Four Mile Creek Preserve, Webster
Four Mile Creek Preserve is 72 acres of woods located at the corner of Phillips and Lake roads at the very north end of Webster. The trails that wind through the woods are the newest in the terrific trail system built and maintained by the all-volunteer Friends of Webster Trails.
Although Webster is my home town, today was the first time I had explored these new trails, and was very curious to see how they had turned out.
Once again, the Friends did not disappoint. They have succeeeded in striking a perfect balance between highlighting the natural beauty of an area and providing a safe, educational hiking experience. And in that regard, the Four Mile Creek trails are perhaps even a step above all of the older local trails.
The trail head, with informative kiosk, is located at the far north end of Phillips Road, where hikers can pull off into a spacious parking lot. There are two loop trails, the blue and the red. The blue trail begins at the trail head and heads east for a little less than half a mile before looping back. The red trail begins at the far eastern end of the blue, crossing Salt Creek and looping an additional mile or so to the south and southeast. The two trails together total a little over 2 miles.
As we in Webster have come to expect from the Friends, the trails are very well marked. There are frequent blazes, and just about every intersection sports a sturdy signpost including a miniature "YOU ARE HERE" trail map. That was a terrific, very helpful upgrade I haven't seen on any other trails yet.
This is a beautiful hike. The blue trail doesn't stray too far from Lake Road, so you can hear the traffic there for most of that route. But today was the first time this year I heard songbirds on my walk. They were joined along the way by some squirrels, peeping frogs, a woodpecker and a screeching hawk. When you're well into the red trail, which turns south away from Lake, nature's music presides.
Eagle Scouts have been out in force in this park; their handiwork is visible in bridges, boardwalks and benches all along the trails. Somebody has also posted 11 informational signs on various trees, so hikers can educate themselves on some of the local flora while they walk.
The trails themselves are mostly level, but on this day they were EXTREMELY muddy. I was very glad to have worn by sturdy hiking boots, and even then my jeans got caked with gook. Until things dry out a bit, don't bring the kids. You'll be so focused on dodging mud that no one will actually enjoy the hike. But otherwise, this would be a good kid hike.
But be forewarned: there are no bathrooms in sight.
A personal note: At the far end of the red trail, where it approaches residential neighborhoods, an old junk cars has been dumped, obviously rotting away for years. To most people it's an unfortunate eyesore. But strangely, it stirred up fond memories for me.
When I was living in suburban Chicago as a child, there were woods and trails behind my house. We would play in the woods for hours, and walk the trails to town. One of our favorite play spots was the "old car" in the woods, a rusted heap of metal that served as a fort and a meeting place.
The woods are gone now, replaced by houses and condos. It's a fate I hope never happens to this car and these woods.
But also, that car. I wonder what the story was with the bullet holes in the driver side door.
