Mill Mountain loop, Roanoke: Star Trail, Wood Thrush Trail, Ridge Line Trail, Star Trail. About 5 miles.
With a road race on Saturday and the demands of Mother’s Day on Sunday, we set out earlier than usual on a walk of a shorter distance than usual. And into a day that was so crisp and clear as to be perfect. And up a local treasure that deserves to be visited regularly – for its overall gentleness, pretty forest and its pass across the top of Mill Mountain.
The Star Trail begins up a rock road; the Wood Thrush Trail, a fairly new path on the mountain, veers off to the left at the water tank, and makes its way easily along the east flank of the mountain before popping out onto the Mill Mountain Parkway Spur. Across the road, the Ridge Line Trail heads up the mountain from the south, passes the zoo and emerges at the visitor center (closed on Sunday till 1 pm!). On this Mother’s Day, before noon, the mountaintop was already filling with families making their way to the zoo or to the picnic tables scattered around the open area behind the lower overlook.
The beauty of the day was verified at the Star overlook, where visibility was the best we have ever seen. The mountains to the west were so sharply defined as to be much more easily identified than usual, and we agreed that the Catholic Hill cluster – highlighted by St. Andrew’s Church – was so bright and stark that it seemed to have its own lighting source.
Wacky puppy Cookie, gaining both confidence and endurance with each passing hike, took off into the woods after a squirrel and later after two sets of deer. The Day Hiker paused for only a few wildflowers, sounding the lone  minor note of a great little walk into a perfect day.
May 10, 2009
