Lake Shore Trail

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Features Birding · Fall Colors · Lake · Swimming · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

The Lake Shore Trail is an extremely easy yet scenic 3.4-mile loop that circles around most of Shawnee Lake in Shawnee State Park. This trail is mostly wide, level, and surfaced with very small gravel. The trail is suitable for families of all ages, it would be easy enough to push a stroller as well.

Allow 1.5 to 2 hours to complete the loop at a leisurely pace.

A very scenic trail with lots of wildlife - bring a camera!

This is a very nice trail to run, as you won't have many obstacles to get in your way.

Start out by parking in the large parking area near the boat launch. Follow the paved path in a clockwise direction, up the hill and then down around the swimming beach area where the trail turns to a small gravel surface.

The trail then makes a bend around a pavilion and follows the lake closely, crosses several small bridges, and then rises up to meet a gravel service road for the dam. Follow the road until you see the dam to your right and the trail going across the top. The trail crosses the top of the dam before following the lake closely until it leads to the park road at another parking area.

The trail is marked alongside of the road and crosses two bridges before ending at the original parking area near the boat launch.

Various aquatic and terrestrial plants and wildlife throughout the loop.