Northwood Meadows State Park – August 4, 2011
Surrounded by a wide 5-mile loop, and intersected with smaller trails, Northwood Meadows is a great place to explore either by foot or by bike. Most of the trails lead to and around a small pond at the center of the park. The quiet and secluded pond offers a few small beaches as well as benches and picnic tables right along the water’s edge.
From the parking area I unloaded my bike and started along the Northwood Area Land Management Collaborative (NALMC) Loop Trail. Smooth, flat, and wide the loop trail is perfect for dog walkers and those looking for a leisurely stroll through the woods. Not far form the trailhead I pointed my bike off the loop and on to a smaller trail that snaked up and down along a brook until I reached the pond.
Riding to the far end of the pond I found a grassy little beach and parked my bike for a dip in the water. Not too cold or too warm, the water felt great this late in the summer, and I took my time floating on the surface watching the clouds roll by. After drying off I jumped on my bike and headed for the group of picnic tables on the east side of the pond.
Sitting on the benches perched just above the water I enjoyed my lunch while keeping an eye out for any wildlife that might make its way around the pond. Without much luck all that broke the silence were a few fish hitting the surface for their own lunch.
Packing up after my lunch break I rode back around the pond to meet the NALMC trail heading back to the parking area. The NALMC continues on past the pond and out of the park, reaching out to Harmony Hill Farm before circling back to the park. Since bikes aren’t allowed in to the Harmony Hill Farm section of the trail, I veered left on to the Woods Road taking a short cut back to the parking area.
