Loop Trail

The Loop Trail is the longest of the designated hiking trails inside Sesquicentennial State Park.At 3.4 miles, the trail follows a large circular path sticking along the further edges of the park. It is also the only designated path that does not start out near the central parking lot and park office, but instead begins and ends near the Retreat Center parking area nearer to the park's entrance gate. Tracing a roadbed, a portion of which is still in use for park vehicles, the path heads through forest and across sections of wetlands, with longleaf pines and turkey oaks lining the route.The trail is mostly in the shade, however the downside of this path is that it tends to stick to the forest and avoids much of the scenery in other parts of the park and around Sesquicentennial Lake. Blazes mark the trail, heading in a clockwise direction, though it can be walked in either direction with no issue. The first portion overlaps with the park's mountain bike trail, while signs mark the point where the cycling trail forks from the Loop Trail.There are no amenities along the trail, though there is water and a bathroom at the Retreat Center parking area and trailhead. The Loop Trail also reaches a group picnic area which sits opposite the Sandhills Trail, making it easy to combine the two.Trail access is subject to park rules and entry fees.