Even though our summer camp season is over and we’ve highlighted our staffs’ favorite places, there are still several wonderful spots that weren’t chosen. But they are somebody’s favorite! To conclude the summer, we’ll keep showcasing the rest of Camp Mount Luther’s top spots. If you’ve been to camp, can you recall any memories from these spots? If you haven’t had the fortune to explore camp’s beauty, use your imagination… and come for a visit!
If you’re looking for a short, manageable hike to get a taste of Camp Mount Luther, the Watters Nature Trail is where to start. About a mile long, this loop is one of the more common hikes for campers and gives a good representation of all the natural wonders camp has to offer. It begins next to the pavilion and makes an arc through the woods, crossing the entrance road before continuing and ending around the amphitheater.
The trail was blazed in the early 2000s by forester Mark Holman and was rehabilitated and cleaned up by Eagle Scouts over the years. It was dubbed and dedicated as the Watters Trail on October 14, 2001, in recognition of Wes Watters and his son Tom, long-time employees of camp. Wes and Tom managed our facilities faithfully for many years, Tom continuing after Wes retired. In 2021, after 50 years of service, Tom retired, too, and camp erected the sign at the entrance to the trail in his honor.
When you’re hiking, you may notice small wooden posts with engraved numbers. They used to correspond to stops on an informational brochure. Over the years, however, changes to the forest have made the brochures irrelevant. Camp staff have wondered about revamping the hike to be more interactive again, toying with different ideas. If you have any interest in helping with this project, please feel free to email us at cml@campmountluther.org!
Hiking the Watters Trail is a peaceful experience with many lovely spots. You’ll wind your way through tall, straight pines and over mossy ground. When you end at the amphitheater, you can sit to rest, enjoying the view of the Oak Field through the opening in the trees behind the cross. Or, if running is more your thing, join us for our annual Dandelion Run and you’ll jog along the trail!