Meadow Loop Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Lake

The closest facilities for restrooms, water, and snacks are at the park visitor center at the end of the road. There are no facilities along the trail or at the nearest trailheads.

The trail is clear of obstacles and not heavily traveled making it one of the better trails to run in Fort Loudoun State Park.

The Meadow Loop Trail is the largest loop trail in Fort Loudoun State Park and meanders through the various terrains that can be found in the park. The trail can be accessed from two small parking lots along the main road, and for the purposes of this description, we'll start from the second lot. Leaving the parking lot, the trail climbs up the hill through the woods along with the Ridge Top Trail to the junction.

The Ridge Top Trail breaks off to the right while the Meadow Loop Trail breaks off to the left. Level for a short distance, the trail drops down the ridge steeply, crosses a power line clearing, and makes its way to the lake shore. The trail follows the lake shore for a while where you can get some good views of the lake, and there are bird houses along the shore where you can see birds coming and going.

At .9 mile, the trail takes a sharp turn, climbs the hillside, and comes back to the road that you cross. The other trailhead parking lot is located here. At this point, the trail emerges from the woods and follows a meadow before hooking a hard right and cutting through the meadow. The trail rolls until it enters the woods where there is a bench where you can take a break.

After a little bit of running through the woods, there is a junction with the Lost Shoe Spur Trail and the Meadow Trail breaks to the left. After a third of a mile, the Lost Shoe Spur Trail comes back in from the right and the trail climbs uphill. The trail follows the lakeshore for roughly another third of a mile before arriving at the junction with the Ridge Top Trail. The trail descends a little bit, follows the edge of a meadow before arriving back at the road and the parking lot where you started.

Squirrel can be seen scurrying around the woods all around you. As you follow the lake, you may see various ducks and other aquatic birds that call the lake home.