River Walk Nature Area

Some places don’t reveal themselves right away. In all the times I had looked at the map for places to explore, River Walk Natural Area somehow got missed for the longest time. When I finally noticed it on the map, curiosity got the better of me, so I set out one early morning to see what I had been missing.

The preserve sits quietly among open fields, and my first impression was that it felt like one of those hidden places local children might discover on a hot summer afternoon and return to again and again. The trails were more overgrown than I expected, giving the woods a secret garden feeling, as though nature had slowly begun reclaiming the paths. Because I arrived early, the morning was filled with sounds that felt wonderfully rural. Roosters crowed somewhere in the distance, chickens on a nearby farm announced the beginning of their day, and birds filled the trees with song. Chipmunks rustled through the undergrowth, and judging by the well-worn paths weaving through the grasses, it seemed the deer made better use of these trails than people did. Although the river is the heart of the preserve, I didn’t linger there as long as I had hoped. The mosquitoes were, without question, the most persistent I’ve encountered during any of my explorations. Even with insect repellent, they seemed determined to convince me my visit should be shorter than planned.

I suspect this would be a wonderful place to visit in early spring or autumn, when cooler temperatures make it easier to slow down and enjoy the riverbank. Even so, there was something quietly charming about this little preserve. It felt less like a destination and more like a forgotten corner of the countryside patiently waiting for someone to wander through.

A Personal Experience

As with many of the places I visit, something happened here that stayed with me long after I left. Early in my walk, I sensed what I perceived to be the presence of a Sasquatch being somewhere within the preserve. I wasn’t sure whether we would interact, so I simply continued exploring without giving it much thought. It wasn’t until I had turned back toward the parking area that I began to feel as though someone was quietly walking beside me. I simply said hello and continued on my way.

For reasons I can’t explain, I found myself singing as I walked. Not performing—just singing to the trees, the wildflowers, the birds, and whatever else might be listening. Somewhere along the trail, I stopped feeling like an adult taking a walk through a park. Instead, I felt like a child again. The kind of child who sings simply because singing feels good. As that feeling grew, I became aware of something that surprised me. It seemed as though a joyful crowd of little beings—gnomes, elves, fairies, or whatever words best fit them—were dancing alongside me. I wasn’t seeing them with my eyes, but I felt their presence as vividly as I have ever sensed anything in nature. It reminded me of a passage in R. Ogilvie Crombie’s Encounters With Nature Spirits, although my experience was one of feeling rather than seeing. Whether someone understands this as imagination, intuition, spiritual experience, or simply the freedom that comes from feeling completely present in nature is for each person to decide. For me, it felt like the forest was celebrating something I had forgotten for a long time—that joy doesn’t always need a reason. Sometimes it simply wants company.

What This Place Gave Me

River Walk Natural Area reminded me that wonder often arrives when we stop worrying about looking foolish. Somewhere between the birdsong and the overgrown trails, I was reminded what it felt like to delight in the world with the uncomplicated heart of a child.

Bring The Beauty Home