Mistress

Dogs Leashed

Despite being directly across Highway 169 from the more popular Black Diamond Open Space trails, Lake Sawyer Trails have a distinct personality all their own. They tend to be more rugged, with plantlife reflecting their proximity to the lake, rivers, and sloughs that run through the area. With all that water comes a noticeable increase in humidity, and the 10-20% boost can be especially noticeable on hot days. The trails here also receive less maintenance than those on the east side of the highway, so be on the lookout for blackberry vines and stinging nettles or other areas of overgrowth.

More inviting and forgiving than the somewhat rocky Mainline, Mistress makes for an excellent start or finish to a run in Lake Sawyer. The southern end of the trail is accessed via Old Railroad Grade directly across from Mainline's southern end. Look for a vertical sign on a tree near a comfortably wide dirt singletrack headed east into the foliage. Comprised mostly of soft dirt and pine needles, with only the occasional root or rock to contend with, Mistress makes for a smooth run. Coupled with very few inclines, it's the perfect trail for new runners, though it also draws a fair amount of pedestrian traffic—run with caution.

Take a sharp left just after the start to stay on track; continuing straight takes runners onto Dog Run. Mistress gently winds through the shady trees, with a few spots opening to the sky. Buster awaits after a short easy incline. The trail splits shortly thereafter, but comes back together again after a hundred feet. Mistress then enters its most challenging segment, relatively speaking, as it descends about forty feet. At the bottom, views of Cranberry Slough—where cranberries aren't actually grown—open up to the left. Pass a decaying bike ramp on the left with a brief climb.

Mistress dead ends shortly afterwards at Creature. Head right for an alternative entry point off of Highway 169 which is a bit more in line with the Black Diamond parking area, or go left to return to Mainline.