Walking,
Hiking and Biking in Lake of the Woods
(Note:
All pictures on this page are linked to larger versions
of the same image.)
 Lake
of the Woods offers many options for fulfilling one’s exercise
needs. We have specific trails for walking; roads in each
section for walking and biking; and adjoining properties for
hiking. Walking is safe and it is inexpensive and can be done
almost anywhere. Hiking is a little more rigorous but is also
very inexpensive and reasonably safe. Biking is not inexpensive,
can be very rigorous but has some limitations within Lake
of the Woods.Our
main opportunities for biking exist on our roads.
We
also have a Worldtrail aerobic fitness trail located in Sweetbriar
Park with multiple aerobic stations (approx. 12 stations).
Whichever venue you choose, it can be used effectively to
maintain or improve your health. Utilize good judgment in
the length of your walks or hikes based on your own health
and physical conditions. If new to exercise, check with your
doctor before beginning your program. If you have a cell phone,
it is advisable to carry it with you while walking, hiking
or biking, especially if alone.
The
distances indicated on the maps available on this page have
been provided as an estimate, and are
shown in tenths of miles, but are considered very close
to the actual distance.
Tips
for Walking, Biking or Hiking
Walk facing
the traffic and bike with the traffic. When walking
or biking on the roads within LOW, try to avoid the busiest
roads such as Lakeview Parkway and Mt. Pleasant Drive. Wear
light colored clothing especially if walking or biking at
night. Walking or biking at night is not recommended, but
if you must, then also carry a light and use it so that
vehicular traffic can see you.
Plan your trip
ahead of time and let someone know where you will be and
when you should return. If hiking in the wooded areas carry
a cell phone and snake bite kit just in case you run into
unexpected trouble.
While walking
or biking on LOWA roads, always be alert to possible traffic
conflicts and never walk or bike on roads with a Walkman
or radio plugged into your ears. If you must use a radio
or walkman, keep the volume low so you can hear what is
going on around you.
The level or
hilly roads in each section of LOW offer varying levels
of difficulty. On most roads within LOW the
traffic is light to non-existent. Walking within
LOW can provide/offer a variety of scenic pleasures. They
offer a variety of environments, such as ballgames at parks;
boating on the lakes, quiet serenity of wooded areas and
rolling greens and freeways of the golf course.
LOW
WALKING TRAILS
Lake
of the Woods has several places within the common property
for walking enthusiasts. Our walking trails have been developed
into Core Areas. They are: Clubhouse,
Sweetbriar, Hollyfield,
Greensprings, Spottswood,
the Golf Course and the various
Section roads (1-14). You may double
click on any or all of these core areas to see a description
and maps.
CLUBHOUSE
CORE 2.15 miles
 This
trail begins in the lower level of the Clubhouse parking
lot and encompasses the area around the Clubhouse, the
Entrance Pond, the Spotswood Park and the upper and lower
level of the main lake dam.
 The
recommended path to follow would be from the lower level
parking area to Lake of the Woods Parkway either through
Memory Garden or up the hill by the ECC Building, to the
corner of Lake of the Woods Parkway and Lakeview Parkway,
to the Entrance Pond, to Spottswood Park, to Entrance
Pond, to trail through the woods at Lakeview Parkway and
Lake of the Woods Parkway, to Clubhouse volleyball and
basketball courts, around Clubhouse point, to upper level
of dam, down the spillway face to Lakeview Parkway and
back to the lower level Clubhouse parking lot.
Obviously,
variations of this trail can be utilized to increase or
decrease the workout. The younger group could go in reverse
of the recommended path and climb the steeper grade at
the dam spillway rather than walking down the grade. Shortened
versions can also be utilized at the walker’s desire and
health and physical condition. A programmed addition for
this core section would be considered after the dam upgrade
issue is settled and construction completed. This would
be a floating pontoon base on a cable or a bridge to connect
from the end of the dam to the Main Marina.
The trail in
the Clubhouse area is linked to the entrance pond trail
and the Spottswood Park trail. Although joined, they are
illustrated on separate maps so that greater detail could
be provided. The three trails total almost 2.4 miles.
For an overall picture of the Clubhouse core trail, click
on the Section 14 map below.
Map
for Clubhouse Core (35kb to download map)
Map
of Spottswood Park (29kb to download map)
Map
of Entrance Pond (43kb to download map)
Map
of Section 14 (42kb to download map)
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to Top of Walking Trails Section
SWEETBRIAR
PARK .47 miles ( 2463’)
This park contains
an asphalt walking trail, two soccer fields, a covered
pavilion, children's playground, and an outdoor pool with
a parking lot. The perimeter of the park contains the
walking trail and the aerobic fitness stations. This park
combined with walking on the roads in sections 9 and 10
will provide a nice workout and a great view at the same
time. Refer to the LOW Section Roads
part of this website for maps of those sections.
Map
of Sweetbriar Park and Section 10 (30kb to download
map)
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to Top of Walking Trails Section
HOLLYFIELD
PARK .39 Miles (2070’)
 This
park contains our tennis courts and our baseball/ softball
field. The perimeter of the park is very level and easy
to walk around without interfering with any athletic activities
that may be in play at the time. Current plans do not
call for a specific paved or gravel trail at this time
because of the sound footing already available. There
is a parking lot and a paved drive to the baseball field
that can be used for walking. This park combined with
walking on the roads in sections 8, 9 and 10 will provide
a nice workout and a great view at the same time.
Map
of Section 9 and Hollyfield Park (30kb to download
map)
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to Top of Walking Trails Section
GREENSPRINGS
PARK .5 Miles (2640’)
This park contains
a basketball court, playground equipment and an asphalt
walking trail that has been completed. This trail is circular
with some minor increases in grade level. This park combined
with walking on the roads in section 7 will provide a
nice workout and a great view of the children at play
at the same time.
Map
of Greensprings Park and Section 7 (35kb to download
map)
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to Top of Walking Trails Section
SPOTTSWOOD
PARK .27 Miles (1441’)
This park is
part of the Clubhouse Core Trail. The park contains playground
equipment and contains the historic plantation site known
as Orange Grove. Orange Grove’s founder was John Spottswood,
a grandson of Gov. Alexander Spottswood. The bricks from
one of the chimneys are all that remain today. A short
distance away, off of Spottswood Road, is another historic
site, the Spottswood Cemetery. This park combined with
walking on the roads in section 1 and 14 will provide
a nice workout, a great view of the children at play and
a step back into history at the same time.
The trail in
the Clubhouse area is linked to the one in the Spottswood
Park area. Although joined, they are illustrated on separate
maps so that greater detail could be provided. The two
trails combined total almost 2.5 miles.
Map
for Clubhouse Core (35kb to download map)
Map
of Spottswood Park (29kb to download map)
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to Top of Walking Trails Section
GOLF
COURSE CART PATHS 4.5 Miles (23,760’)
 This
core trail complex has a primary purpose of supporting
the golf carts while the golf course is open to play.
NO WALKING/ JOGGING IS ALLOWED
WHILE THE COURSE IS OPEN TO PLAY.
Check with the golf pro shop or the Weekly Flyer
for the hours that the course is open for walking. You
can walk or jog on the cart paths in the morning hours
before golf play commences and after the golf play closes
for the day and any time during the day that the course
is closed entirely for play.
The Golf
Course Conditions web page is updated daily with course
information, including if it is open for play and the
current schedule for walkers and golfers. A more detailed,
annual schedule is available on the Golf
Course Schedule page.
Maps for
Golf Course Cart Paths:
Map
of Section 1 (46kb to download map)
Map
of Section 2 (59kb to download map)
Map
of Section 3 (36kb to download map)
Return
to Trail Map Index
LOW
HIKING TRAILS
NATIONAL PARK
SERVICE - GORDON FLANK ATTACK TRAIL 2 Miles
 We
are fortunate to have some National Park Service land
adjoining Lake of the Woods, which can be used for horseback
riding as well as hiking. The trail for hiking is approximately
2 miles in length. It actually begins on Route 20 at the
Wilderness Park Shelter and the upper end of the trail
loop touches our stables area.
Lake of the
Woods has been given permission to use the center trail
as a horse trail. This trail is not a level-walking surface.
It has exposed roots and rocks and is in a totally wooded
area where wildlife, vermin and snakes may be seen while
ticks are plentiful. The National Park Service calls it
the Gordon Flank Attack Trail. The trail passes through
a maze of earthworks built at various stages of the Battle
of the Wilderness, May 5 and 6, 1864.
While hiking
in this area it would be wise to carry a cell phone and
snake bite kit for the unexpected. You should visit the
Chancellorsville Battlefield Visitor Center on Route 3
to get maps and pay any fees that are required for use
of the park. They have several park pass fees in their
fee schedule.
The Wilderness
Battlefield adjoins LOW Sections 2, 3, 4, and 5 and can
be seen on the maps for those sections in the LOW
Section Roads part of this document.
Map
of Gordon Flank Attack Trail (175kb to download)
National
Park Service Wilderness Battlefield Web Page
If you are
interested in more Civil War historical information in
the LOW area, visit the Civil
War History page on the LOWA website.
Return
to Trail Map Index
LOW
FITNESS TRAIL
SWEETBRIAR
FITNESS TRAIL .47 Miles (2463’)
 The
Sweetbriar Fitness Trail is an aerobic workout trail with
twelve fitness stations that are connected by an asphalt
trail, which surrounds the park. Sweetbriar Park is in Section
10. The fitness trail, combined with walking on the roads
in sections 9 and 10 will provide a nice workout and a great
view at the same time. Refer to the LOW
Section Roads part of this website for maps of those
sections.
Map
of Sweetbriar Fitness Trail (70kb to download)
Return
to Trail Map Index
LOW
SECTION ROADS 40 Miles
 Each
of the roads in the various sections of Lake of the Woods
are excellent walking and biking surfaces. They are road
surfaces that have either tar and chip or asphalt applied
to them. They range from level to slightly hilly to hilly
depending on the section chosen to walk in. Also, the views
vary dramatically in each section. By looking at the various
maps you can plot the walking/biking course that you plan
to use and select the distance and views that are important
to you.
You should be
cautious when walking/biking the roads as you must share
them with vehicles. You should walk facing the traffic and
bike with the traffic. You should wear clothing that make
you visible during the time of day or night that you are
using the roads. It is not recommended to walk/bike during
darkness; but if you must, you should carry a flashlight
and wear light colored clothing.
You should never
walk/bike with a radio or walkman plugged into your ears.
If you must use a radio or walkman, turn the volume down
low so that you can hear what is going on around you.
Map
of Section 1 Monticello (46kb to download map)
Map
of Section 2 Country Club Hills(59kb to download map)
Map
of Section 3 Tara (36kb to download map)
Map
of Section 4 Tarnwood (34kb to download map)
Map
of Section 5 Tall-Pines (41kb to download map)
Map
of Section 6 Shenandoah (40kb to download map)
Map
of Greensprings Park and Section 7 (35kb to download
map)
Map
of Section 8 Wyndybrow (28kb to download map)
Map
of Section 9 and Hollyfield Park (30kb to download map)
Map
of Sweetbriar Park and Section 10 (30kb to download
map)
Map
of Section 11 Wakefield and Section 12 Breezewood (37kb
to download map)
Map
of Section 13 Wilderness (47kb to download map)
Map
of Section 14 Windy Hill (42kb to download map)
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to Trail Map Index
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