Event Canceled!
Due to the potential for the Trinity river to crest above flood stage,
the event has been canceled. If the event is rescheduled, NTOA will post
additional information at that time.
NTOA, in cooperation with the City of Dallas and the Trinity River Corridor Project, will
be running in the Great Trinity Forest. The navigation will be at the
beginner level and the event will be run Score-O style
The event will be held on the new Rochester Park Trail that is within the levees.
Some points may require traveling on marked routes directly through the forest (wear sturdy shoes and long pants).
You may decide to visit just a couple of controls while hiking on the trail. Or you may choose to travel a
bit faster and try to reach all of the controls within the time limit.
All participants must return to the finish within two-hours!
We hope you can join us to walk, hike and run in the Great Trinity Forest.
The Schedule
09:00 - 9:45 :
Check-In. You must arrive and check in with the registration crew by 9:45am.
10:00 :
Participants start the course.
10:00 - 12:00 :
Participants on the course. Every person must return to finish and check in by 12:00 PM.
12:30 :
Raffle. Or as soon as all runners are accounted for after 12:30 PM.
Other Event Information
Orienteering Survival Guide: If this is your first event, you
might like to read this event
description .
Equipment: Wear comfortable running shoes or hiking boots, long
pants or long nylon running pants for protection against underbrush,
eyewear to protect against branches, a watch as there is a time limit (3
hours unless noted otherwise), a whistle to call for help, and a compass.
The compass should be protractor-style with a clear baseplate that can be
purchased at many outdoor and sporting-goods stores for $10-$15.
Water:Water will be available at the start, finish and at
locations on the course. However, all participants are highly encouraged
to carry water to prevent dehydration.
Registration Information
This event is designed to introduce orienteering to the general public and introduce the
general public to the Great Trinity Forest area.
Please note:
Preregistration is required.
We will have maps and other materials only for those that have pre-registered.
The event is limited to 150 participants.
Online registrations will be rejected once that limit is reached.
Use the following link to see the limits and the available slots for the event and for the Score-O.
On event day you will turn in your waiver and receive
your punch card. Start times, maps and clue sheets will be provided at
the starting area.
Meet Director Notes
This will be the Forth Great Trinity Forest Adventure Hike since its inception in 2007.
The event is sponsored by the Trinity River Corridor Project of the City of Dallas with the
assistance of NTOA. The purpose of the event is to highlight the work that the City of
Dallas is doing to promote the vision of a more viable Trinity River corridor. This includes
but is not limited to incorporating green space for recreational use that might otherwise be
unused land.
The event is free and open to the public. Schools and Scouts may enter each attendee on an
individual basis but may enter as teams. Attendance will be limited to 150 on a first come
first serve basis. Food will be provided in the form of sandwich trays along with drinks. A
raffle will also be held upon the completion of the event. Each prize will have about the
same monetary value, so there is not a "Grand Prize".
Please read the course setters notes regarding the layout of the course and structure of the
event. Further, please be advised that this is a flood plain. The area frequently holds
water that prevents hikers/orienteers from using the entire area. The trail system that was
evident last year is mostly under water as this is written. Wildlife is generally not a
problem but there have been reports of snakes in warmer weather. So, be advised that you
should not turn over logs or pick up sticks. Although the danger is very low this time of
year you need to exercise due caution.
Enjoy the event.
Scott Morris
Course Setter Notes
The Trinity River Forest Hike is held in a flood plain of the Trinity River. Because of this
the area is frequently covered in water. Further, the soil composition prevents the water
from draining properly and therefore water remains long after a flooding event. Such is the
current case. The trail system that was used last year is mostly under water or is too
marshy to use. Even the open area around the lake is wet or muddy. So, be prepared to get
your shoes muddy. Therefore, most of the course is around the lake that looks suspiciously
like a well-known cartoon bad boy.
The event is a score-O. There are nine controls that will be numbered 1 through 9.
Participants are asked to find as many of the control points as they can in the allotted
time of two hours. You do not have to do the controls in order but be sure to punch the
correct box on your punch card. That is, control #1 is punched in box #1 of your card and
so on.
Some of the controls are on the trail system that is currently dry (sort of) and useable.
Other points are off trail but entrance points from clearings are marked with green flagging.
Be cautious when following the green streamers. Some are from last year and go in a
different direction than you need to. Remember, the controls are around the lake. Minor and
indistinct trails surround the lake and can be used for navigating but grass and dead
ragweed was high at the time of this writing. Otherwise, route choice is very limited. There
is very little contour difference and even fewer topographic features to be used for
navigating.
There will be a mass start at 10AM. It is recommended that you try not to go for controls 1
through 3 at first. Most will go for those first and there will be a bottleneck. Control #8
is by a canal that is usually not crossable. The depth is unknown so try not to cross it to
get back to the pavilion. Control #9 appears out of numerical order but it is placed to try
to entice people to come back that way and to avoid crossing the canal to get back. There
will not be a green streamer marking the entrance point for #9. You should be able to figure
that out. Finally, the distance between points is relative not absolute. Pacing is not a
viable option.
Remember to wear suitable clothing for these conditions.
Scott Morris
Location and Directions
Online Maps and Directions
Address: Rochester Park, 3000 Municipal St, Dallas, Tx 75215
