Directions to the Path Around Lake Laura

It's simple to get to the path so you can walk around Lake Laura. Of course, you can drive to the main parking lot near the dam (off of 263 and Arnold) and hike from there. Or, you can access the path from the cabin. Here's how:

There is an unmarked public path to the left of our neighbor's gravel parking lot (this is the neighbor whose driveway is located next to our driveway and his house is a bit closer to the lake).

Walk down that path, which veers right and runs parallel to some steps our neighbor installed.

After a few yards, you'll see what we call the "sewer road" because it is a service road for the sewer system. This road is a public path and it also quite nice to walk in the fall and winter. Almost everything down from the "sewer road" towards the lake is public property, so we can use the neighbor's steps for the rest of the way.

Then, you've arrived at the main path around the lake!

You can walk either to the right (towards the beach area) or to the left. The rest of the directions are for walking towards the left because if you have any questions, that's the way they probably will arise. For some reason, the path seems more "obvious" coming from the other direction.

So, turn left and start walking. After a few minutes, you'll walk over a concrete bridge and see a barn. This is the only spot on the trail where my family ever had a problem -- the first time we tried to hike around the lake, we walked up to the barn and the main road. Don't do that! Instead, look to the right as soon as you walk over the bridge. That is where the path is -- it runs right next to the lake and heads towards the boat access (the photo immediately below is looking back from the path, so you can see the barn, path & the water)

At the boat access, pick up the trail across the parking lot. It's beautiful on the far side of the lake so this is our favorite section of the hike.

You'll eventually come to the dam. Turn right and walk across the top of the dam. This is a good place to stop for a snack, if you have kids who need a break. After you cross the dam, veer right and walk up the hill to the public beach area. You'll see the path back towards the cabin running parallel to the beach area, passing the beach area and heading back into the woods.

Happy Hiking!