Another “Close to Home” ActivityThe Shrine Hike

Here at Starlight Ridge, we have many activities that are “close to home”. Some, you can just step out your back door and enjoy. One such activity is the “Shrine Hike”.

GPS map of the Shrine Hike

This hike covers 2.66 miles total, travelling out-and-back, as opposed to a loop. What will you find to make this hike worth your while? How about a cool foot trail? Literally cool, as in shady and beautiful both.

So, how do we find this gorgeous trail right out our back door? Simply walk out the Starlight Ridge back gate, the one with the pin pad, and turn right. Continue walking straight until you run out of concrete.

Walk straight past the barricade denoting illegal access for motorized vehicles and continue for a very short distance until you see a foot trail both to your left and right. If you walk up to a trail that looks large enough to accommodate an ATV at the top of the ridge, you’ve passed the foot trail and should turn back.

Shortly into the hike, you will encounter a mountain bike obstacle. Mountain bikers also use this trail and make an occasional modification. Ensure that you go straight over the obstacle to the trail directly across the clearing.

Next, you will pass by the interesting “Hole in the Rock”. The name describes it perfectly. Local mountain biker lore suggests that all your sins will be forgiven by crawling through the hole in the rock. My dogs must be saints by now.

Just past Hole in the Rock, you will cross an ATV Trail for the first time. Cross the ATV trail and keep on going on the foot trail on the other side. Don’t forget to look around you for nice views of the surrounding area as you hike.

After pleasantly strolling through the trees, you will cross the ATV trail a second time. Continue across and on the foot path for more pleasant strolling through the trees. Sometime later the trail will turn sharply left and you may notice some houses and private property on your right. At this point, you don’t have very far to go. Make that final push and you will arrive at the Shrine. Careful not to miss it, as it is on the right hand side. You will find it just before a third ATV trail crossing. A local high school kid built the Shrine partly as a memorial to a friend of his who planned to enter the Marine Corps. I found myself impressed by the skill and amount of effort he put into it.

You have completed the out portion of the hike. At this point, you turn around and return the way you came. If you are feeling adventurous and feel confident in your abilities, you can elongate the hike or return by a different way.

Be careful, as you may meet interesting wildlife along the way. Make sure to take plenty of water and be aware of both time and your energy reserves.