The set of trails in Smithville were often ignored in favor of more remote places, always assuming they were overly populated. This investigation turned out a wonderfully solitary and peaceful lakeside journey, wandering the paths accessible from the Smoke & Davey Trailhead.
The area appears mostly tailored to mountain biking, but on this cold and frozen day, few seemed attracted to the endeavor. The trail stood mostly empty and hardly used. Alone with the muffled sound of footsteps on frozen earth, interrupted only by a few spots of mud and the rustle of leaves, mingled with the crunch of snow, enabling an opportunity to think clearly. Occasionally a squirrel will scamper through, or a flock of geese raise a ruckus overhead, but no other sounds intrude on peace of mind.
Eventually, one path leads to another, which leads to another. Numerous trail markers identify paths that go this way and that crisscrossing a primary paved "backbone" trail. This area is probably heavily overgrown with foliage and ticks in the thick of summer. Winter is likely the best time in this particular realm.
