The snow is gone, and we can finally venture outdoors without all that cold weather gear. Of course, our first outing in the Sumpter Valley Gold Dredge State Park was even nicer since we just lived through winter. Signs of  life were everywhere as we made our way through the park on the well-groomed trails. The trails are open and the snow is gone but the green of spring has not quite shown up yet. The trails are only under a mile each, but they offer a nice walk and it will be hard for the visitor to remember they are within city limits and walking distance of  their lodging as they traverse these trails. Whether you are an avid bird watcher, nature lover, or just want to stretch your legs, you will enjoy the Sumpter Valley Dredge Trails! The trails surround the Dredge and wind through actual Dredge Tailings left behind by the Dredge. You can see how nature bounced has bounced back from extensive Gold Mining since the Dredge ceased operations in the Sumpter Valley over approx. 60 years ago. Right now, you can use the trails to walk around the Dredge and enjoy this historical landmark from the outside.....and then you can tour the Dredge on the inside when the season opens officially on May 1st, but the Park is open year round. In the winter, you can exchange your hiking boots for snowshoes and enjoy the same trails when nature blankets the area in snow....during the season, you can ride your ATV to the dredge and during the winter, you can ride to the Dredge on your snowmobile. Of course, just walking on the trails is nice too!