A Winter Stroll at Ha Ha Tonka State Park

The two-hour drive to Ha Ha Tonka State Park felt quite long 😌. Outside, the weather was cold, but inside the car it was warm and cozy—enough to make one drowsy. Fortunately, I wasn’t the driver, so I could relax into the comfort 🚗💨. When we arrived, the trees had already shed their autumn leaves, standing bare against the pale sky 🍂. I came a bit too late this year to see the vibrant fall colors. However, the lake view made up for it: many hawks were circling above, their wings spread wide as they glided through the quiet air 🦅. They swooped low over the water now and then, riding the wind upward—a serene yet impressive sight. I was so captivated that I forgot to record a video, leaving the scene only in my memory 📸. Near the dock, the clear water revealed schools of fish, each about the length of a forearm 🐟. They swam leisurely among the rocks, likely unaware that they were being watched from above—these fish were probably the feast the hawks were waiting for. The burned castle ruins still stand on the hill in the park. I had seen photos of it covered in snow, the white blanket over the rubble resembling a scene from a fairy tale ❄️🏰. Under today’s clear skies, the ruins felt more historically solemn. A snowy visit would surely add more poetry to the view. After a gentle hike along the trail, I returned to the parking lot. When I looked down at the ground, the soil and fallen leaves seemed to drift slowly, like a gently flowing river 🌊. This was probably an illusion caused by my eyes adjusting from motion to stillness. Nature often reminds us in such subtle ways that our bodies and senses are constantly adapting to the world’s rhythms. And so, the weariness of the journey gradually dissipated in the lake breeze, leaving my mind refreshed 🍃. Even in winter’s quietness, I witnessed the hawks’ flight, the lake’s calm, and the gentle “flow” of the earth. The trip was brief, yet enough to renew the spirit. Until next time—see you again in the future 👋🌟. #NatureEssay #WinterWalk #HawksOverLake #StateParkMemories #TravelMoments #OutdoorTherapy #QuietTime