May 23, 2025 (Victory!)

Big Creek Greenway – Haynes Bridge Park to Rock Mill Park and back

9958 steps / ~4.4 miles

I left the house today in my mud shoes, thinking I was going to walk the nature trail section. However, the more I thought about it, I realized: I wasn’t flaring up, I slept enough last night…I was ready to tackle the last (main) section of the Big Creek Greenway!

Today was a beautiful day as I went down the path at Haynes Bridge Park and went in the opposite direction than usual, heading towards Rock Mill Park. On the way there, I passed several deer, several brave squirrels, and even a wedding party!

I also passed a few interesting signs: a few that said “Environmentally Sensitive Area – Please stay on trail” (I’m still curious about what that’s about) and one denoting a high water mark, where Big Creek had apparently experienced record flooding. It reminded me of why I became fascinated with Big Creek in the first place: apparently this particular creek is very prone to flooding. I wonder why.

I found more really cool paintings along the way. I passed a few smaller creeks and once again got to take a bridge over *the* Big Creek. Approaching Rock Mill Park from the other direction felt like a homecoming: I was finally completing the circle (even though it’s a straight line…)

Once I’d reached Rock Mill Park, used the bathroom there, and sat in the stone amphitheater area for a while, I headed back to the trail and made a stop before moving ahead.

That stop? The first bench I remembered sitting on, the one I used to catch my breath before going back to Ed Isakson YMCA the first time I walked that section. Once again, it felt like everything had come full circle.

As I walked back to Haynes Bridge Park, I felt elated. Yes, my ankle was acting up, but I’d chosen the perfect day to conclude my journey: it was in the high 70s, mostly sunny, not too sweaty. Not only did I feel accomplished – I felt good about how much I’ve walked in the last few months.

There are still sections of the trail I’d like to revisit. I’d like to do the nature trail and I’d like to see what Beaver Creek Rd. Park is about once that’s open. But as of today, I’ve walked the entirety of the main path of the Big Creek Greenway. I achieved my New Year’s resolution towards the end of May, which is probably a new record for me. Sure, I got started in 2024, but this counts.

I’m making it count, lol.

(Future edit: And I plan to walk the Forsyth County sections once they’re no longer under construction. At the time I wrote this, I didn’t know there was a Forsyth County section, with its own map and everything. I’m still reeling from this discovery omg)