Two paths depart from the parking lot off of Fish Lake Road. To follow the Richardson Loop in a clockwise direction begin on the one that heads north, nearest to the vault toilet. The two-track trail immediately enters the woods and makes a gradual climb for the most elevation gain of the hike. Within a third of a mile you reach post No. 10 at a junction along a service drive. Head east and with a couple of minutes you’ll reach post No. 8 at a four-way junction. Take the northern fork to the left and soon you’ll be hiking along a low bluff above the west shore of Richardson Lake.

Within a few minutes you’ll be at one of two scenic overlooks along the lake. This is the best one in the park as you can sit at a picnic table and gaze down at the length of Richardson Lake. Is that a beaver swimming past you?

This scenic portion of the hike ends when the trail swings away the lakeshore and reaches a junction with a service drive 0.6 mile from the start. Avoid the service drive to the west (left) by staying to right at the junction and again at post No. 9, a junction located just a 100 yards down the trail. Soon you’re skirting the north end of the lake, home of a beaver lodge, through an open field where wild blackberries grow.

The trail leaves the lake behind as it heads east on a gentle climb through a meadow before returning to the lakeshore within 0.3 mile. The trail continues south along the shoreline to quickly pass another overlook whose the view of Richardson Lake is obscured by brush. Beyond it you swing away from the water and cuts through a marshy area. This stretch can be muddy at times but logs allow you to tip-toe through the area without too much harm to your boots.

Within a half mile from post No. 9 or 1.3 miles from the start you return to post No. 8. This time head south to reach a junction in 0.2 mile. To the east is a trail that leads to a spot overlooking Esler Lake, another marshy but scenic body of water that also features a large beaver lodge. It’s less than half mile to hike to the lake and back to the main trail. Continue south on Richardson Loop and in a few minutes you’ll reach post No. 2 where in less than a quarter mile to the west is the parking lot to complete this 2-mile hike.

For a longer day head south on the Esler Loop from post No. 2 and in a quarter mile will reach post No. 3. Continue the loop it in a clockwise direction (left) to pass post No. 7 and within a half mile reach a scenic spot with a table overlooking Big School Lake. In another half mile you arrive at post No. 6, marking the junction with a connector trail to the north. The Esler Loop continues east where the, skirts a pond within a third of a mile and then swings to the northeast. From there it’s 0.6 mile back to post No. 2 where 0.2 mile to the west is the parking lot and the end of a 3.5-mile hike in Rose Oaks.