Perimeter Trail: Dam to SR 73

Dogs Leashed

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

The trailhead for this section is located at the Flat Fork Ridge Recreation Area. It has a trail running above the shoreline, which eventually dumps you onto to the spillway. Cross the spillway and enter the wooded area to the east. From there you can either follow the trail down and proceed along the lake shore, or take the short climb up to the wooded trail. The trails merge at the top of the gorge, which has a nice view of Horseshoe Falls from above.

This trail is beautiful either way you decide to take it, and there are many highlights along the way. These include a scenic gorge spanned by a suspension bridge, the Crawdad Falls, as well as passing through the historic Pioneer Village.

The trail is long, and bringing along snacks and plenty of water is recommended, but there are plenty of places to stop off to enjoy the scenery or pause for a picnic. Additionally, campsites abound in this area, so it's a great place to explore overnight.