Chewacla State Park

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Lake · River/Creek · Views · Waterfall · Wildlife

Enjoy a great climb along the river on Deer Rub Trail before transitioning into dense mixed forests toward the southern end of the loop. The geology around the waterfall at Lake Chewacla is spectacular.

After parking your car, this route begins across the street on the Eagle Scout Trail, where you'll pass through beautiful hardwood forest. From here, you'll have to share a small section of the NORBA Trail with mountain bikers until you hit the Deer Rub Trail. This trail runs along the river and provides scenic views from above as you traverse the narrow path along the cliffside. Deer Rub Trail takes you directly to the outlet of Lake Chewacla and the main attraction in the park: the stunning man-made waterfall. Take the time to explore the geologic formations in this area, as they are spectacular.

This Featured Hike then follows the Mountain Laurel Trail along the edge of Lake Chewacla, where you'll get pretty views of the lake as well as some of the wildlife that resides there. The final section is a short jaunt along Troop 30 Trail, which gives hikers a nice experience along the river bottom before returning to the car.

White-tailed deer, kingfishers, and great blue heron can all be found on this loop.