In Search of Quiet

I live in an older neighborhood in Fort Wayne. While it has its charms, the area always seems noisy to me. From my backyard, you hear traffic on nearby busy streets, dogs constantly barking, doors slamming and lawn mowers droning. While the noise does ebb and flow based on the time and day of the week, sometimes it feels omnipresent. Walking at the Little River properties allows me some escape. While I love hiking the trails at the Little River properties, I often find myself in search of those places where I can find a level of quiet. I search out those places where my ears can hear the sounds of the woods. If you are like me, you may be looking for good places to get away from all the noise as well.

In my twenty-five plus years of hiking the trails, I have found two spots that are my favorites. The first is at Eagle Marsh, on trail six where it heads directly south to meet the railroad tracks. This small corner is probably a half mile hike from the trailhead, and I have never met anyone else while hiking back there. I frequently see deer crossing the trail and the adjoining woods are always full of birds. Twice I have spotted pileated woodpeckers while back there. The one time I was treated to a pair of these large and noisy birds high up in a large maple tree on the other side of the tracks. They were having, from their calls, some kind of marital pileated spat. I watched and listened to them for ten minutes before they flew off.

Of course, you can’t escape noise entirely. During the week the sounds from the landfill can be slightly annoying. However, this spot is far enough from the interstate allowing it to almost seem peaceful. Plus, for your viewing and listening pleasure, there is a bench back there where you can sit and enjoy the solitude and quiet.

My second spot, and my favorite, is at Arrowhead Prairie. This location is on the far end of Trail Two, on the far western edge of the property. It’s about a forty five minute hike to get back there but I believe it is well worth it. Hard to believe for southwestern Allen county, but this remote spot is actually quite far from any roads or buildings. One late October day I was graced with a woodcock using the trail for his/her dipsy doodle dance routine they do. In the early Fall, I have been treated to the unusual sound of the bull elk bugling just across the tracks at the nearby LC Nature Park. It’s surrounded by undeveloped ground and the drone of traffic on 24 is hardly noticeable.

Of course, even at Little River, the noise is a challenge due to the roar of the interstate and the occasional train. But there are ways to minimize these if you really want a quiet walk. You can be selective about when you hike. Getting out early on Sunday mornings can bring a reduced noise level due to lower traffic volumes. Or you can pay attention to the weather. If you are fortunate enough to be at Eagle Marsh when the wind is from the south or east, the highway noise can be greatly reduced and much less noticeable. The trains are another matter, their frequency varies, but their approach is always announced and the disruption seems to pass by and be gone in a minute or two.  

If you share my enthusiasm for hiking to those places where you can be alone with your thoughts, I hope you will seek out these quiet little areas. I am confident you will be rewarded for your efforts.