• From the parking lot, walk past the trailhead kiosk on the Lake Trail, which is a dirt road. (The redwood grove will be on your left and Lake Wilson on your right.)
• At .03-miles you’ll come to Lake Benoist and a trail juncture. You can begin the loop around the lake by walking to your right or left.
• At the southwest side of the loop are benches where you can take a break and enjoy beautiful views across the lake. On the northwest side of the loop, look for trail spurs to the Russian River, including one leading to a small, rocky beach.
• When you’ve circled the lake, return to the parking lot on the dirt road (the way you came). Or add an additional .5 mile walk by turning right on Redwood Trail. (The trailhead is about half way between Lake Benoist and the parking lot.) You’ll make a short, steep climb into the shady redwoods and follow the forested ridge back to the parking lot.