One of my favorite trails to do with the kids is the Pigeon Roost Overlook at Hobbs State Park. It’s an 8.5 mile loop with several backpacking campsites (currently closed due to Covid-19. I will update as soon as they are open.) But if you are looking for a shorter distance, the 1.2 mile hike to the lake & back is perfect. This is also one of the trails at the state park not shared with the mountain bikers, it is foot traffic only. It’s nice because I’m not constantly telling the kids to get out of the way or to look out for the bikes flying our way.
There are bathroom facilities at the trail head (also currently closed due to Covid-19- will update as soon as I can), as you continue down trail, you’re going to see a “bent” tree, then a tree with a big hole in it, & both are places my kids love to stop to explore (also do a photo op. Ha!).
You will eventually walk down hill for a ways & then you will come to a fork in the trail, go right in order to proceed to the lake overview. You will cross some cute bridges & you will see the water fairly soon after those.
The lake will be on your right, go up a ways, & at the top of the hill you will see some benches. We love to walk down the small paths to sit near the water. We like to set up our hammocks, eat our snacks, & hang out in this spot for a bit. My kids also love to see how the water rises & falls with rain or dry spells. Sometimes we have fun rocks to play on, sometimes they are completely submerged under water. It’s a great lesson on mother nature!
We love to do this trail! It’s a great one for learning about the different seasons, the plant life, we always see fun creatures, & we love to hang out by the lake. If you end up taking your family, leave a comment & let me know how y’all liked it!
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