 There are two main ways to get to this pair of gorgeous lakes. They are particularly wonderful in September. Bugs are gone and the colors are breathtaking. One is via the Pole Creek trail. (See that post for more info.) The other is via the Miller Sweeney Cutoff. (See THAT post.) We MUCH prefer the latter because of its beauty, variety and seclusion. (Some photos courtesy of Teisha Preece. Click on any photo for enlarged images.)  |
| Track of our ride on September 5, 2018, 12 miles total. If you add Middle Sweeney Lake, it totals about 14 miles round trip. Trail conditions: 65% soft dirt/grass 10% extremely rocky, 25% moderately rocky. Several small stream crossings, two of them very rocky. A barefoot horse in excellent condition can do it without boots. Otherwise shoes or boots recommended. The photo below shows the trail junction approaching Miller Lake from the Fortification Trail. Once the rocks have been crossed, the trail goes along the south edge of the lake for half a mile.  |
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| Miller Lake lily pads |
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| Watering spot at Miller Lake |
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| The "Rocky Crossing" |
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| Typical of many rocks along the Miller Lake shore |
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| Between the two lakes |
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"Soggy-Boggy Meadow" between the two lakes. The "trail" goes further to the right, but we took this "shortcut". The horses sank to their knees in some spots and didn't like it one bit.
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| Beautiful Middle Sweeney Lake, including islands... |
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| Middle Sweeney Lake with spots for watering and maybe wading. |
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| Middle Sweeney Lake on August 14, 2019 |
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| Miller Lake on August 14, 2019 |
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