West Trail

Dogs Unknown

Features Lake · Views · Wildlife

From the parking lot, hike north across the street to the trailhead; you can't miss it. The trail loops from here so you can choose to either hike clockwise or counter-clockwise. If you hike clockwise, starting closer to the street, you get rewarded with some really nice views of downtown as you crest a few of the hills.

Starting clockwise, you'll begin by almost immediately climbing a small hill and then coming down quickly to climb another. This front section has more hills than the back section. Keep following the trail; it is open grassland so the trail is very easy to follow although you'll want to watch for sections where prairie dogs may have put big holes right in your path.

You'll keep winding up and down these hills for a few miles. As you get closer to the trail really turning back, you'll hike through a couple quick wooded sections with lots of prickly pear cactus very close to the trail so watch your legs. Simply follow the trail around to the top section, and you'll begin looping back towards the start. On the top part, you'll see lots of prairie dogs and jackrabbits. Simply follow this trail back to the start. There are no other trails crisscrossing or anywhere to turn off so this is as easy to follow as a sidewalk.

Lots of prickly pear cactus, prairie dogs, jackrabbits, and burrowing owls.