Guest column: Get out there - Summit Mountain Trail

On a crisp fall afternoon, Gauge and I hurried off to take another hike before it got too dark or too cold. Our destination this time was Summit Mountain Trail. We drove south of town on the Perkinsville Highway and, after nine miles, turned left onto White Horse Lake Road. In about two miles, a sign for Summit Mountain Trail appeared.

We turned right onto a confusing set of roads. We continued, bearing to the right, for another 6/10ths of a mile through some excellent campsites, to a fenced, half-circle turnout, which is the trailhead. A large sign informed us that we'd be gaining 640 feet in elevation in a little over a mile. We grabbed our hiking sticks, sports drink and water, and off we went.

The trail starts going up almost immediately, and quickly climbs above a red cinder pit that appears to be used for ATV activity. On the trail, a good deal of work had been done, leaving almost the entire length lined with rocks or dead wood. Deep piles of oak leaves filled the trail, which of course demanded to be shuffled, kicked and stabbed with walking sticks.

We shucked our sweatshirts and hung them on a tree about halfway up the mountain. As the trail switchbacks up, the views are wide open. We were thrilled to see the cliffs of Sycamore Canyon off to the east. Near the top of the mountain, we came to a huge alligator juniper tree. Gauge said it was the biggest one he had ever seen.

Once on top, we explored all around. The views are wide and unobstructed. We went into the woods, looking for the very top, and the place where the lookout tree once stood almost 100 years ago. We found an ancient stick stuck in very old concrete, with a few worn out planks nearby. We decided it must be the place.

It was time to head back down. The afternoon was growing late, the shadows long and cold. We were very happy to see our sweatshirts waiting for us.

We found out that this trail was reopened in 1998 after Ranger John Eavis was sent to create a short but moderate hiking trail and found remnants of an old horse trail that had originally been constructed in 1912.

(Editor's note: Andrea Dunn is a longtime Williams resident who enjoys hiking and the great outdoors. She continues to share her outdoor adventures and places to hike with us through this column.)