Spring Creek Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Geological Significance · River/Creek

Good trail for running with plenty of room to navigate around pedestrians, but this trail also has pretty heavy dog traffic.

This is a nice, pet friendly (leashed only) doubletrack trail that goes through a variety of different ecosystems in Sharon Woods Metro Park. The trail is accessible from several points -- either road crossings or via short spurs from a few parking areas off of the first right turn when entering the park.

The easiest way to get to the trail is to turn right at the first possible turn upon entering the park from Cleveland Avenue, then turn left at the first road that leads to a parking area which is immediately adjacent to the trail.

The trail is mostly flat on the south half but the northern end of the trail has a few steeper inclines and descents near Spring Creek and over some ancient glacial moraines. The northern half of the trail is our favorite as it is more challenging and entirely in the woods. The south end of the trail goes through open meadow and is rich with wildflowers in the summer with good opportunities for birding (lots of Eastern Bluebird/Tree Swallow houses).

During the winter, you can see Schrock Lake through the trees on the south end of the trail. Spring Trail connects to Lake Trail at its southernmost point if you wish to walk along the lake shore. It is easy to accidentally keep going straight onto Lake Trail if walking clockwise; to stay on Spring Creek, you'll turn right onto a grassy trail through a meadow (there is a signpost with a map at the intersection).

Lots of Cardinals, Robins and a few Cooper's Hawks. We also spotted deer tracks.