Trails of Big Canoe: Village Trail and Playfield Trail

Note: this is the first of a series of articles to showcase trails in Big Canoe that people might not know about. The articles are based on the prior week’s post on Big Canoe Neighbor to Neighbor Facebook group in a series called Trail Talk Thursdays posted by a member of the trails committee. This concept came up when we post about trails committee work days and projects; many times we hear back “Where is that trail?”, “How do I get to it?”, “I never knew about that one!”

Big Canoe has some 25 miles of trails, and about 50 named primary trails, secondary access paths and connectors between parks. All comprise a terrific kaleidoscope of paved, gravel and dirt hiking options. (Note: For you bikers, bikes are permitted on the paved and gravel paths).

Today, we'll kick off this series of articles by talking about two of the trails at the Playfield Park. Most of us know about the Running Track, the 0.25 loop around the grass playfield at the bottom of the dam. But how many of you have enjoyed the adjoining Village Trail or Playfield Trail? These are short, easy, but scenic trails with streams running through them.

These trails were created in the early 2000s by the trails committee to give safe passage to residents and guests of the Petit Crest Villas to the Playfield itself and to Wolfscratch Village.

At the time, there was a general store at the location of what is now the Package Porch. Before the trails were built, people who wanted to hike there and beyond, onto the Nature Valley trails, from the villas would either have to drive, or walk on the roads, which were becoming increasingly dangerous. Thus, these trails were built to keep people safe.

The portion of the trail by the crosswalk on Highland Trail road before work was started. Photos by Liz Scherer.

Trail after.

Each of the 50 trails in Big Canoe is overseen by one or more of the 50 trails committee members. The Village and Playfield trails are overseen and maintained by Terry Stewart and Liz Scherer. Last week they worked on revamping the Petit Crest Villa section that starts at Petit Crest way and goes down the hill to Highland Trail road, at a crosswalk.

Time had made this section eroded and uneven. To improve footing and user experience Terry and Liz put in some 6.5 hours of labor to add steps, weed-whack grass, cut back overgrowth and blow the trail clear.

Terry and Liz installed steps at the top. Photo by Mitch Waldman

Terry stabilizes the steps with gravel.

Liz is addressing the erosion by creating a water diversion channel. Photo by Terry Stewart.

Terry is not only a valued member of the Big Canoe Trails Committee, but also serves on the Big Canoe Volunteer Fire Department and is now a POA Board Candidate. Liz has been a member of the committee for over 20 years, and is the recipient of the 2022 POA President’s Award.

Terry adds the final touches to the trail entrance.

The work was done where the blue dotted line is shown.

NEXT WEEK: Blackwell Creek Trail