Hike #10 - Clark Trail at Lake Wilson

I had noticed Lake Wilson on a map of the city months ago and had wondered if there was anything there to explore.  Just this morning some friends tipped us off to the trail there, and because this 2.5 mile loop is so close to home we thought we would try something different.  We finished dinner, left the dishes on the table, and did our first sunset hike.  The late April evening weather was perfect for a windows down drive.

Lake Wilson was the original water supply for the city of Fayetteville, but has now been replaced by Beaver Lake.  Joe and Maxine Clark were conservation minded citizens who helped support the growth of the local trail system.  This is a great trail, and we cannot believe we did not even know it existed.

The lake is very pretty, and we were surprised at the number of other people out there on a Saturday evening hiking, fishing from boats and the shore, and swimming (against the rules, which we would never approve ;) ).  There is a nice pavilion with picnic tables at the trailhead.  This is one of the best marked trails that we have done yet. The three year old is obsessed with loudly pointing out every tree blaze, and he was not disappointed here.  There are some great rocks here that are begging us to come back when we have more time to explore.  One of the things I love about loop trails is that if you hike the opposite direction next time it is like exploring a whole new trail.  The last 3/4 mile was right along the bank as dusk was coming on, and it was perfect.  Another feather in the cap of Fayetteville.

One thing that may alter our hiking in the coming months is that the three-year-old is growing restless in the backpack.  Today his short little legs walked the first and last half mile.

Travel time from home: 15 minutes
Today's miles: 2.66
Remaining miles: 64.95