Patricia Ellis

Jan 27, 2025

Nice trail, needs some maintenance, but State Park closed?

Burnside State Park is small and, according to what I can find online, no longer considered a state park. The gate was open, so I was able to drive in and look around for the Nature Trail, which was designated as an NRT in 1978 so I wasn’t sure what I would find. I found the trail at the back of the old campground. Nice bridges (one needs repair), a clear path through the woods, and a small swampy area. There are no signs naming this trail or that it was designated as a NRT. The loop length is less than half a mile long, not two miles…unless perhaps the original trail included the campground road walk to the trail, but even then, it’s not two miles. I would give this a four if it was clear to me this area is actually still a state park and had regular upkeep, and five if it was clear the trail had regular maintenance. The bridges (except for one) are solid but don’t look like they have had the leaves brushed off of them in years, and one bridge is damaged but passable with care.