Swan Lake Perimeter Nature Trail

The Swan Lake Perimeter Trail is a single track trail leading around the popular birding area. The trail is 3.1 mile total out-and-back, however changing trail and lake conditions may increase or decrease the length of the passable route.

The trail begins at the trailhead on Swan Lake's southside. Wedged between industrial buildings. While the most visitors stick to the shorter Swan Lake Nature Trail which is also highly worth the short walk, this perimeter trail heads deeper into the Nature Studay Area, including to a duck blind with viewing holes. Splitting from the Nature Trail at an interpretive sign, the perimeter path heads west, following a single track path as it hugs the shoreline. The first tenth of a mile leads past several interpretive signs and to the duck blind. Beyond that, the path alternates between being overgrown with brush in some areas with tracing a mix of narrow dirt paths and wide access roads. 

The trail rounds the western end of the lake, where the opportunities for elevated perspectives Into the lake along with veering between small protected coves often filled with feeding birds rewards those who travel down this dusty path. There is no shade here, and more importantly, the trails are affected by recent weather conditions, which may mean boggish stream crossings and grass areas, silty soft dry sand, and mud.

Although our maps show the path proceeding to the edge of a housing development, our June hike came to a dead end where the lake flooded an area that might often be dry during drought conditions. 

Overall, the path itself isn't especially nice, and you may need to be prepared for the hike itself being affected by recent weather conditions, though this is a nice path to explore where you'll likely find few if any signs of other people, and offers different viewpoints to the bird populations throughout the lake.

An outhouse and a trash can are the only amenities located at the trailhead. Scratching plants abound on this trail which may be overgrown in some areas, so be prepared.