Little & Pilot Wines & Hurricane Creek Trails

August 13: The Big South Fork's Pilot Wines trail is a groomed, doubletrack horse trail that creates about a 15-mile loop with spur trails to the river. 6-mile Hurricane Creek trail is an unmarked trail that connects the river with Cub & Slavens Branch trails. Combined with the Big Island Loop, a trailer could enjoy a 30-mile figure-eight course with two fords accessing river islands. During the hottest summer days, a sparse few equestrians use these trails and today was no exception with noon temperatures hovering above 90-degrees. But as if by miracle, the sun receded behind a gray wash of clouds and a steady rain filled the forest with cold, foggy air. And to hear the pit-pat racket of rainfall descending through the woodland canopy is supremely calming, made more relaxing in the remote valleys of this park. Saw numerous turkey, deer, turtles and toads all of which gave much delight to the hounds....still waiting for the first bear....