Wichita Mountains

Thursday, we had breakfast at the hotel and checked out, heading back to Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.  We first stopped at Holy City; it was closed but we got a couple pictures of the cool buildings.

Continuing on, we had to stop just past the visitor center to see a big herd of bison next to the road.

There were several calves, including one who was nursing.

After some pictures, we continued to the Treasure Lake parking to hike into Charon's Garden Wilderness.  The trail led through an open area near the lake with lots of wildflowers blooming.

It was very windy but we stopped for a few pictures.

In just over half a mile, we turned on the short spur trail to Post Oak Falls.

The water level was quite low, so it was little more than a wet rock.

But the rocks around here were cool and we sat and had a snack and enjoyed the view.  The narrow canyon kept the area completely in the shade.

After a break we continued on the trail and saw more wildflowers.

The views of the mountains were really beautiful.

In about another half mile, we came to the boulder rooms.

Some massive jumbled boulders created room-sized cavities that were big enough to walk around in.

We went a little further past here and then turned around.

The sun had come out but it was a beautiful hike back.

More cars had shown up by the time we made it back.

Our next stop was past Lost Lake at the trailhead for Kite Trail.

The trail followed West Cache Creek upstream and was initially flat, but soon headed up along steep cliff walls towering over the creek.

The canyon here was really beautiful.

Going a little ways further, we could see down into the canyon to Forty Foot Hole.

There was a steep path heading down, so I climbed down into the gorge for a closer view.

The water level was low, but the waterfall was still pretty cool.

And there was a cool view looking downstream to where the creek widens.

I climbed back up and we continued on up the canyon.

The views along here were really fantastic.

The trail then turned to Lost Lake and the other end of the trail.

We enjoyed more views of the canyon on the hike back.

Some yellow stonecrop was growing along the trail.

We also saw some field pennycress, an invasive species.

From here, we made the short drive to Boulder Cabin to get on the Narrows Trail.  In about 1/4 mile, the trail came West Cache Creek and we easily rock-hopped across.

Then, the trail got steep to climb up to a point above the Narrows.

I think the official trail ended here, but an obvious path led back down to the creek in the Narrows.  Some Dakota mock vervain was flowering.

There wasn't much of a path through the Narrows, but it was reasonably easy to nagivate.

I went about as far as I could and then turned back.

On the hike back, I spotted a water snake attempting to eat a lizard.  The lizard was a little too big and eventually got away.

After the show, we hiked back to the car.

It was getting into the afternoon, so we started leaving the refuge.  We spotted a couple deer along the road as we were leaving.

Upon leaving the refuge, we headed south back into Texas.  We had Italian for dinner at Genovas in Burkburnett and then stopped at Lucy Park in Wichita Falls.  A greenway trail led along Wichita River and we saw a blue-winged teal duck in the river.

Just before passing under the interstate, we came to Wichita Falls.

The city is named for the waterfall, but the natural one was destroyed in flooding more than hundred years ago.

The city built a new waterfall as a replacement for the city's namesake.

It's pretty scenic for a manmade waterfall and was visible from the interstate.  After some pictures, we headed back.

From here, we continued on to Decatur and checked into the Holiday Inn.