The Colorado River Refuge has New Friends!

 

The Colorado River Refuge has some new volunteers that have jumped into the poison ivy with both feet. Pines and Prairies Land Trust is pleased to welcome Jim Estes and J.J. "Nick" Nichols into our group of wonderful supporters who care for the CRR. Jim and Nick have generously agreed to keep the entire Colorado River Refuge trail system weed and poison ivy free for 2010. They have taken on this project to help provide community service as graduates of the Lost Pines Master Naturalist program. Along with trail master, Dale Morrison, and many others, Jim and Nick have cut, clipped and sawed their way through grape vines, ragweed, poison ivy, grass, downed trees and brush to keep over 2 miles of trails easily walkable. Their work at the new Lost Lake section of the CRR has been particularly valuable because these are new trails and not as well established as the river-side trails.

 

The Lost Lake trails are located on the upstream end of the CRR. The trailhead is on Riverside Dr. just east of Lovers Lane. Hikers have a choice of the Cliffhanger Trail which runs along the high bank of the river or the Dragonfly Trail which runs north from the Riverside Drive trailhead to Lamaloa Lane. The Dragonfly Trail offers a very different experience then the Cliffhanger Trail. On this trail, hikers will walk along a large creek through fields of wildflowers and into a woodland before coming out on Lamaloa Lane. It is possible to circle down to the Riverside Drive trailhead by turning right or left and heading south down the gravel roads that run on both sides of the Lost Lake trail system. You may pick up trail maps at the Cliffhanger Trailhead kiosk located just south of Riverside Drive. Trail maps are also available at the Two Bridges Trailhead and Handicapped Accessible Trailhead on Riverside Drive east of the railroad bridge. The Colorado River Refuge is free and open to all. The CRR is a project of Pines and Prairies Land Trust that serves to educate our community about the natural word and the importance of preserving wildland. PPLT also maintains a preserve near McDade and a working ranch near Paige. All PPLT properties are open to the public by appointment and for field days throughout the year. Properties are maintained to help protect clean water and air and to keep the rural character of Bastrop County intact.