Thank you everyone for the compliments! When I first loaded the pics, I was actually a bit disappointed in them but I think it's just because you can't truly capture the beauty of it in a picture compared to seeing it in person. Later when I looked at them, they looked better to me.

Mommyof3cats, you will have to let me know if you ever plan to come to this area and visit the park, I'd love to meet up with you there! It's very close by, I can get there in a few minutes and have a season pass .

Debbie, thank you! And now it seems obvious when I look at them what they are . I would have recognized them later in the year. I usually don't get out hiking much until everything is blooming and leafed out, but I'm glad I've gone earlier this year because even though not much has bloomed and budded out yet, it is still quite beautiful.

I just read they are going to be doing a controlled burning sometime between today and the end of April. I was a little disappointed because although I understand the necessity of it and that it will actually look better in the long run, I hate how it makes everything sooty and black for awhile. But it is only to be in certain parts of the park.

Thank you again, I truly enjoyed sharing these.