Location: Follow Sawyer Rd. south from the intersection with 77, a little over a mile. Parking area will be on the left.
Dog friendly: Yes, dogs are allowed off leash.
Parking: Small parking lot, fills up quickly on busy days.
Open year round. Trails open to hiking, mountain biking, skiing and snowshoeing.

Since we brought Copper into our lives last winter, we’ve had the opportunity to visit lots of new outdoor spots and explore old favorites in a whole new way. 

One of our go-tos has become Winnick Woods, a short drive from our house. After the dog park, it was one of the first places Copper got to explore off leash, and it’s been the perfect spot to let some energy out any time of year. There are several trail “regulars,” and it’s a great place for dogs to get to know each other.

There are a variety of trails – the quickest being Winnick Loop, which takes 45 minutes or less to complete. We tend to wander and stop to chat or let Copper run around with other dogs we encounter. You could easily make this an in and out trip, or branch off onto other paths and explore for a while.

Our first visits were in winter. While the trails aren’t necessarily maintained, they seem to get enough traffic that the snow gets packed quickly. Summer was very buggy, and fall seems to be the perfect time to visit. Be warned – certain areas get muddy after it rains.

One thing to note – bow hunting is allowed in the area. There have been times that we’ve seen hunters coming out of the woods, and it’s a bit unnerving. Dress yourself and your dog appropriately before heading out in hunting season, just in case.