Perimeter Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Fall Colors · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Trails can get slick/muddy after a rain or during snow melt. There are no water points along the trail. There is a water fountain near the memorial but it is shut off during the cold months. There are bathrooms that are open during the warm months. These are closed during the cold and a port-o-let is used instead. Parking is usually not an issue unless there is an event. This is a park so there are established seasonal hours for use.

The trail is roughly a 2.5 mile closed loop that transits fields and forest. There are a few moderate rolling hills one can easily navigate. There are several small trail spurs that also connect to the Perimeter Trail to easily add mileage without having to out-and-back very far.

Start at the Veterans Memorial at the center of the park and head either clockwise or vice versa. Both directions are enjoyable. For this write up, the narrative takes you on a clockwise loop.

Once you start, the trail will take you along the east side of a little creek. About 2/10 of a mile in you'll cross the creek which is usually very low. Don't worry about getting your feet wet. There are some concrete blocks to use to cross. However, it the water is over the blocks you can do a brief detour to get around it.

For the first 1/4 mile you be mostly out in the open fields that offer great views of local flora and fauna. Then you'll enter a stand of pine forest for the next 1/2 mile. During this part you'll encounter your first small hill.

Upon leaving the pines, you'll have open fields to cross for the next mile while you meander up and down while seeing nice views of the memorial and old farm fields. At the 1.75 mile point, you'll enter another forested area that is mostly made up of oak and maple.

At the 2 mile point, you'll come upon a pavilion where you can take a seat for a rest. In the fall and winter months you can see beyond the trees and across Ring Road to see Freeman Lake (which offers an extension to this trail too). From the pavilion, the trail goes downhill and crosses the park access road. Once at the bottom, you can finish your loop via a paved trail that will return you to the Veteran's Memorial and the parking/pavilion area.

Oak, maple, pine, Bradford pear, red bud, dogwood, and many other flowering trees on blazing leaves. Wildflowers galore. Have seen squirrel, owl, hawk, chipmunk, and many bird varieties.