|
| | | |
| |
|
| Hiking | 0.90 Miles |
|
| | Hiking | 0.90 Miles | 25 Mns | | 2.16 mph |
| | | |
| |
| Linked |
|
none
[ show ]
| no linked trail guides |
| Partners |
|
none
[ show ]
| no partners | | This is a short interpretive trail in Theodore Roosevelt National Park. It makes for a mellow, family-friendly leg-stretcher in the heart of the park. I did it early in the morning as a warm-up for another hike. Bison, wild horses and deer were all present near the trailhead.
Some history on why it's called the Coal Vein Trail:
There are a lot of natural coal veins in the badlands area. Occasionally, these veins will be ignited. Lightning, brush fires and spontaneous combustion are all causes. The coal will then burn away both above and below ground. Below ground, the coal will burn out causing the ground above to "slump" into a depression caused by the now-absent coal. Above ground, the heat will oxidize the iron in the surrounding rocks turning it a natural red-brick color known as "scoria." The fire in this area burned while this was an active national park. It burned from 1951-1977. Park visitors were known to roast marshmallows over the burning coals! |
| _____________________
"I've driven across deserts, driven by the irony, that only being shackled to the road could ever I be free"
- Frank Turner "The Road" |
| | |
|
|
|
Route Editor
Route Scout
Route 
