Marble Mountain Wilderness: Shackleford Creek Trail to Summit Lake

If you're looking for a scenic trip that won't increase in elevation too much, has a moderate trail and scenic lake, forest and mountain views, then Shackleford Trail is for you. During the summer months this trail is adored by many as the lakes provide a cool break from the intense heat. I took on the challenge of going in early winter instead and witnessed a whole new level of "winter wonderland" with frozen lakes and creeks, ice-kissed meadows and trees, and patchy blankets of snow on the ground and mountainside. If you stay long enough you can find swimming newts and wandering salamanders and lots and lots of cows and their lovely, uh, pies. I also had witnessed large groupings of trout in one of the creeks I crossed and found many different tracks/ scat from different mammals. This trail of the marble mountain wilderness is never short of changing scenery while still being a fairly moderate trail.