“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” - Aristotle
“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.” — Helen Keller
Hike at a Glance -
Distance: 2.5 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Trail Surface: Paved asphalt, crushed gravel, and natural leaf-covered soil
Highlights: Crystal-clear blue water views, an ADA-accessible fishing pier, and a majestic pine tree canopy
The Nursery Entrance
Turning into the brand-new J. Dudley Watts Jr. Belews Lake Park feels less like arriving at a county park and more like driving straight into a massive, meticulously spaced pine tree nursery. Thousands of exceptionally tall, thin pine trees stand like sentinels, flanked by smaller hardwoods showing off their changing autumn colors at the edges. The entry sign makes an immediate statement: a massive, beautifully etched steel installation showcasing the park’s name alongside artistic metallic trees. I followed the park road down to the very end, parked the car, and had a great chat with Ray, the maintenance supervisor. He’s a super nice guy with a wealth of local information about this 216-acre property, which proudly stands as Forsyth County’s first public park on Belews Lake and its fourth largest overall.
Running the Shoreline
I decided to tackle the trails counterclockwise, starting on the paved, ADA-accessible section of the Red Trail. It didn’t take long for the lure of the water to pull me off the asphalt. Due to persistent regional drought conditions, the lake's water level is low, exposing sandy banks along the edges. While you can hear the faint, distant hum of cars and trucks zooming past on nearby Highway 58, the visual landscape quickly completely consumes you. I stepped down onto the actual natural surface trail that tightly hugs the shoreline. Walking across thick, crunching layers of colorful fallen leaves, I caught magnificent, unobstructed views of the crystal clear blue water from countless vantage points. Pro tip for the early birds: if you are the first hiker of the day on a wooded path, keep your mouth closed unless you want a face full of spiderwebs for breakfast.
The Floating Pier and Up the Bluff
The natural path eventually leads you to a beautifully terraced ramp that drops down to a floating dock and fishing pier. It’s an incredibly peaceful spot to cast a line or just stand and watch the sun dance across the water. On this particular morning, wildlife sightings were minimal—just a few busy squirrels and a single, exceptionally shy turtle hiding out directly under the dock structure. Leaving the pier to continue the counter-clockwise loop, the trail transitions into a wide, crushed-gravel path—still officially the Red Trail—that climbs a very gentle, rolling incline. This section is designed with passive, low-impact recreation in mind, offering a perfect, wide-open corridor to slow down, look up at the open sky, and simply breathe.
Looping Back on Blue
The gravel path climbs steadily to a wide clearing featuring a large community shelter built to host massive gatherings. From the shelter, you walk briefly through the main parking area to connect with the Blue Trail, maintaining that steady counter-clockwise momentum. The Blue Trail weaves its way smoothly back through the woods, eventually closing the loop right back at the primary parking lot. It is truly difficult to imagine a prettier or more majestic place to start a morning. The entire park radiates a serene, undisturbed energy. Between the light breeze, the chatter of birds and frogs, the rhythmic crunch of leaves underfoot, and a few stray morning raindrops tapping against the canopy, nature provides its own perfect, built-in sound machine. Forsyth County hit a home run with Phase One of this land preservation, and I can't wait to see the future trails, playgrounds, and observation towers planned by 2027.
Hike Summary
Started counter-clockwise on the paved Red Trail before dropping down to the natural shoreline path.
Observed low water levels due to current drought conditions, exposing sandy areas along the crystal-clear lake.
Walked the terraced ramp to the ADA-accessible floating dock, spotting a shy turtle under the pier.
Ascended a wide, gentle crushed gravel incline past the community picnic shelter.
Connected to the Blue Trail through the parking area to complete the 2.5-mile loop.
Natural sound machine