Tucker and I have been to some pretty majestic places:sweeping vistas of mountain ranges, endless forests to traipse through; lakes and waterfalls abound. So this one was a little different. But I supposed that’s what you get when you take a tip not from a hiking website but from Atlas Obscura.
Now that we’re in the south in spring time, hiking times and days are limited. Either we’re rained out or we’re heated out. There’s very little in between. One night after work, figuring it would at least be in the lower 70’s rather than high 90’s with 90% humidity, Tucker and I took a short drive to a little-known trail in a little-known park just around the corner.
Now that we’re in the south in spring time, hiking times and days are limited. Either we’re rained out or we’re heated out. There’s very little in between. One night after work, figuring it would at least be in the lower 70’s rather than high 90’s with 90% humidity, Tucker and I took a short drive to a little-known trail in a little-known park just around the corner.
Although off a main thoroughfare of a road, Constitution Lakes is still hidden away, only available to those seeking it. Sharing a driveway with a business, you wouldn’t think to look over there to the sign, almost hidden in the trees you need to pass under to get to the super secret parking lot.
Once under the canopy of trees, civilization and the road seem miles away. There are two trailheads—each on on opposite ends of the parking lot. To the right, there is a sketchy hand-written sign “Dolls Head That Way <——“
That's right, we’re here for the Dolls Head Trail. Because sometimes Tucker and I don’t need to experience the art of Nature. Sometimes we just want to feel like we’re part of a 1980’s horror movie.
I followed the instructions, and took the left trail, which ultimately is just a big loop, but why not experience it as intended?
The first portion of the hike is just a simple walk in the woods.
Once under the canopy of trees, civilization and the road seem miles away. There are two trailheads—each on on opposite ends of the parking lot. To the right, there is a sketchy hand-written sign “Dolls Head That Way <——“
That's right, we’re here for the Dolls Head Trail. Because sometimes Tucker and I don’t need to experience the art of Nature. Sometimes we just want to feel like we’re part of a 1980’s horror movie.
I followed the instructions, and took the left trail, which ultimately is just a big loop, but why not experience it as intended?
The first portion of the hike is just a simple walk in the woods.
Although there was an occasional hint that this wasn't just a walk in the woods.
The wide path became some well-made boardwalks to go up and over the sometimes-marshy spots.
Although once a brick factory property, this is now a wildlife refuge. Those giant crevices and holes left by humans who excavated Mother Nature’s interior were filled out by Mother Nature with life-giving water once humans left. The rains came down, and lakes were formed.
The boardwalks led us to the lakes.
The boardwalks led us to the lakes.
Beautiful decks and piers were placed around the lake and a few people fished by the dying light of day. Tucker and I followed the path, careful of the poison ivy (the warnings are everywhere.) The closer we got, the more signs we spotted that we were headed in the right direction.
Abandoned properties tend to become human’s trash piles. But not bags of your household waste. The big things. The odd things. Like refrigerators, old tires, broke TV’s… and an alarming amount of dolls.
One man saw this as an opportunity.
One man saw this as an opportunity.
He asked parkgoers to collect any of these items of “trash” as they walked along, and then make them into a “treasure,” placing them along this found art gallery trail. The rules still apply:
Although only a small loop within this large refuge, Tucker and I took our time, appreciating the art and creativity. Some were cute:
And some were a little creepy...
Tucker seemed to enjoy them all. It was his first gallery attendance. Not often a dog gets to appreciate art.
Given the nature of the elements involved, I'm sure there was a whole olfactory experience I was missing out on that Tucker truly appreciated.
The visuals were plenty interesting enough for me. I looked for the creative over the creepy, although any time a doll's head is involved, you can't have one without the other.
At the end of our tour, we carried on, back on the boardwalk across the lakes.
Then through the woods, where we found a second project: a tire pile. A sign requested that should we venture down to the stream, would we be so kind to take a tire up and place it here.
It seems many people were able to do that. Perhaps a Rubber Trail will be the next art gallery here.
The rest of the trail was on soft earth, and I appreciated the variety in such a small area.
The rest of the trail was on soft earth, and I appreciated the variety in such a small area.
Even without the Dolls Head trail, it was a lovely after work walk a million miles away, and yet just around the corner. The south has a lot of unique hidden places—you just have to want to experience them to find them. Whether it’s a serene lake or some creepy art tucked away in the woods (or both), there’s something for everyone.
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