Winter is a great time of year to be outside, no mosquitoes, no snakes, no ticks, no sunburn, no sweat, no crowds, no problem! Here we are at Smith Mountain Lake State Park hiking the Turtle Island Trail.
Here is the parking area with trail map for Turtle Island Trail
Although situated on the second largest body of freshwater in the state, Smith Mountain Lake State Park is not just for water enthusiasts. In addition to a full range of water related activities, including swimming, fishing and boating, the park offers miles of hiking trails, housekeeping cabins, camping, picnicking, a visitor center and interpretive programs.
We went to Smith Mountain Lake State Park for our First Day Hike this year, the weather was iffy, but once on the trail we forgot all about the weather and it turned out to be a fantastic family hike! Take advantage of some of the interpretive signage along the way to learn more about the forest there.
The lake levels are down due to the drought, but the water views and scenery were still spectacular. I recommend this hike, it says moderate due to elevation changes, but the trail was soft and wide most of the way, and not difficult at all!
