Villas at WL to FW - walking trail?

[LOVETHATMOUSE]

We are staying at Villas at WL in September and have a breakfast adr at Trails End Buffet our last day. I know we can take a bus or boat there, but I think I read somewhere that there is a walking trail??? How long of a walk is it? If we decide to do a campfire/movie one night is the trail lit up? Thanks for any input.

 

[Us3]

We rode our bikes on this trail during the day...I don't remember seeing any lights at all. It goes through the woods and even though they say it's a mile, it seemed like a pretty long trail. Personally I wouldn't want to walk it at night....however I think it would be a nice walk during the day.

 

[lisa8200]

I to rode a bike down it during the day and didn't see any lights. On a bike it took less than 5 minutes but I was in my highest gear.

 

[iradi8]

We rode our bikes there just last week. Saw deer three times -- one time they were crossing the path right behind us. I wouldn't walk it at night -- no lights and woods on both sides of the path. I would just hop on the boat

 

[terri01p]

I looked for this trail when we were there and never could find it, it must be very wooded, because even the clean up crew didn't know what I was talking about.

 

[katdocnorf]

The problem with the trail if I remember correctly (it has been about 7-8 years since I stayed at WLV) the trail is to far back from the Trail's End Restaurant. So you would still have more distance from the end of the trail to travel. They do however have busses within the Wilderness Area itself, so you could walk the trail then take the bus to trail's end. But just as everyone someone else said, I don't know that I would walk it at night. I rode with bikes at night, I believe it is lit but not well lit. You can rent bikes from WL (we took our own bikes) but I don't know if you can keep them overnight. You could go that route if you wanted, it is a nice bike ride.

 

[LOVETHATMOUSE]

Thanks everyone - looks like we will be boating it over to Trails End for the breakfast. Maybe we will walk off our breakfast on the way back.

 

[clkelley]

The problem with the trail if I remember correctly (it has been about 7-8 years since I stayed at WLV) the trail is to far back from the Trail's End Restaurant. So you would still have more distance from the end of the trail to travel. They do however have busses within the Wilderness Area itself, so you could walk the trail then take the bus to trail's end. But just as everyone someone else said, I don't know that I would walk it at night. I rode with bikes at night, I believe it is lit but not well lit. You can rent bikes from WL (we took our own bikes) but I don't know if you can keep them overnight. You could go that route if you wanted, it is a nice bike ride.

Actually you can't take a bus from the end of the trail to Trails End. The trail is just across from the old Petting Farm and is only about 200 yards from the bus stop for Trails End. Then Trails End is about 200 yards from the bus stop.

But yes, it is a very pleasant trail to walk. I've seen LOTS of deer on that trail.

 

[iradi8]

I looked for this trail when we were there and never could find it, it must be very wooded, because even the clean up crew didn't know what I was talking about.

In FW there is a sign that says Exercise Trail. To get to it from the campground just keep going on the street past the Settlement bus stop. It says Do Not Enter but that's for cars. You will see another bus stop on the right and right past that the trail is marked on the left.

On the WL end I don't believe there is a sign but if you walk past the bus stops and just keep going on that sidewalk you will cross a street and that puts you right on the path.

 

[Us3]

Yeah, we saw the "do not enter" signs too and I felt funny riding my bike past it. But I guess that is just for cars. It is about 200 yards from the bus stops and it is marked as "exercise trail". It's a nice ride...kind of a far walk though. You can also take the dirt path that goes around the lake, but it was a bit overgrown and you cant ride your bikes down there because there are parts where the sand got deep!

 

[iradi8]

 

[nbodyhome]

It's easy to find, very close to the Villas.

I have photos of the walk here (though I veered also off to the beach, to make it more interesting):

http://www.mousesteps.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=22&Itemid=47

 

[hatchmo]

It's a fun little walk, paved trail, and we've seen armadillos several times, as well as deer. We are frequent hikers on the trail. A fun way to do it is to walk in one direction and take the boat on the return.

 

[nbodyhome]

I like to walk off the trail next to the water one way (it isn't the full length, there are a couple of entrances - you do have to cross the road).

The deer are out in the morning and dusk-ish. The last time I did it, a couple of weeks ago, I saw a dozen or so deer. I've done the walk hundreds of times.