Owasippe Scout Reservation is owned and operated by the Pathway to Adventure Council, BSA. Since 1911, Owasippe has provided an exceptional summer camping experience, making it the oldest continuously operating Scout camp in the nation.
Trails closed to public during the summer Boy Scout Season (2nd Saturday in June – 3rd Saturday in August) & during the month of November for deer hunting.
TRAILS:
Lake Owasippe Big Loop is a classic loop consisting of the best single-track Lake Owasippe has to offer. This trail features impeccably maintained trail with roots, rocks, undulating terrain, and beautiful vistas. This ride is a combination of the Easiest, Intermediate, and Advanced trails in the Lake Owasippe trail system.
Need to Know
In order to park at this system, you must have a parking permit. You can purchase a parking permit here.
This ride is broken into three separate sections, the Easiest Loop, Intermediate Loop, and Advanced Loop.
Easiest Loop: The Easiest loop flows in a “Clockwise” direction, so be sure to steer left at the first intersection. To avoid high speed collisions, please don’t ride the trails “backwards”. Veering right through the sand at Secondary Sign Post #1 by the dam will allow a rider to bypass the more technical hilly Whisper Mountain & Black trail sections. Currently this trail only has singletrack until it reaches the dirt road along the very scenic west shoreline of Wolverine Lake. Follow this dirt road until reaching Secondary Sign Post #5 then turn sharp right onto the singletrack and head back to the trailhead.
Intermediate Loop: The Owasippe-Whisper Mountain/Wolverine Lake trail section (Secondary Sign Posts #1, #2, #3 to #5) starts at the dam on Cleveland Creek then travels through new trail at Old Camp Frontier, Whisper Lake & Whisper Mountain before joining the trail that follows the shoreline of Wolverine Lake. Many landmarks are seen along this trail section-the Soderstrom Chapel, the Boat House & sandy beach at Perz Bayou plus the old Log Cabin. At the fork where Sign Post #3 is located, stay to the right and ride across the floating bridge. (walk if you must!) then, after traveling a short distance, the 2nd bridge will appear. This is the leaning bridge, be careful and find the right gear to be able to climb out!
Advanced Loop: Owasippe’s Black Trail (Secondary Sign Posts #3 through #5) offers lots of hills, both up and down and beautiful scenery. The trail ventures away from Wolverine Lake out to the “Old Blue” Boy Scout Hiking trail where you’ll travel completely around several natural springs that create Cleveland Creek & Wolverine Lake. Riding along a section of trail called the “goat path” you are advised not to look down! Further ahead on this trail is the Marl Bed Bog area where the ground literally moves under your bike! After crossing a small bridge you’ll enter a new trail section that was built with the help of the IMBA Trail Care Crew during their visit in 2013.
