Hayden Lake Loop

Dogs Leashed

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

Starting at the Eastman Nature Center in the Elm Creek Park Reserve, you take a paved path from the right side of the parking lot and keep left to cross at Elm Creek Road. Hike about 50 yards to the start of the horse/hiking trails that will be on you left. The horse/hiking trails are about 4-6 feet wide throughout the Hayden Lake Loop. The trail is marked with orange directional arrows to keep you going the right way.

There are various parts of the hike where you'll need to hike on the paved path. About 1.5 miles in on the horse/hiking trail, you'll come to a T where you'll want to take a right. Keep following until you get to the sign for the campgrounds and keep right. You'll come to the paved path again and take a left. Follow the paved path for about 50 yards and the horse/hiking trail will start up agin on the right. This will take you to a T at a dirt road for camper cabins at Hayden Lake. If you take a right, there is a bathroom just up the hill.

To continue the hike, take a left towards French Lake Road. Take a right on the paved path and follow about 25 yards until the horse/hiking trail picks up again on the left of the path. This portion will take you along the road and behind some houses. You'll also pass a parking lot.

A ways down, you'll cross a bridge over Elm Creek. At Goose Lake Road, there will be the the trailhead for the mountain bike area with parking and another bathroom. Follow the trail to the right. When you get to Elm Creek Road, where the paved path crosses the road, keep right and do not cross the road. You'll come to another T at Elm Creek Road, keep right and cross the road bridge over Elm Creek, but watch for cars as it is a narrow bridge.

Keep right where the trail starts up and follow it until you come to a T with the paved path. Take a left and follow it to Elm Creek Road and cross. Follow the paved path back to the Eastman Nature Center.

There are a few different ecosystems along this hike: wetlands, hardwoods, and prairies. There are grasses, oaks, maples, birch, quaking aspen, etc. you may cross paths with deer, foxes, owls, chickadees, pheasants, garter snakes, and turkeys.