I was not sure what to expect when
I went to the Hoodlebug Trail, but when I got to the entrance by the IUP South
Campus I was pleasantly surprised. It is fortunate that my first visit to this
place was in the fall because the trail was beautiful. In walking only a few
steps down the trail you become enclosed in trees that are changing colors. The
traffic around is still heard, and you are separated from the railway by only
an older rustic fence. They have a picnic table and an information stand in a
little piece of grass. Every once in a while the trail will give way to a major
roadway to remind people that they will never be totally separate from the
world they live in.
I
was lucky enough to go to the Hoodlebug Trail on a Friday around 3:00pm for my
first visit, which happens to be a busy time on the trail. In the fall on a
Friday the trail is full of people doing various activities. From my
observations the trail seems to be used for personal health reasons. Many
people were using it for working out. People running, walking, and biking all
seemed to be enjoying the trail and their ages varied. In addition, it seems as
though the army uses it as a training site for the young men in the ROTC. Just
being on this trail made me want to go on a run and bring my bike up from home
so I could also enjoy the beautiful area.
