Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Crowley's Ridge

Mississippi River State Park is just outside of Marianna, AR on the southern most tip of Crowley's ridge. The ridge was originally an island 50 million years ago between the Ohio River on the west and Mississippi River on the east.

The gullies of Bear Creek Trail were great for ferns and mosses. Brayden and I examed a moss growing on this fallen tree.


Christmas ferns were everywhere.

There were vines hanging over the trail in multiple spots, but Brayden is going to have to grow just a little bit more before he gets to do some swinging.

Brayden loves bridges.

My hiking buddy needed a break from walking.

Brayden charged the hills with great determination.


By far this has been one of my favorite hiking trips yet, although it may have been at the current limits of Brayden's walking range because I had to carry him the last few hundred yards. Crowley's ridge is a must see. The ridge is 11 miles wide x 150m long and ~300' high. It is really amazing to see this hill country which reminds me of home (Bismarck, Ouachita Mtns) right in the middle of the flat delta. The plants and animals resemble the flora and fauna of the hills of TN or the Ozarks/Ouachitas of AR. but are separated from these other hill countries by miles of flat, swampy delta land. It is really amazing that in a matter of minutes we went from flatland to hill country.

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