Scenic Overlook Trail

Rating: easy-moderate

Distance: 1.75 miles

Surface: crusher fines, paved, concrete

Width: Avg: 8’ Min: 3’

Cross slope: Max: 3% for 5’

Grade: Avg: 2% Max: 13% for 50’ (avoidable)

Trail Notes: This 1.75-mile crusher fines trail starts on the south side of the Foothills Nature Center. The trail crosses a grassy field. From this point, the trail circles the lake, some of it on paved sidewalk and some crusher fines trail. The peninsula on the northeast corner of the lake is great for fishing from a wheelchair since it brings you very close to the water.

Hard Spots: The canal area has a steep hill of 13% for 50’. You can skirt around most of it by taking the trail out to the peninsula. By the playground on the south side of the lake, the sidewalk reaches a grade of 9% for 70’. To avoid the hill to playground, there is a narrow crusher fines shortcut path (2-4’), but it still has a 10% grade for 18’ and a 5% cross slope in places.

Habitat: Fishing is popular here and is allowed from the dam and peninsula only. State fishing regulations apply. Birds of prey are common in this area. Mule deer, foxes and coyotes are also frequently seen as well as waterfowl on the lake. Mountain lions prowl the hogback ridges to the west. A wildlife sanctuary is located on the west and south sides of the lake.

Culture and History: In 1887, James P. Maxwell and George Oliver were late arrivals to the Colorado water rights game. All of Boulder Creek’s water was already spoken for so Maxwell and Oliver found two new sources of water below the Arapahoe Tom Chamberlin Glacier: Silver and Island Lakes. Silver Lake Ditch was built to bring this water down to Boulder for storage. Known as Mesa Park Reservoir (1905), its name was changed to Degge’s Lake, and finally Wonderland Lake. The lake was once home to a commercial fish farm, and fruit orchards bloomed just to the southeast.