Gunpowder Falls Hike and Prettyboy Dam

Another beautiful morning, another hike discovered. This was a little farther from our place, maybe 30 minutes outside the city. What a glorious hike it was, everything being so green and lush! The kids liked the hike for all the wildlife we encountered: fish, turtles, a snake, deer, a fox, a bald eagle and an osprey. It was amazing. I was in heaven with all the flora and fauna, so many mossy surfaces and the ferns! The ferns were so lovely and they were everywhere.

And the only people we saw on the hike were fishermen. One of them saw a copperhead on the trail earlier in the day. No thanks.

Orange day lilies! We had them at our home in UT and they were in all the neighbors' yards as well. Funny thing, they are everywhere here too. I get the impression they are indigenous to this area, specifically near the water. Ironic, since we came from a desert and they were in great abundance there too. Jon and I have agreed that nothing short of a nuclear bomb can kill them.

There is obviously a beaver living on this stretch of river although we didn't see a dam anywhere. The evidence he is there is overwhelming with trees felled every which way bearing the familiar markings of his prominent front teeth.

E was all about getting as far out into the river as possible. He's a pretty fun hiking partner these days and tough to keep up with too.

At the end of this gorgeous hike is the Prettyboy Dam. I just like it for its name. As far as dams go, its not terribly imposing, with vegetation growing right up against it. We found a great big slab to picnic on before heading back. Altogether a perfect hike with relatively few mishaps and plenty of good times.

Hello there. Aren't these tiny little toadstools amazing? They are so cheerful.