Adventure 008, Hike 014 - Hidden Homes Nature Trail

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 008, Hike 014 – Hidden Homes Nature Trail

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  June 14, 2012

Location: Woodward Park, Fresno

Hike Info:

Trail: Hidden Homes Nature Trail

Distance: 2.9 (.5 miles is the nature trail)

Duration: 1:09

Elevation Rise: 180'

Description:
 Hidden Homes is a nature trail, oriented towards educating school-age children about the habits found around the San Joaquin River. As a educational tool, the San Joaquin River Parkway commissioned several local artists to render oversized replicas of local animal nesting areas. Sprinkled around the nature trail are these replicas of bald eagle, owls, killdeer, and mice nestings. This circles a pond left over from a local gravel quarrying operation.

The half mile Hidden Homes Nature Trail is somewhat tame—level and short. I am not saying that Team Thing One, Thing Two would shy away from anything like this, since points are points. But we also need to keep some semblance of standards. We remembered this trail after looking at the Falcon Guide book, Best Easy Day Hikes: Fresno by Tracy Salcedo-Chourre. She talks about it as a good nature introduction to the Fresno area. So instead of starting at the San Joaquin River Parkway Center, we start at one of parking places and walk about one and a quarter miles along the bluffs to get to the Center. It is a good morning or evening walk, before it gets hot.

Once at the Center we go on the loop, reading the signs and enjoying the call of the birds and the frogs. After our walk, we talk with the folks at the Center's store. Then return the same way back to the car.

Once at the Center we go on the loop, reading the signs and enjoying the call of the birds and the frogs. After our walk, we talk with the folks at the Center's store. Then return the same way back to the car.