Alley Pond Park continued.
Recently I returned to Alley Pond Park in Queens to explore the northern wetland section of the park and, of course, to revisit the Queens Giant. Though I've walked many of the other trails in the park, I've yet to walk the yellow-blazed trail which circles Alley Creek. I parked my car in the lot nearest to the southern terminus of the marked trails and headed north on the white trail first then picked up the orange trail. I thought this trail would be the most direct route to the Giant. I followed an unmarked trail back to the white trail and exited the woods near the intersection of West Alley Road and 233rd Street.
I crossed West Alley Road and then the overpass above the Long Island Expressway (LIE). I re-entered the park at Horace Harding Expy. and E. Hampton Blvd., following the purple-blazed Tulip Tree trail. The trail turns south towards the LIE. I looked towards the area of the Giant and spotted the tree quickly – it's the only one in the valley with a fence around its base. I followed the trail along the edge of the LIE to the opposite side of the hill from the Giant to get a good view of it and then descended into the valley for a closer look.
From the other side of the valley the tree already looked bigger than the rest, though several are quite large as well. Once I stood near the tree, I noticed the tree's large trunk, perhaps two times the size of the other trees. Though not nearly as large, the tree's size compared to the surrounding trees reminded me of the giant redwoods and sequoias of California.
After visiting the Giant I continued along the purple trail which parallels the southbound side of the Cross Island Parkway (CIP). Looking to the east, I could see the Alley Creek section of the park. Continuing north, I crossed Cloverdale Boulevard to have a quick look at Oakland Lake before continuing east on Northern Boulevard towards the Alley Pond Environmental Center (APEC).
APEC was completely under construction and a sign directed me to a detour to the yellow trail. I went south on the trail, along the northbound side of the CIP. Once I reached the east side of the trail, away from the noise of the highway, I was immersed in the natural sounds of the area: wind moving through the reeds, flowing streams and springs, and bird calls.
The part of the trail furthest from the highway is quiet and must be a birder's paradise. I spotted several species of birds and possibly a beaver, which quickly hid in a stream as I approached. Walking among the high reeds and other vegetation gives the area a 'wild' feeling, that nature is allowed to do (mostly) what it pleases. I only saw a handful of people on this cool, sunny March morning. As I walked back from Little Neck bridge, past Oakland Lake, past the Giant, and through the woods back to the parking lot, I was grateful for being able to witness this remaining wilderness so close to my hometown.
Until next time,
KW
Sources:
https://www.nycgovparks.org/pagefiles/145/AlleyPond-Trails-2019__5dde87a3ebb41.pdf
https://ny.curbed.com/2016/6/9/11891372/nyc-parks-alley-creek-queens-photo-essay