NOTE: This is a new date. If you registered in June, please register again for this new date.
OK – We’re on for October 7th at 8:00 AM to make up for the trip we postponed in June! If you registered for the June trip, please reregister for this one so we know who is planning to come.
I took a trip out there, and you should know a few things. LLELA is located where the Blackland Prairies and the Eastern Cross Timbers meet, with the Elm Fork of the Trinity River and its riparian forest winding right through the middle of things.
This diversity of habitats creates a profusion of wildlife. Mammals such as bobcats, white-tailed deer, and mink can be found, along with birds such as wild turkeys and painted buntings, a wide variety of reptiles and amphibians, and butterflies and other insects. These areas can be explored along LLELA's ever-growing trail system.
If you have a kayak and are inclined to photograph from the water, that’s available, too!
Getting there:
Don’t follow your Apple or Google maps if you are coming east down 121 Business. It will take you to a gravel road that’s blocked off. Instead, from 121 Business, turn north on Valley Ridge Blvd. At that point your GPS can take over, or just go about 2 miles and turn right on Kealy St. Then right again on Jones Rd.
Entrance Fee:
It’s $5.00 a car to go in for the day. There’s a little booth just after you get onto Jones. They do not take cash or checks, so bring a credit card. As you come in, the attendant will give you a map that shows where the trail heads are.
First Appearances:
When you drive in, it doesn’t look like much. On the left side of the road there’s a levy that goes along Lake Lewisville. It’s a restricted area, and you can’t get access to the lake from LLELA. The right side of the road is not maintained, and it doesn’t look promising. Looks are deceiving! The good stuff happens on the trails.
Trails:
There are 7 trails in the area. Parts of the Bittern Marsh Trail, the Blackjack Trail, the Redbud Trail, and the Cottonwood Trail may be flooded after very heavy rain. The LLELA website has a trail condition report at https://www.llela.org/visit/current-trail-and-camping-conditions. We will send out a note the day before our field trip with the current conditions.
The Cottonwood Trail winds through wooded areas, and prairie restorations are in progress. The highlights are the Beaver Pond and the 1870s Minor-Porter Log House. Cottonwood is the easiest trail for people with mobility issues. Length: 1.3 miles
The Cicada Trail follows the historic channel of the Elm Fork through a hardwood forest. The channel is often dry because the river was moved during Lewisville Dam construction. Still, it does fill with rainwater and provides a temporary water source for wood ducks and other wildlife. Length: 0.3 mile (one way)
The Redbud Trail meanders through open grasslands and scattered woods to beautiful views of the Elm Fork. Herons, egrets, ospreys, turtles, and other wildlife are often seen. Length: 1.4 miles
The Bittern Marsh Trail takes hikers through a bottomland hardwood forest to Bittern Marsh. Boardwalks and two viewing blinds at the marsh give birders, photographers, and hikers great views of wetland wildlife. Note: Bittern Marsh is on the opposite side of the Lake spillway from the rest of the reserve. It’s gated, but you are welcome to walk right through. Length: 2.1 miles
The Blackjack Trail leads hikers through a Cross Timbers forest remnant dominated by post oak, cedar elm, and blackjack oak to the Beaver Pond Paddling Trail parking lot. The trail route includes a number of prairie glades with native grasses and wildflowers. Hikers can choose to take a return spur to loop back to the trail’s beginning. Length: 1.5 miles
The Green Dragon Trail is named for a rare plant found in North Texas bottomland forests. LLELA’s population of Green Dragon (Arisaema dracontium) only blooms for a short time each April, but hikers can also enjoy bottomland forest views and abundant bird life on this connector trail between the Beaver Pond parking area and the Cottonwood Trail. Length: 0.25 mile
The Beaver Pond Paddling Trail is a route for kayakers/canoeists through an area rich with wildlife. A quiet paddler has great opportunities to view herons, egrets, ducks, turtles, frogs, deer, and many other wildlife species. There are plenty of cool, shady areas to escape the sun on warm days, and the trail includes 12 stops at interpretive signs mounted at various locations in the pond to enhance your experience. Bring your own boat. Length: approximately 1.0 mile.
In addition, you might want to check out the pollinator garden near the Cicada Pavilion. If the plants are still blooming, you should be able to photograph many species of butterflies, bees, etc.
Lunch
Closer to the date of our visit, we’ll survey the participants to decide whether to share a picnic lunch or eat at a restaurant.