wild habitat made a good place for refreshment for the migrating birds.
After I finished my lunch, I decided I would explore the wildlife refuge, which lay all around the preserve that I was in.
I so enjoyed my day at this beautiful wildlife area. It’s worth the drive! Spend the day!
To find this wonderful preserve: from Interstate 69, take exit 33 and head East on Ind. 64 towards Oakland City. Pass through the town and turn left on County Road 1275 Easy. Turn right on County Road 75 South, then veer left on County Road 25. Turn left on County Road 125 West and follow the gravel road back into the preserve.
A quote for your week: “I went to the woods, because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach,” — Henry David Thoreau, American naturalist, essayist, poet, philosopher, 1817-1862Until the next trail,Susan
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Exploring Sycamore Land Trust's Columbia Mine Preserve
