Sundown Trail

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Features Birding · Fall Colors · Lake · Spring · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

The Sundown Trail is the longest continuous singletrack trail in Strouds Run State Park, starting and ending either at the Strouds Run Beach Parking Lot or the Dow Lake Dam, depending on which trailhead you choose to start from. With Dow Lake sitting below the ridge on the south side of the trail, Sundown Trail follows the contours of the lake and the valley's they have created. Sitting between Dow Lake and the Sundown Trail is the Lakeview Trail, but the best option for circling the lake on a hike is the Sundown Trail, as Lakeview is often muddy and overgrown.

By hiking Sundown Trail and Hickory Trail, you are able to circumnavigate Dow Lake in less than 10 miles. Or you can choose to do an out-and-back on Sundown for a longer 12.2-mile hike. Hiking Sundown Trail in each direction provides a little something different, as there are several decent climbs along the way.

Pay attention to the several trails that intersect Sundown, especially at Whitesel Junction, where four different trails converge. The posted trail signs make it easy to follow the Sundown Trail.