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Basecamp Trips: Trail Mix Your region’s go-now guide CENTRAL InstaWinner Tag your best wilderness pics #BPmag and follow @backpackermag. Joseph Wendell, 32, snapped this photo of Duncan Bay (foreground), Five Fingers Bay (midground), and Lake Superior (background) from Lookout Louise in Isle Royale National Park. “Look for moose, beavers, loons, and wolves when you visit,” he says. P H O T O S B Y ( F R O M L E F T ) J O S E P H W E N D E L L ; D A R R E N B E N N E T T / A N I M A L S A N I M A L S . T E X T B Y S A R A H L . S T E W A R T ( P E R F E C T D A Y S ) , N A T H A N P I P E N B E R G ( S O L I T U D E F I N D E R ) , A N D S T U A R T P E C K ( S E E T H I S N O W ) Head into a 1.8-million-acre forest, seek out what local scouts consider the most isolated trail, and what do you get? Silence. Find it on this 9.9-mile overnight in southeastern Oklahoma’s Ouachita National Forest via the Beech Creek Blue Bouncer Trail. Because the path isn’t maintained by the Forest Service, many sections require bushwhack- ing, which deters visitors. Brave the brush-narrowed trail (the entire loop is blazed), and you can expect 360-degree, clifftop views over a lush valley car- peted in budding, yellow American beeches (peaking in April). From the Beech Creek trailhead (90 miles southeast of McAlester), descend .9 mile south to an intersection with the Blue Bouncer Trail. Turn right to tackle its white-blazed north end, and climb to a pine-filled plateau with views across the narrow val- ley to the opposing cliffs. At mile 7.5, cross a Beech Creek tributary and enjoy a secluded camp (with reliable water) atop pillow-like grass. Next morning, follow the trail 1.5 miles to a .9-mile spur back to the trailhead.CONTACT (479) 394-2382; fs.usda.gov/ ouachitaTRIP DATA bit.ly/0314BeechCreek Indianapolis, IN Red Springs Loop Spot spring wildflowers like snow-white trillium plus a rust-colored, iron-rich spring on this surprisingly rugged, 1.1- mile loop. Then browse for treasures of a differ- ent kind—like rare books and vintage furniture— along Antique Alley in nearby Richmond and Centerville (visitrich- mond.org.) Trip data bit. ly/0314RedSprings Houston, TX George Bush Park Bring the kids for this flat, 4.2-mile loop through grassy meadows and a riparian bayou in the city limits. Afterward, dodge friendly fire with a round of family laser tag at Laser Quest ($8/per- son/game; laserquest .com). Trip data bit .ly/0314GeorgeBush Columbia, MO Shoreline Trail Walk the hardwood- shaded banks of a peaceful, 205-acre lake that’s home to bass, crappie, catfish, and bullfrogs on this 3.4-mile out-and-back. Bring a mountain bike to explore more than 5 miles of trails winding through the limestone outcrops and native grasslands of 230-acre Grindstone Nature Area on the way back (gocolumbiamo .com). Trip data bit .ly/0314ShorelineTrail Perfect Days #IsleRoyaleNP #MI Solitude Finder Beech Creek Blue Bouncer Trail, Ouachita NF, OK