About the Hike: This is an easy 2.4-mile trail with a modest 252-foot elevation gain. You'll trek along the path, looping both the upper and lower portions of the lake. Dogs are welcome on this trail, offering off-leash opportunities along the way.
We went to explore this trail on a beautiful morning in late October. The sun was peeking out from between the clouds, turning the lake into a stunning mirror that reflected the towering pines along the shoreline. I was captivated by the breathtaking beauty of this fall day, pausing on the bridge to soak in the scene of the dog, and the man and his daughter fishing atop a huge boulder.
At the start of the hike, I could tell fall was definitely in the air from the crispness of the air, to the leaves sprinkled across the forest floor.
As we walked along the pathway, all shades of orange, yellow, and red leaves floated down around us.
The moss thrived in the shadow of the towering pines, spreading over boulders, and trees. My imagination burst with images of faires, and wizards in this dazzling electric green wonderland.
We ventured onward from this emerald green oasis, following a wooden pathway that wove along the shimmering lake's shoreline on our right. To our left, a captivating scene unfolded with boulders and majestic pine trees sprouting from the crevices, adding to the enchanting landscape.
The wooden path turned into a steep dirt trail leading to a tunnel under the road.
The sunshine turned the tunnel into a dazzling golden shimmer as we approached the exit!
We exited, and began to hear the
faint sound of rushing water. The more we walked, the louder it got. We turned around, and there it was—a breathtaking waterfall.
We heard a rustle in the trees, and a gorgeous red lab came bursting through and ran up to the falls.
From here, we confidently ascended the ridge to continue our hike.
At the top was a utility line we followed for a quarter of mile, this was my least favorite part of the loop.
We eventually took a left and went back into the woods. To our surprise, we ended up at Morrell Sanctuary.
From here, the beauty of this hike was back.
There were additional trails throughout the nature sanctuary, but exploring those was for another day. We continued along the leaf-covered pathway towards the exit.
We crossed the highway and walked along the road a short distance before heading back into the woods.
I was glad to see the lake coming back into view after hiking a short distance. It was totally cool to see this pine tree growing horizontally into the water. It was large enough to practice your balance and walk out on.
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Seeing the parking lot just a few yards up the trail was a bittersweet moment. This hike is definitely one of my favorites on the island.
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