Texas Sky, Lake Mineral Wells (Crosstimbers Trail)

Texas Sky, Lake Mineral Wells (Crosstimber Trail), originally uploaded by Mark Nesmith.

Here's a lesser known side of vacationing at Lake Mineral Wells State Park. On the North side of the lake, the Crosstimbers Back Country Trails offers hiking, biking, and horse trails that take gentle to moderate slopes through grassy hills and woods.  Some are partially paved but most are gravel/dirt combinations. The area was a training ground for chopper pilots during Vietnam. There's a few small memorials of soldiers who served, and lots of clearings that were used to train the pilots to airlift soldiers in and out of combat. After a day of hiking the rocky and more rugged trails around the lake, my family and I often hike these trails in the evening and watch, awestruck, as the sun begins it's descent and the woods give way to beautiful expanses of Texas sky. This is a 12" x 16" oil on canvas painting, and I have to honestly say that the colors are much more vibrant and beautiful in person.