I love hiking.
If you’ve spent any amount of time around me, that’s probably not a surprise. Give me a trail, a mountain, and an entire day to wander, and I’m perfectly happy.
Josh, on the other hand, doesn’t quite share my enthusiasm for spending an entire day hiking.
And honestly, I get it.
When you only have 48 hours in a weekend, dedicating one of those days entirely to walking up and down a mountain isn’t everyone’s idea of fun.
Over the past few years, we’ve both learned that relationships require compromise, especially when it comes to hobbies and activities. We’ve each had to make room for the things the other person loves.
One of our favorite compromises is found on Bartonville Mountain.
Located just south of Brant Lake, Bartonville offers both hiking and mountain biking trails that lead to the summit and a beautiful overlook of the lake below. Since the bike trails are essentially uphill the entire way—and that’s definitely not my idea of a good time on two wheels—I’ve come to enjoy hiking while Josh explores the mountain by bike.
The best part?
We usually end up reaching the top, and later the bottom, at almost the same time.
Trip Report
6/1/2019
The trailhead is located at the far end of the parking lot behind The Hub, a local bike shop and eatery that serves as the gateway to the trail system.
Both hikers and bikers begin their adventures from this area, although there is a designated hiking-only trail that allows you to avoid bike traffic for much of the ascent. Mountain bikes always have the right of way on the shared trails, so it’s important to stay aware of your surroundings when the routes overlap.
On this particular day, I chose the hiking trail known as “Jack and Jill.”
The trail begins with a moderately steep climb before easing into a gentler grade. It follows this pattern for much of the hike—short climbs interspersed with easier stretches that allow you to catch your breath and enjoy the woods.
Along the way, there are occasional glimpses of the bike trails and views back toward the parking area, but for the most part, the trail winds quietly through the forest. Eventually, the trees open up to reveal one of the mountain’s highlights: a scenic overlook of Brant Lake.
From the overlook, the route continues along shared trails toward the summit. Follow the trails to the intersection of Constellation and Rick’s Run, then turn right onto Rick’s Run to reach the true summit of Bartonville Mountain.
I headed straight for the summit, expecting Josh to be already waiting there.
Instead, I beat him.
For someone who spends a lot of time walking uphill, it felt like a small but satisfying victory.
After snapping a few selfies together at the summit, we made our way back down to the overlook where we settled in for some snacks and enjoyed the view across Brant Lake.
Lately, I’ve been spending a lot of time watching videos from hikers tackling long-distance trails like the Appalachian Trail and Pacific Crest Trail. Their stories inspired me to try creating a hiking video of my own, so I spent part of the day experimenting with filming along the trail.
It may not have been a months-long thru-hike, but it was a reminder that adventures don’t have to be epic to be meaningful.
Sometimes they’re found in a small mountain above a lake, where one person hikes, the other bikes, and somehow you both end up exactly where you’re supposed to be.
Trip Stats
- Distance: 1.9 miles
- Total Time: 2 hours
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 1634ft./-618ft.
- Weather: partly cloudy
- GPS System: Gaia GPS (image below from OnXBackcountry)
Rating
7/10
I love that this is a location that allows us both to do the things we love – and still sort of be together while doing it.
Happy Hiking!
