Take A Hike At Chalk Ridge Falls Park!
By: Sierra Brown
Whether you have kids, have a dog, or need some alone time, hiking is a great way to explore the outdoors and relieve stress. Chalk Ridge Falls Park is my favorite hiking trail because it is perfect for a first-time hiker or an experienced one. There is also a mountain bike trail. Chalk Ridge is about a 15-minute trip from Temple and Killeen since it is halfway between both. I love this trail for many reasons!
First, it is surrounded by beautiful trees. The beaten trail shows the history of travelers, explorers, and nature enthusiasts. The trees are tall and shade a good amount of the trail for those hot summer days. Secondly, there are several areas to go for a swim, whether it’s spontaneous (due to the heat) or planned. To get to each swimming section you
do need to travel down a dirt path. Even the closest swimming area still involves careful steps down some (mostly) sturdy rocks. I feel even the shortest travel time to the water is still an adventure.
The third main reason I love Chalk Ridge Falls Park is that there is a tucked-away path to a hidden waterfall. I won’t tell you how to get there, because isn’t discovering it part of the fun? Once you find the hidden path, you will follow along the creek towards the right.
If it has rained a lot recently, prepare to be ankle-deep in the water while trudging through this hidden trail. After a little over a mile, the trail will open to a beautiful waterfall. Also, the swimming spot below the waterfall usually isn’t very crowded. In this quiet area, there are giant rocks to sit on to admire the scenery and even a cave to explore if you have the gumption. * A word of caution if you have arachnophobia: There are daddy long-leg spiders all over the opening of the cave.
I highly recommend at least one hike through the beaten dirt trails of Chalk Ridge, especially if you are new to the area. Find out more from the i35 Group at Keller Willams!
