This was reinforced by the names and dates on the walls of a particular section just before Balance Rock. People have been hiking to this spot for hundreds of years. Several have etched their presence in the rock, chiseling their being there into the face of the Streets. Beauty has that power, the desire to want to fashion some permanence into something which appears larger and greater than one's self.
The other highlight is Balance Rock. It's not just the rock which slide down the bluff and found its way to edge of the Streets, but also how the trail leads to this spot. We wound our way through the rock lanes for a while, perhaps for even twenty or thirty minutes, and then suddenly it's there.
Rising Ahead
Just before Balance Rock, the third highlight announced itself with a knocking, which sounded close but with such a softness that I figured it was several hundred feet away. Ah...woodpecker! We listened intently, hoping we could judge the direction of the sound so that we would have a chance to see the bird. So far, the trail was fairly devoid of animals, except for the numerous squirrels.
We ascended to Balance Rock, pausing to look and to hear. Yes, a woodpecker was somewhere. We reached the rock, and with a blur of wings and colors a few feet away, two birds flew off. Wide wings. A red crest. Off to the west into the forest, they flew. These were no ordinary woodpeckers. I later researched and confirmed that they were pileated woodpeckers, the largest woodpeckers in North America.
Rising out of the Streets to Balance Rock, catching the birds' flight--this was the climax of the hike. From our vantage point, we could view the forested valley stretching south and west from us. The soft knocking was now gone, yet the leaves continued rustling as squirrels scurried through them. And the sun was warm as the sheets of gray had now parted into puffs of clouds, leaving room for the light to brighten everything.
From the other side of Balance Rock, we noticed a dead fallen tree. This is what had attracted the woodpeckers to the place. The view of the boulder was also impressive. At some point in time, the rock had broken away from the bluff above and came down until it snagged an edge and came to a rest here.
Balance Rock: View from the Other Side
The trail continued to circle around the bluffs as we walked alongside the cliff faces and through the trees. Serene. At one location, we heard more soft knocking and we stopped. I spied a little woodpecker working on tree limb high above the trail in front of us.
Eventually, the path led to bluff top, and we sat and rested for a few minutes in the sun to soak in the light. Sitting on the bench and viewing the valley made the whole scene feel like it is all ours, as if time just gathered itself and created the moment for the two of us. And it did.
After our pause, we headed back down to the trail head. At the bottom, the bluff hung over the path, and the trickling of water began again. In parts, icicles hung, melting in the noon sun. I photographed a few.
Icicles in Spring
Completely satisfied, we arrived back at the start. I understand why the Giant City Nature Trail is the signature and namesake trail of the state park. The elements of the bluff and the forest come together with the sheer uniqueness of the Streets to form impressions, ones which last. Also, while there are parts where the hiking requies effort, there is nothing overwhelming physically on the trail. If you're in the area, it's a must-do one to two hour hike (depending upon how long you like to linger). Check it out.
Trails of Giant City State Park
Midway through the list is the Giant City Nature Trail. There is also a link to the trail map.
Over next couple of weeks, I will write and post photos of the other trails we hiked, but I definitely would say the Nature Trail was the best when we visted the state park.
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