Fox Trot Trail Hike Route Map

My hike around the Fox Trot Trail, at Falls Lake State Recreation Area, as tracked by the Gaia GPS app and depicted a la Google Earth...

Fox Trot Trail Hike Route Map

My hike around the Fox Trot Trail, at Falls Lake State Recreation Area, as tracked by the Gaia GPS app...

Falls Lake State Recreation Area

The main office and visitor center for Falls Lake State Recreation Area is located about a mile south on NC-50 from Beaverdam Access, where this hike takes place...

Falls Lake State Recreation Area

The visitr center is decent size and seems fairly new. Unfortunately, it was closed on this visit so I wasn't able to look inside...

Falls Lake State Recreation Area - Beaverdam Access

Driving north on NC-50 a mile from the visitor center, the entrance to the Beaverdam Access Area is reached...

Fox Trot Trailhead

This is the huge parking lot adjacent to the trailhead. I'm certain this wasn't built with just the trail in mind but for the surrounding picnic area as well...

Fox Trot Trailhead

The trail isn't hard to spot, departing from the north end of the parking area...

Fox Trot Trailhead

Setting out on the Fox Trot Trail...

Fox Trot Trail

One of the many nice picnic spots you can find in this part of the park. As it was just above freezing on this morining, it wasn't surprising to find them empty...

Fox Trot Trail

I headed clockwise around the loop from the trailhead, so turning north I immediately began a winding route across the pine-covered hillside...

Fox Trot Trail

If anyone can explain what the colored ribbons on these trees denote, I'd love to know!

Fox Trot Trail

Some of the pines were truly impressive...

Fox Trot Trail

Looking uphill from the trail...

Fox Trot Trail

Fox Trot Trail

There is never a shortage of trail markers along this footpath...

Fox Trot Trail

Some of the short climbs along this beginning stretch were surpringly steep...

Fox Trot Trail

The piney woods...

Fox Trot Trail

Another brief, but steep climb...

Fox Trot Trail

There might not have been much variety in the scenery thus-far, but a walk through the pines is never cause for complaint in my opinion...

Fox Trot Trail

Fox Trot Trail

Crossing a more open stretch...

Fox Trot Trail

A large, taped off area lay uphill...again, not sure the purpose other than keeping folk out...

Fox Trot Trail

Nearing the north end of the loop the trail enters a small grove of ferns, whose bright greens certainly help liven up the winter forest floor...

Fox Trot Trail

Fox Trot Trail @ north stream crossing

Fox Trot Trail @ north stream crossing

Fox Trot Trail

Fox Trot Trail

Fox Trot Trail

Fox Trot Trail

Fox Trot Trail

Fox Trot Trail

Fox Trot Trail

Fox Trot Trail

Fox Trot Trail

Fox Trot Trail

Fox Trot Trail

Fox Trot Trail

Fox Trot Trail

Fox Trot Trail

Fox Trot Trail

Fox Trot Trail

Fox Trot Trail

Fox Trot Trail @ south stream crossing

Fox Trot Trail @ south stream crossing

Fox Trot Trail @ south stream crossing

Fox Trot Trail