Tully Lake Loop

Dogs Leashed

Features Fall Colors · Lake · River/Creek · Swimming · Views · Waterfall

This 4.5-miles loop starts and ends at the boat ramp section of the Tully Mountain Lake boat ramp and recreation area. It is actually the start of the 22-mile Tully Mountain Trail Loop and connects to the 7.2-mile Long Pond Trail. The climb starts after two miles at the beautiful Doane's Falls with a 5% grade to 10% grade. After that, it's mostly free sailing down the other side of the falls and other side of Tully Lake. There are lots of great views of the lake along the trail.

Watch out for ticks during tick season.

Starting at the trailhead by the left of the boat ramp, you'll descend down a path along the lake and over a small bridge past the beaver pond. You'll then ascend a singletrack trail with quite a lot of ferns, roots, and rocks. This will continue, and you'll get deeper in the forest.

You'll then come across a small brook (depending on the time of year) and run over a small wood bridge. You'll do this a few times throughout the trail. You'll continue through some singletrack and some doubletrack and come across a larger wooden bridge. You'll also see the road. Do not go on the road. Make sure you follow the yellow trail markers and find your way back through the woods over a dam by the lake. It will be quite rocky and rooty here and eventually come out of the woods at the Tully Campground. It's important that you take a left out of the woods toward the road and turn right onto the road where you'll cross a bridge and see the canoe launch on your left.

Keep running past this, and you'll see the trail sign on the right of the road (stay facing traffic until you see the trail entrance; then cross the road back into the forest). This will be a path and this is your major climb along the side of Doane's Falls (Selfie Op! ;D) Ascend the trail and be sure to follow the yellow trail blazes, and keep climbing where it'll be rocks and roots again. You'll come to the top of the falls now and be sure to take a look!

After the falls, you'll come out of the forest and take a right onto Athol Rd and ascend the road until you see the trail sign at about .15 miles from the falls on the right, marked with the yellow blaze and a hiking trail marker. Turn right into the woods where the trail will begin a descent for quite a while where you can let loose as there are minimal rocks and roots for a while.

Eventually, the trail will then start to flatten and become technical again, and you'll descend again and find the lake on your right (more photo ops as it is beautiful here). You'll pass over another brook and there will be technical rock skipping to get over the brook. Be careful as the rocks are covered in moss and are always slippery!

The trail will open up again, and then go back to singletrack through the woods. You'll come across a crossing where the disc golf course is. Go straight through the woods and follow the yellow blazes. You'll also see parts of the disc golf course on your way out and eventually come out directly on the course again. Run towards the lake and then up the big green hill to the top of the dam.

When you get to the top, make your way to the road and turn right and run facing traffic (this could be dangerous, but this view is spectacular especially in fall so take a photo if all is clear!) Once you've passed over the dam, turn right into the parking lot of the Tully Recreation Center and descend the road toward the trailhead and to the parking area. Make your way to the lake and jump in to cool off! You be made it! This is my favorite running route of all time!

Black bears have been spotted, beavers, squirrels, chipmunk, birds. Blueberries can be found along the course late summer into fall.