Ray Yellig Memorial Trail

The Ray Yellig Memorial Trail is a nature-packed trail in an urban setting. Although the town of Santa Claus is small, it's a major tourist destination thanks to its multiple theme parks and lakeside camping. Even if you're here for something else, you and Fido will enjoy a peaceful afternoon walk on the 96-inch trail.

To get to the trail, you will first have to visit the Jim Yellig Park. The small recreational area is the starting point for the Ray Yellig Memorial Trail and you will see plenty of the park while walking. Inside the park, there are restrooms, benches, water fountains, and even clean-up stations for your pooch. Its urban setting shows off well-maintained fields, baseball diamonds, and neighborhoods.

Once you start the trail though, you will find yourself on a double looping path that passes through the park and into the woods surrounding the area, that shows off natural hardwood forests, ponds, and wetlands. The trail is made up of limestone, crushed rock, asphalt, and 15 wooden bridges that pass over wetlands. Along the trail, there are even a few rest stops, with benches and trash bins to stop at and use if needed.

The thick natural area that surrounds 80% of the trail breeds plenty of wildlife too, including badgers, turtles, frogs, fish, Allegheny woodrats, beavers, foxes, and white-tailed deer. Even better thanks to the path's wide birth, it provides a number of different activities. Besides walking and hiking with your pup, you can also find people bicycling, bird watching, and snowshoeing in the water when it snows.

Although the town is small, it can bring over a million people per year thanks to its tourist attractions. Due to this, the trail can get pretty popular over the summer, but don't let that stop you from enjoying an easy going walk and enjoying nature with your best friend.