April 20, 2021
Lake Russell-Nancy Town Lake Loop
Another nice day for a hike with clear skies and temperatures between 55-70. The trail is in better condition than recent reviews by AllTrails hikers with only a couple of minor fallen trees across the trail which are easily crossed. We did cross the Lake Russell spillway, but the water was quite low and those with hiking boots could cross without getting wet feet. As reported, the bridge which crosses Nancy Town Creek below the Nancy Town Lake dam is totally missing and we continued our hike around the east side of Nancy Town Lake to the parking area. While not posted, there is a $5/car fee for day use of this area which can be reduced to $2.50 with a US Park Service Senior Pass. There were a fair amount of isolated spots of wild flowers. This is an easy hike even at 6 miles.
The route
5.3 mi · 1,175 ft climbing · 3h 34m out, 3h 14m walking · 1.8 mph moving
Elevation
Hover over the profile to see the elevation and steepness. Your position will be shown on the map.
- Steepness
- Gentle under 5%
- Moderate 5–10%
- Steep 10–15%
- Very steep over 15%
Photos (36)
View of Lake Russell looking north Today's Hikers (L-R): Dic, Joe, Mike, Edwin, Trushna, Jack, Beth, Jenny, Gerald, Renée, Lynn, Jeanne, Vic & Ray Lake Russell Loop Trail Sign near the beach area Whose the leader of the pack? Crossing the spillway. Dog-hobble (Leucothoe axillaris) Lyre-leaved Sage (Salvia lyrata) Cinquefoil, Common (Potentilla canadensis) White Yarrow(Achilea miffefolium) Sweet Shrub (Calycanthus floridus axillaris) Rue Anemone (Anemonella thalictroides) Violet, White (Viola blanda) Strawberry, Wild (Fragaria virginiana) First creek crossing wasn't so bad! Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata) May-Apple (Podophyllum peltatum) Blue Dogbane (aka Blue Star) (Amsonia tabernaemontana) Catesby's Trillium(Trillium catesbaei) Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) Pussy-Toes (Antennaria plantaginifolia) Ginger / Little Brown Jugs (Hexastylis arifolia) Green and Gold (Chrysogonum virginianum) Lots of fiddleheads from emerging ferns Lots of this unknown flowering plant leading away from the spillway Creek crossing Dwarf Crested Iris (Iris cristata) Dwarf Crested Iris (Iris cristata) Grass with interesting seed pods near the beaver dams in the southwest section of Lake Russell One of many beaver dams along the trail Dwarf Buckeye (Aesculus sylvatica) Pinxter (Rhododendron canescens) Daisy fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus) Stargrass, yellow (Hypoxis hirsuta) Southern Nodding Trillium(Trillium rugelii) Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia) Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)