Hale Lake Loop

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Lake · Wildlife

The Hale Lake Loop starts from a parking area deep into Brazos Bend State Park. The loop can be done in either direction, but this description is going counter clockwise.

The first few hundred feet to the large observation dock are paved. After the dock, the trail is smooth singletrack. The trail follows the northernmost edge of the horseshoe-shaped lake to the far western corner of the lake at about the half mile mark. Here you'll encounter the Hale Lake Loop Connector trail which heads north.

Turn south and follow Hale Lake Trail to a junction at the 0.6-mile mark. This junction will take you on an out-and-back trail down the peninsula in the middle of the horseshoe-shaped lake on the Hale Lake Peninsula Extension. If you want to shorten the hike by a little over 3/4 a mile, don't take this spur. Otherwise, turn left and head east down the path.

At the end, it will form a small loop offering a wide range of views from the center of the lake. Return to the junction and head south again. The trail will turn east and follow the southernmost edge of Hale Lake back to the junction that will take you to the parking area again.