With fresh shoes, I stepped on the ground carpeted with freshly fallen leaves from the mesmerizing trees above. Their leaves were many shades of vibrant oranges and yellows, deep reds and browns, slowly fading greens. Each step I took, I felt the crunch of all the leaves below me, a sign that the season was finally changing. The trail was enveloped in a canopy of tall trees that seemed to reach out to the heavens. Their branches were swaying in the wind, and their long shadows were cast upon the ground below. Sunlight fell to the ground through the gaps in the branches. The air was alive with the invigorating breeze that rustled through the branches. My dad and I couldn't help but be astonished by the sight in front of and above us. 

The sound of the woods was a symphony. Dozens of birds chirping, the wind blowing through the maze of trees, and the many small animals moving through the mess of leaves on the ground, it all made for quite the orchestra.

We continued our journey. The trail led to a slow flowing creek. The water glistened in the sunlight from above. We took a moment to sit on a boulder and dip our fingers into the cool stream. The sensation of the clear water running over our hands was a direct connection to nature.

The trail continued to surprise us as we progressed, Our sense of wonder deepened with each twist and turn. The trail wove us through thickets of wildflowers, their vibrant petals a contrast to the earthy tones of the leaves underfoot. Bees and butterflies flitted among the blossoms, adding their own harmonious notes to the woodland orchestra. 

With the sun beginning to dip below the horizon, we made our way back, retracing our steps through the ever-changing wonders of the forest. Hiking this trail had been a journey that connected us to the beauty of the changing seasons and the marvels of the wilderness.