Fairview Lake Trail Guide Print
Trails used:  Orange.

Trail Length: 4.0 miles round-trip
  Elevation gain: ~200 feet, mostly during hike from
Fairview Lake to old log office

Trail ranking: Tenderfoot

Trail Summary


Scouts may follow this nearly level trail from Parsons Lodge through the forest surrounding No-Be-Bo-Sco, to the former Camp Towadena, and the old waterfront on Fairview Lake. A favorite for Webelos and younger troops and patrols, the trail is not challenging, and offers a quality picnic opportunity on the shore of Fairview Lake. The old Scout Camp Towadena is now owned by the Township of Stillwater as a Green Acres property, so swimming may take place only in accordance with the 8-Point Safe Swim Defense Plan.

Detailed Description

The trail begins at Parsons Lodge (0.0 miles), following the orange trail blazes. The trail travels in back of the Apache and Kennebec campsites. The swamp will be on your left hand side. Eventually, you will reach a 4-way trail intersection at 0.5 miles. Continue straight, following the orange trail. The path climbs very slightly, then follows on the level along a flat, wide path.

After a while, you may pass trees that have an orange ring of paint around them and a No Trespassing sign or two. This is the camp boundary – follow the orange trail blazes, not the orange rings. You are now entering lands of the Township of Stillwater (formerly Camp Towadena, North Hudson Council).

Eventually, the trail widens at the end of an old road, and stonerows are present. The orange trail continues on the old road. When the road meets a brook, follow the road upstream briefly and cross on the bridge (1.5 miles). The trail continues on the road, eventually turning right at the old log office onto another old road that descends the hill towards Fairview Lake (1.7 miles). The end of the trail is at the lakeside (2.0 miles). This small clearing was the waterfront area of the old camp. The mossy spot is a great place for a picnic, but remember that you are an ambassador for the camp – leave this spot better than you found it.

On the return hike, follow the same route back to camp. When you reach the 4-way intersection, the yellow trail to the left is a shortcut back to the A-field, and the yellow trail to the right will take you into Blackfoot campsite.