Cowles Bog is personally one of my favorite trails. It is right off of Highway 12 at the Dune Acres entrance. You have your choice of parking in two lots, one which is right off 12 and another that is a little bit further in. This is the one I prefer – because if you are looking for an additional hike, you can take the trail that goes behind the lot in the other direction. The sign in front of the trail says that it is 4.6 miles, so this is longer and more rigorous hike. It heads towards the beach, which is a welcome sight once you reach the top of the hill. One suggestion would be to pack a picnic lunch, walk (or run) the 2 miles to the beach and then stop and relax for awhile before heading back. You can also start from one lot and end at the other one if you don’t want to do an out and back trail.
Cowles Bog is actually a fen and not a bog. It is 8,000 years old. The main difference between a fen and a bog is that bogs receive water mainly from precipitation, while fens are supplied with water mostly from surface and groundwater sources.
This trail is beautiful in all seasons. It’s great for running as well.
The bridge
On top of hill looking down towards beach
The beach!
Heading back up…
A view of the fen