Twin Lakes State Park

Brimming with life, Twin Lakes State Park is the perfect place for nature-lovers. A series of trails looping around the two lakes provide abundant opportunities to view wildlife in different habitats.

The woods surrounding the lakes make for perfect bird habitat. In the summer, eastern wood peewees, red-eyed vireos, and many warblers, such as hooded and Kentucky warblers, can be found enjoying a day at the park. At times white-breasted nuthatches can be seen. Listen for the subtle tapping of woodpeckers including downy, hairy, pileated and red-bellied. Dozens of ruby-throated hummingbirds can be found circling the feeders put out by park staff every spring, until the birds leave towards the end of the summer. Northern cardinals and blue jays create a colorful display year-round.

The lakes themselves are home to numerous creatures. Belted kingfishers can be seen quickly darting from one place to the next. Great blue and green herons can typically be found gracefully flying just above the water’s surface, or standing stoically along the shore. Seemingly random splashes on the lake’s surface can reveal the location of various species of fish like largemouth bass or bluegill. Keep an eye out for logs protruding from the lakes surface, upon which eastern painted turtles or a common snapping turtle may be basking.

The banks of the lakes are also brimming with life. Sunlight reflects off the wings of dragonflies as they balance atop dead twigs; the small ripples on the water’s surface are a dead giveaway to the presence of slaty skimmers. Butterflies, like question marks and red-spotted purples, punctuate the wildflowers growing at the water’s edge.