My favorite part of this trail is that even though it's very short, it has some variation in the tread, ranging from a wide dirt path to large rocks. Additionally, you get plenty of opportunities to see the lake as you circle around it. While it's not a very secluded hike, it's still quite nice. The roads are paved all the way to the lake, though you do need a Discover Pass for parking. During the summer they usually have a park ranger at the park entrance, but there's also a machine to purchase one. I didn't have any problems with bugs today. When I was last hear a couple years ago there were problems with flooding in several areas of the trail. It was good to see the recent trail work to fix this; I look forward to coming back in the winter when the water is higher.

A couple years ago when I hiked this trail at Battle Ground Lake State Park, the lower trail was underwater in places. Thanks to the work of a Youth Volunteer Vacation crew and numerous other volunteer work parties it is totally dry even now. I just found one location where we need to realign the tread to keep it out of the water. My Discover Pass had expired, but there is a solar powered self-pay station right at the entrance. For a short hike I like to loop around the lake counter-clockwise on the lower lake trail, then go clockwise on the upper lake trail.

We did the lower lake trail. None of the trails were signed well and there wasn't a clear map to tell us where the other 7 mile trail was. There were a few mud puddles and some rocks on the trail, but overall it was a nice walk on a rainy day. We took my five year old and my dog and both had a great time as we were the only ones on the trail. I want to mention that the Day Use pass is $10 or you need the Discovery Pass. (My books were not up-to-date on this fact.)

Battle Ground Lake State Park is a local favorite, but a worthwhile destination for Oregonian's like us too. Its particularly good for families with its short loop around the lake and the playground. Curiously, children under four are prohibited from swimming. Lola would have loved to splash in the water at the otherwise kid-friendly beach area. We hiked around the Lower Lake Trail, about a 1 mile loop along the lake shore. Its neat trail, but comes a bit too close to the lake in several places getting mucky. Its fairly rocky in places especially on the south west side giving it a rugged primitive feel. Lola really liked scrambling over the rocks and hopping across wet areas. Afterward we played at the playground to tire her out completely so she'd nap in the car on the way home.