Golden Rod Pet Trail
The trailhead for the Goldenrod is on Old State Road 161, to the right of the rear of the nature center at Blendon Woods. A water fountain and dog bowl sit near the nature center for anyone's use. Blendon Woods also boasts a waterfowl refuge named Walden that contains Thoreau Lake. The lake is replete with water birds and hundreds of songbirds and raptors. Other wildlife abound in the woods and around the water, and the Walden Refuge also features 2 elevated observation platforms where you and Fido can get a really great view of all the activity!Â
Named for the profuse goldenrod wildflowers found everywhere here, the trail is open during the busy season of April 1 to September 30 from 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. During the off-season from October 1 to March 31, the hours change to 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Polite, well-mannered pups on leash are always welcome on the trail which also lends itself to winter sports like cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Especially in bare-branched winter, the oak, hickory, beech and maple ridges provide views of the ravine and pawsome sandstone walls, and you may even spy a wild turkey or hare as you walk! Fido will love that! And if you ask one of the naturalists inside the nature center, they'll lend you binoculars for better viewing along with maps and furscinating infurmation about what you'll see while on the trail.Â
For a short, easy hike through a part of Blendon Woods that'll make you feel isolated and within nature, the Goldenrod Pet Trail is pawrfect! And because it's reserved for canines and their families, there are no worries about bicyclists or horses on this trail! Arf!
