Park Boundary Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding

Restrooms can be found at Upper Picnic Area or the Campground, both of which are close to the trailhead.

The trail is fairly free of obstacles, which makes it good for a quick trail run.

The Park Boundary Trail departs from a small parking area across from the campground and immediately enters the woods. The trail winds through the woods passing several side tails that lead or are service roads, but these are well marked. Quickly coming to a meadow where you may see deer feeding in the morning or evening, the trail winds around the meadow before re-entering the woods.

As the trail goes deeper into the park, the noise from the road disappears and you can hear birds singing. The trail follows the park boundary, for which it names, and passes closely behind New Era Lutheran Church before turning away from the road and entering deeper into the park. After 4/5 of a mile, there is an open field on the left that you can cut through and meet back up with the trail, or continue straight ahead and wind your way around the field.

At about 1.4 miles, the trail descends steeply downhill and crosses a stream on a wooden bridge before climbing up the hillside. The trail levels out and ends at a junction with the Lower Picnic Area Trail and Cave Trail. Going straight will lead you to the caves while turning to left will lead you down to the Lower Picnic Area. If you turn to the right, you can make your way back your car by cutting across the Upper Picnic Area.

Deer can be seen feeding in fields in the morning or evening. Birds can be seen and heard all along the trail. Wildflowers can be seen blooming in the spring and summer.