Mt. St. Francis Trailhead

My family always enjoys a nice stroll around the lake. After about 3 days of no rain, and we didn't encounter any mud. That was good. We had expected to see some. Though there was a retreat and the parking lot was full, the trails were fairly empty (we went on a Saturday afternoon at the beginning of november.) There was a rowdy bunch seeming to party a little bit near the lake that had their voices carry. That was a little bit annoying, but we just ignored it. They have a lot more trails that we didn't go on. Always looking forward to doing more, though we just really enjoy the lake trail (#3).

I recently took a trip to Mt. St. Francis Trailhead, and wow, what an experience! I didn’t expect to get so much out of a simple hike, but this place was full of surprises. The moment I stepped onto the trail, I could feel the stress melting away. There’s something about the air—fresh, earthy, and clean—that immediately puts you at ease. The trails are a good mix of easy and a bit more challenging, but nothing too crazy, so anyone can enjoy it. I spent most of my time wandering around the lake trail, and it was just gorgeous! You’ve got these beautiful reflections of the sky and trees dancing on the water. I sat down by the shore at one point and just soaked it all in. It was peaceful, almost like the world slowed down for a bit. But the cool part is, I was learning as I went! I had no idea this spot had such a rich history, connected to the friary nearby. They even have a little stone chapel tucked into the woods, and finding it felt like stumbling on a piece of the past. It gave me this sense of connection to the land and its history that I wasn’t expecting to get from a simple hike. The best part, though, was just how alive the place is. I saw deer, a bunch of birds, and even a few frogs near the water. It was like nature was showing off that day. I left with this sense of calm and a deeper appreciation for how amazing the outdoors can be. Definitely coming back—next time, I’m bringing a picnic!

So beautiful!!!!! Very clean and very well kept! Bringing my friends next

Very, very beautiful, well kept trails. No trash anywhere. It's so peaceful and tranquil. There are multiple paths so be sure to keep your sense of direction the first time you go because it is easy to get lost. The water had blue green algae in it when we went so watch your dog. Bring drinking water, there is no where for them to get a drink. There are restrooms on the premises that are well kept and unlocked. And lots of benches along the way. I'm just so impressed with this beautiful space and thankful to those who created it for us!

We just moved into the area and I was looking for a peaceful place to walk/hike to work on my physical and mental wellbeing. I found this place by accident but have enjoyed hitting the trails 3-4 days a week. I absolutely recommend Mt St Francis for those wanting to find a safe and beautiful place to get some exercise.

We walked the 3 mile section around the lake. There is a 5 mile trail too. It's a beautiful, shady trail with interest. The water is very clean, so much that fish are visible. I highly recommend this place as a good one for family outings, picnis and pictures.

Lovely place. Turkey ticks are bad this year. I'd suggest a light tick spray

Very nice public walking trails saw alot of wild life in the first few minutes and that didn't change over the course of the trail would highly recomend