Size: 27-acre lake, maximum depth about 7 feet.

Habitat: Lake in downtown Columbia with pier, paved path, mown grass, scrubby edge, wooded floodplain, and some deciduous woods.

Best Months: March to mid-May; September and October.

Coverage Time: 30 minutes to an hour.

Trails/Paths: The Lakefront on the west side is where most of the people congregate and activity is centered. The paved path encircles the lake with a posted distance of 1.4 miles. Upgraded footbridges cross a stream coming from Wilde Lake and drainage channels. A long, curving elevated footbridge/boardwalk crosses the wet area at the north end of the lake. On the east side, the path runs between the lake and the Little Patuxent River and through the Kennedy Gardens.

Notable Birds: Long-tailed Duck, Red-breasted Merganser, Red-necked Grebe, American Bittern, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Red Phalarope, Marsh Wren, Golden-winged Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Mourning Warbler, Vesper Sparrow, Rusty Blackbird.

Amenities: A few benches. There are several restaurants along the west side waterfront as well as a Sheraton Hotel. A Fitness Circuit Trail is located along the path on the northwest side of the lake. A private company operates a paddleboat concession from the Lakefront dock during the summer months. Fishing is allowed with a valid license.

Handicapped Access: The lake circuit path is completely paved and generally level with wooden footbridges over streams and the north end wet area. (At the north end of the Lakefront, a slope in the path might be a challenge for some.) Accessing the Lakefront and the paved path requires going to the promenade access at the north end of the Clyde’s building to avoid stairs.

Operation and Hours: Columbia Association open space; closed from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Note that the Lakefront is often extremely busy, especially in warmer months. During peak periods, traffric is slow and parking almost nonexistent.

Special Attractions: A dock and pier at the Lakefront attract some waterbirds and provide viewing areas for the main part of the lake. When not in use for outdoor dining and events, the green-roofed Lakefront Pavilion can be a place for viewing the lake during inclement weather. (Barn Swallows nest both under the pavilion and beneath its roof.) Two peninsulas facing each other across the lake were added during a major dredging and reconfiguration project. (A small island which was a feature of the original configuration was incorporated into one of these peninsulas.) They divide the wilder north section from the main part, where most of the recreational activty takes place.

Nearby Sites: Wilde Lake, Centennial Park, Gwynn Acres Path, Plumtree Path.

Compilers: Clayton Koonce & Joanne Solem

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