In a time of social distancing it is recommended we find outdoor activities away from crowds of people.   Every spring we hike on the Lower Rose Trails and it is rare to encounter anyone else.   A series of interconnected trails provide opportunities for shorter loop hikes through the sagebrush slopes.   the main access points are off streets like Parkhill Drive, or a downhill traverse from Rose Hill Park, but I prefer an old track that climbs up just off Rose Hill Road below the trailer park.   There are many possible routes and anyone who hikes the area will have to make choices at intersections.   My favorite trail is the one at the south end which winds along the heads of gullies on the south side.   All trails bearing north return back to the main trail system, providing loop opportunities.

The whole sloped area is covered in sagebrush and grass.   Single dirt tracks used my mountain bikers, dog walkers, and hikers follow ridges and gullies.   Mount Peter and Mount Paul stand across the valley to the north.

The west side of the trails looks out over the Rose Hill trailer Park, with views into the City.

On this day, I explored lesser-traveled single tracks and gullies, exploring.   In one of the larger gullies were some old car wrecks, rusting and being enclosed by shrubs.

This sedan had been separated from its motor and the wheels were buried in silts.

This van had flipped and over time mosses were growing on the door.

We also spotted a small old grow-op, some discarded machine parts, several sinkholes, some derelict fence lines, glacial erratics, an abandoned coyote den, and a number of wildflowers, including this yellow bell on the open slopes.

Meadowlarks and robins flitted along the sagebrush and shrubs.   We spot deer sign and some coyote scats.   We enjoyed the spring breezes, away from the crowds.   We will return to the Lower Rose Trails.