Crane Lake Trail
Crane Lake is a 100 acre lake deep in Mark Twain National Forest. A three mile loop circles the lake and a two mile loop explores the Crane Pond Creek valley and shut-ins below the dam. Combining the trails gives you a five mile loop.
Distance- 3 mile loop
optional 2 mile for a
5 mile hike
Difficulty- Moderate
Distance- 3 mile loop
optional 2 mile for a
5 mile hike
Difficulty- Moderate
Map
Map courtesy of the OTA
Trailhead
The trailhead is located at the west end of Crane Lake. There's a boat ramp and a sign board with some info.
The trail starts from the east side of the parking area.
The trail starts from the east side of the parking area.
The north side of the loop is part of the OT so you can follow OT markers here.
Right after leaving the parking lot, the trail goes through a former campground. You can find a few fire grates and remnants scattered about.
Right after leaving the parking lot, the trail goes through a former campground. You can find a few fire grates and remnants scattered about.
The trail stays close to the lake and wraps around a few coves before heading into the woods. It climbs up a steep hill and is out of sight of the lake.
Near the end of the lake, the trail descends within sight of the lake before hitting the loop junction. The three mile loop goes to the right, crosses the shut-ins below the dam, and rejoins the other side of the loop. The OT and the five mile loop continue to the left.
The trail quickly climbs through a large glade area with good views back towards the lake.
The trail is very rocky through here and makes a steep, rugged descent down to the creek.
Crane Pond Creek- the lake's outflow- is just a few feet off trail. The stream is very rocky and pretty with gray granite boulders and green pines.
Soon the trail runs along the edge of some old farm fields. At the end of the first field, the OT breaks to the left and goes five miles to Marble Creek Campground. The Crane Lake Loop continues to the right.
From the junction, you can follow gray diamond markers. The trail follows wide ATV trails for the next half mile.
The trail skirts several more fields and passes areas with lots of beaver-chewed trees.
The ATV trails split and the one that is the trail breaks to the right. It travels through a rocky gravel bar and crosses Crane Pond
Creek.
During much of the year, the trail crossing is fine, but in March, the crossing was swift water over knee deep. If that's the case when you visit, head upstream and wade across a wide, shallower pool.
Creek.
During much of the year, the trail crossing is fine, but in March, the crossing was swift water over knee deep. If that's the case when you visit, head upstream and wade across a wide, shallower pool.
The trail continues on the ATV trail past the creek crossing and goes on the edges of a few more fields. Soon, the grey diamonds mark a split where a singletrack trail breaks off the ATV road. The trail here goes through several pine groves on the border of the fields and then climbs steeply. At the top of the hill, the trail goes through a scenic glade area above Crane Pond Creek. You can catch a few views across the rocky valley and eventually get in sight of the lake and dam.
When I hiked this trail in late May, this section appeared overgrown and grassy so I continued on the ATV trail. The ATV trail rejoins the Crane Lake Trail near the dam.
When I hiked this trail in late May, this section appeared overgrown and grassy so I continued on the ATV trail. The ATV trail rejoins the Crane Lake Trail near the dam.
The trail descends some from the glades and comes to the lakeshore right at the dam. This is where the three mile loop rejoins five mile loop. Following the short loop trail down below the dam is a worthwhile trip to see to the shut-ins below the dam.
From the dam, the trail follows old roads and ATV trails back to the trailhead. The trail is usually flat close to the lakeshore except for when it goes around two big coves of the lake.
The trail goes through a small field and crosses a concrete bridge over Crane Pond Creek at the head of the lake.
After crossing the creek, the trail follows a dirt road for .2 miles back to the trailhead.