Fort Wilderness/Wilderness Lodge Walk – Part II

I’ve had my breakfast, so I’m taking over from the last portion of the walk – where I’ll be heading over to the Wilderness Lodge.

 

This is where I left off, about to cross onto the exercise path to the Wilderness Lodge:

 

I actually left Pioneer Hall at 11:29, so I probably started the trail at 11:30 or 11:31.

The path isn’t very secluded, it’s actually parallel to the road – though not right next to the road. It does get VERY dark at night – it’s used mostly by the carriage rides at that time.

 

There are a couple of times where you can turn right and go to the beach area. I do like to do that, and that is where I’m going. This is the first right-hand turn towards the beach, the second one is closer to the Lodge. And you do have to cross a street here (mostly buses and service vehicles come through this area):

 

It’s a very short walk to the beach:

 

I’m taking a left here, to continue to the WL:

 

This area isn’t as well walked/jogged as the main path, but there are people who do find it:

 

The Contempory Resort:

 

It doesn’t take too long to get to the Wilderness Lodge. I passed by the bike rental:

 

And walked into the Wilderness Lodge at 11:49 (20 minutes after I left Pioneer Hall):

 

Fruit is available at the WL store:

 

The main pool area is down for rehab, the Villas pool was open:

 

The fitness center available to guests of the resort:

 

There is a walkway out to the dock:

 

I like to point out where there is fruit and healthy choices for food, and Roaring Fork does have fruit, and some sandwiches and salads that looked really good:

 

And I’m heading out of the WL, and back to Fort Wilderness now:

 

I’m leaving at 12:37, and making my way behind the bus stop, onto the path (I’ll be taking the paved path back this time).

 

Time to cross another street (again, mostly buses/service vehicles):

 

This is the crossing to get back to the petting zoo area (and everything else here!)

 

I promised a sleeping horse in part I, here it is (he woke up a little, but I didn’t want to bother him):

 

There is another nature trail over by the Settlement Trading Post, I arrived here at 12:55. If you’ve ever done the Haunted Halloween ride, this is where it takes place:

 

This portion doesn’t seem nearly as walked as the paved road between FW and the WL. It’s really nice, but bikes and golf carts are not allowed. Also, it goes further back then I’m showing – all I’d be showing you is trees! (you can keep going over the bridge. To the right is a walkway that leads down to where campsites are).

 

As you can see, it brings you out to the water as well:

 

I didn’t see any deer or armadillos – those are easy to find usually in the early morning or dusk. There was a hawk, as well as other birds.

 

A few of the trees in this area also remind me of the ones at the Disney Wilderness Preserve.

 

I’m heading back down the beach from here, towards the Settlement:

 

And that brings me back to the trading post:

 

And past Pioneer Hall:

 

I’m taking a different way out of the campground – to the left, instead of across the street:

 

There is someone who is there for months, they put up the most wonderful Halloween and Christmas displays (there are a lot of campers who put up displays during the holidays). Here is there Valentines Day display:

 

An employee being trained to do the wagon rides:

 

There are a number of playgrounds, this was along the walk:

 

A stream along the way:

 

The Meadows, where I was earlier:

 

Eventually I get to the exit sign:

 

And take a self-portrait, I’m done 5 hours after I started! I love Fort Wilderness, and it’s really easy to get around on foot. At my regular pace (which isn’t fast), I could walk from the parking lot of Fort Wilderness to the Wilderness Lodge in about 40 minutes.: