Close to town-Sweetwater Creek State Park -Primary colors hike (yellow, red and blue) trails

We will meet at the Thornton Road park and ride lot, close to the park to minimize the 3 dollar per car fee; plus save parking spots for others; as this is a very popular state park with limited parking.

Once at the park, we will hike the yellow trail, which begins in fairly level terrain for the first mile, including crossing Sweetwater Creek on a stout metal bridge (purchased from the military)Once this easy trail meanders across the bridge, it gets to a fork where we bear left and uphill in a fairly moderate, but steady, not too steep a grade; we'll take at slow enough pace to not break up the group. This is the least populated trail in the park, and on the way down the back side; we'll take a little used side path on the left to a nice rock overlook across the creek from the mill ruins; and stop there for lounging, talking and lunch.

From there, we'll walk back across the bridge and take a short cut trail to the red 'historical trail' to the mill ruins closeby and linger there to read the history for anyone interested, hopefully see nice fall colors moving into the nice scenery on all trails. After the mill ruins the blue trail is a different loop back that passes the nice new visitor center with great local animal display-birds and mammals and a nice history display of the mill and gift shop and civilized restrooms to use before heading to our cars and home early to enjoy the rest of the day and evening at whatever activities you might have planned around town.