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Hike Trail

Spanish Trace Trail

5.0 (1 Rating)
A loop trail around Sunfish Lake and North Lake at Spanish Lake County Park.
1.9
mi
Distance
82
ft
Gain
easy
Difficulty
Fall ColorsLakeLakefrontWildflowersWildlife

Route Details

Flatter
Steeper
1.89mi
Distance
82ft
Elevation Gain
99ft
Elevation Loss
15%
Max Grade
534ft
High Point
489ft
Low Point
Path Type
Point to Point
Description
Spanish Trace is a easy loop trail that goes around North Lake and Sunfish Lake. You can access the trail at either the boat ramp of North Lake or the the ballfield area, both of which are located off of Spanish Pond Road. The trail winds through some shallow wetlands along the shore of Sunfish Lake before climbing a small, gradual hill to bring you alongside Sunfish Lake. Here the trail enters the woods, and you'll continue through a mature upland woodland. The trail eventually continues through a tall grass prairie once it begins the loop around North Lake. This area was originally prairie at the time of European settlement and it was historically considered the prairie belt of the county. The tall prairie grassland that you see today is a man-made re-creation as the area is burned every couple of years to eliminate any woody vegetation and to maintain the grasses.

Route Conditions

Report Conditions
No Condition Reports
Report Conditions

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Contributors
St. Louis County Parks