Lake Skinner

When you drive through the city of Winchester, you'll notice more than just an urban center for retail, residents, and restaurants. The area boasts a number of outdoor activities, taking advantage of the miles of deserts, grasslands, and open space that surround and wind through the city. One popular place, in particular, is Lake Skinner Park. This park is a huge recreational area that takes up the eastern side of the city's reservoir, and inside the park, humans and pups will find the Lake Skinner Loop Trail.

Getting into the park will cost a small fee and there is a $2 fee for each pet you bring, but once you're in, you and Fido will be bombarded with a huge parking lot, lots of amenities, and sights of the area for miles. The parking lot is near a large boat ramp, and connects to a picnic shelter, restrooms, water fountains, showers, clean-up stations, and an information kiosk.

Following the trail along its eastern section is the best place to start, since it takes you right along the lake. The loop travels the entire length of the shore, offering spots to get close to the sandy beaches where hikers can hike, swim in the water, or boat. The trail continues east, past some small patches of dense woods and acres of grasslands and deserts. 

The trail finally leaves the shores of the lake and winds around the eastern half of the park, where you'll get the opportunity to see wildlife such as heron, owls, hawks, rabbits, squirrels, and sometimes deer. The trail finishes its loop past the RV campsites and through another path of grasslands and deserts until it reaches the main parking area once again.

With urban luxuries and the amenities of outdoor play, this park and trail will provide you and Fido a wonderful place where you can play, sit, and just enjoy nature.