Balcones Canyonlands NWR – Doeskin Ranch – 9/6/21

Monday, September 6, 2021

Balcones Canyonlands NWR – Doeskin Ranch

Partly cloudy, warming up quickly

Ian solo

4.5 miles

We didn’t have specific plans for Labor Day this year, but I wanted to make sure I got out and got a hike in. Finn is still recovering from his paw injury, so Court stayed home with him and Biff and their cousin Cray while I went out to Doeskin Ranch, where dogs aren’t allowed. It is part of the Balcones Wildlife Refuge.

I got out to the trail head at 8am, as the Texas heat has finally decided to come on down. Before the last couple of weeks, it’s been the coolest summer I can remember. Now we are hitting 100 pretty much every day, which is more normal. Hopefully it will only last for a couple of more weeks, but I feel like we have a penance to pay for our lack of summer earlier. The trail signage has been updated in the past year or so also, which is nice.

The trail was beautiful and the water was flowing in the creeks well. The whole trail was very green, especially compared to normal years around this time.

On the way back down there were a lot of butterflies along the trail and then one not so lucky one that had gotten snagged by a big praying mantis.

The creek was flowing really well and I cooled off a bit with the water, as the sun was getting higher and higher and the temps were climbing. Was glad to get off the trail around 10:30am as a couple of other groups were just getting started. Gotta get there early to beat the heat!