Top 8 Lakes around Parkville

For a diverse range of activities, Loch Raven Reservoir is highly popular, offering hiking, rowing, paddleboarding, bird watching, and horseback riding. Druid Lake is also a favorite, known for its 1.5-mile paved path ideal for cycling and running.

Yes, several lakes are great for families. Druid Lake and Lake Montebello both feature paved paths suitable for strollers and young children. Loch Raven Reservoir also offers family-friendly activities like hiking and bird watching.

You'll find a variety of trails. Druid Lake and Lake Montebello both have paved paths perfect for walking, running, and cycling. For more natural hiking, the areas around Loch Raven Reservoir and the adjacent Loch Raven Wildlife Area offer extensive networks of unpaved trails through forests.

Absolutely. Both Druid Lake and Lake Montebello offer paved paths that circumnavigate the water, making them suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. These paths provide easy access to enjoy the lakeside scenery.

The lakes offer diverse natural beauty. At Loch Raven Reservoir, you can explore a vast 1,600-acre reservoir surrounded by forests, home to various wildlife. The Loch Raven Wildlife Area is particularly rich in birds, insects, amphibians, and mammals. Even urban parks like Druid Hill Park, which encompasses Druid Lake, feature woodlands and natural areas.

Beyond walking, you can enjoy cycling on the paved paths around Druid Lake and Lake Montebello. At Loch Raven Reservoir, popular activities include rowing, paddleboarding, bird watching, and horseback riding. For more structured routes, you can find various cycling and hiking tours in the region, such as those listed in the Cycling around Parkville and Easy hikes around Parkville guides.

Yes, fishing is a popular activity. Riss Lake, a private reservoir in Parkville, is well-stocked with bass, catfish, walleye, rainbow trout, and crappies, making it a prime spot for avid fishermen. Hereford Valley Lake is another local option identified for fishing within Parkville.

English Landing Park is a 68-acre riverfront park along the Missouri River, offering a different type of water-based recreation compared to the lakes. It features a 3-mile jogging and biking trail, picnic areas, sports fields, and playgrounds. While not a lake, its riverfront location provides unique scenery and recreational opportunities, including access to the Missouri River for boating from the adjacent Platte Landing Park. You can learn more about it at parkvillemo.gov.

Yes, particularly within Druid Hill Park, which is one of the oldest public parks in the US, opened in 1860. It contains various monuments, fountains, and historical structures. English Landing Park, though on the Missouri River, also has historical significance as a former busy port and played a role during the Civil War.

Visitors appreciate the diverse opportunities for outdoor recreation, from the tranquil settings for relaxation to active pursuits like cycling, running, hiking, and water sports. The well-maintained paths, scenic views, and the presence of wildlife are frequently highlighted. The accessibility of many trails, including paved options, also makes them popular for a wide range of visitors.

Yes, the Loch Raven Wildlife Area, bordering Loch Raven Reservoir, is a prime spot for wildlife viewing. It's home to many species of birds, insects, amphibians, and mammals, including groundhogs, chipmunks, beavers, bald eagles, and osprey. You can explore its forests on a network of hiking trails.

For cyclists, Druid Lake offers a 1.5-mile paved path, and Lake Montebello has a popular 1.3-mile paved bicycle and pedestrian path. For longer rides, the Cycling around Parkville guide provides routes like the 'Loch Raven Reservoir loop' and 'Gwynns Falls and Jones Falls Trail Loop'.