Hiking Jamestown’s Island Park Trail in the Fall
I’ve called Jamestown home for years. In all that time, I never once thought to check out the hiking trails until recently. Turns out, they’re the perfect way to get outside and soak up some sunshine during the busy workday.
At the time, my job gave me an hour-long lunch break and I didn’t know what to do with all the time. It was too long for lunch and too short to go home. So I opted to use the additional time to explore parts of Jamestown I had never been to before.
Overlooking the James River Valley from the Dam
If you are heading out to the island from Jamestown, you will have to go past the dam. No matter how many times I drive it, I personally find driving across the dam terrifying and avoid it when possible.
If you are trying to get to Island Park from the west, you will have to cross the dam. It’s really not as bad as I make it sound, I just have a fear of heights. There is a small parking spot right on the eastern side of the dam where you can park and check out the fall colors in the James River Valley.
Island Park
Island Park is located on the northern side of Jamestown in the middle of the Jamestown Reservoir. But don’t worry, just because it’s an island doesn’t mean you can’t drive to it. There is a cute little one-vehicle bridge allowing you to cross from the shore to the island.
Once you cross the bridge, you’ll want to take a right at the first road you come to. The trailhead officially starts about halfway down the island and there is a sign marking the starting point. I prefer going all the way up to the gravel parking lot at the end of the island and starting there for the shorted western loop of the trail.
Trail starting point
While this particular spot is not the official starting point of any of the trails on the island, it is the closest to the parking lot and where I like to start from.
The Trails
The trails on the island are geared more towards bikers, but that didn’t stop me from hiking them. If you choose to hike versus bike, be mindful of others that are biking and be sure to stay out of their way.
The difficulty of the trail varies from easy all the way up to hard depending on which part you are on. There are also some pretty steep cliffs in some spots that made me nervous (only because I’m terrified of heights).
Different parts of the trail will take you farther inland away from the shore. At times, you won’t even be able to see the water, but you can still feel the crisp fall breeze blowing off the water and through the trees. I felt like I was in a forest somewhere nowhere near North Dakota.
The Views
The views from the various points of the trail are incredible.
to the north
At the northern tip of the island you can see down the Jamestown Resivor for miles. This point on the island would be the ideal spot for northern lights viewing on the edge of Jamestown.
I love that the lake is visible from almost every part on the trail and that it will even lead you down onto the shore. But be ready for the hike up and if you’re out of shape like me, it will be a hike. But the little bit of huffing and puffing is worth it.
what to bring
these are a few of my hiking essentials…
- Hiking boots or shoes. Everyone, regardless if you are a casual hiker (like me) or someone that likes to go all out and spend the whole day hiking, needs a good pair of sturdy hiking footwear with good traction.
- Water bottle. I drink water all day every day. Any chance I get. Staying adequately hydrated, especially while out doing physical activity is a must.
- Sunscreen. No one wants to come home from a hike feeling a little bit extra crispy.
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