Steeped in Native American history, Indian Rocks Park is home to nearly a mile of trails that explore historic stone mounds and drop through a fern-filled creek valley to the shore of Lake Petit, Big Canoe’s largest lake. Hike the Indian Mounds Trail and Indian Mounds Loop for a history lesson on Big Canoe’s first residents. Then follow Petit Creek over wooden bridges to a small waterfall, and take in views of Lake Petit from a small cove on the lake’s shore. Combined, the Lake Petit Trail, Indian Mounds Trail and Indian Mounds Loop Trail make for a great, family-friendly nature hike, or an energetic, just-over-one-mile trail run.
The trails at nearby Playfield Park are a great venue for a morning run or fitness walk. Playfield Park’s trails include a .25 mile gravel running track, and trails connecting the park’s playground and ballfields to Wolfscratch Village and Big Canoe’s Petit Crest Villas.
Hike the Indian Mounds Trail to visit several large stone piles of Native American origin under a canopy of towering hardwoods. The Indian Mounds Trail drops from a parking area on Woodland Trail, passing a picnic area before exploring a cluster of the mysterious rock mounds. Interpretive signs, located throughout the trail, detail local Native American history, woodland medicine, toolmaking and culture, as well as recent studies into the mounds’ origins.
The Indian Mounds Trail ends at Quail Cove Drive; from here, follow the Lake Petit Trail to explore the Petit Creek Valley, or turn to retrace your steps to the Indian Mounds trailhead and parking area. On the return hike, veer right on the Indian Mounds Loop Trail to explore additional rock mounds on a short, rolling .2 mile loop.
Maps & parking info
Hike the Lake Petit Trail to explore a gorgeous, shady creek valley and, at the hike’s end, a scenic view of a small, quiet cove on Lake Petit. The trail begins at the end of the Indian Mounds Trail at Quail Cove Drive, descending wooden steps and following blue trail blazes. The trail winds through a picturesque stream valley, crossing Petit Creek via small wooden bridges and trailing through vibrant green grasses. Just before reaching the lake, the trail passes a small waterfall on trail left, where Petit Creek flows through a deeply-carved rock channel. At the trail’s end, a wooden bench offers a great spot for a mid-hike break on the shores of Lake Petit.
Maps & parking info
Follow the yellow-blazed Indian Mounds Loop Trail to explore a shady forest surrounding Petit Creek. The short, rolling, .2 mile trail crosses Petit Creek via small wooden bridges, passing several Native American rock mounds. The Indian Mounds Loop makes a great alternate return route on the Indian Mounds Trail.
Maps & parking info
Grab a morning run or fitness walk on the running track at Playfield Park. This .25 mile gravel loop is level and wide – a great venue for a few warm-up loops or a post-run cooldown. The track circles the park’s play fields, and catches views of the towering Lake Petit earthen dam. Ample parking is available on either side of the loop.
Maps & parking info
Hike or run the short, .1 mile Playfield Trail from the park’s Running Track loop, crossing through a forest beside Petit Creek and catching views of tumbling water on the Lake Petit dam spillway. The Playfield Trail connects to the Village Trail, crossing Petit Creek via a wooden bridge and rolling gently along its fern-filled and moss-covered banks.
Maps & parking info
Run or hike the Village Trail from Wolfscratch Village to the Petit Crest Villas, crossing Petit Creek via wooden bridge and ducking through tunnels of gnarly-branched mountain laurel. The Village Trail connects to the Playfield Trail, offering easy trail access from Wolfscratch Village and the Petit Crest Villas to Playfield Park and the Running Track.
Maps & parking info
A small parking area for Indian Rocks Park is located on Woodland Trace. Ample parking is available at Playfield Park in two lots, one off Woldfscratch Drive and one off Wolfscratch Circle.