Idlewild Park is an area close to home here in Cranbrook B.C. that I have been going to for years and years.  My first memory of this park was as a young child, following my dad and mom around the fitness trail.

A what?

Yes, if you are from Cranbrook, you might not know that there is a fitness trail that weaves around the upper part of the park! Over the years, the signage and structures have taken a bit of a hit, but there is still enough life left in the trail that I thought I would give it a go!  We spent a beautiful night exploring around the lake, and putting in a cardio session!

View of Baker Mountain, from the West Entrance

The area that the lake and trail surrounds is beautiful!  While we were up there the Osprey’s were circling and diving for the fish over the lake.  There were deer in the bushes . . . and a muskrat swimming along the shore! I had never seen a muskrat before, so I was super excited.

Pristine lake and view . . . simple beauty.

The park is even home to a bandstand that hosts a couple of local music festivals and events throughout the year.  The bandstand is the red building hiding through the trees . . . you have to look closely.

Ruby with her PUG hair cut! Finally she looks like a real one!

So I know this really talented photographer and he says that it is a great place to get pictures of wildlife in their natural habitat.  Like I said, the ospreys were circling over and over the lake, the ducks and Canadian Geese were floating around . . . and a pretty pug was running at our heels.

Talented Photographer that I know.

The scenery itself is reason to get out here and give yourself a workout around the circuit.  If I haven’t convinced you of that already, go back up and view the pictures again!  And maybe open your eyes this time.

Once you’re up there, you can start at any point, and we chose to start our fitness trail by following the trail up from the main docks on the lake.

Starting Point

So as I said, the signs have seen better days, but some of them are still legible.  This one is a lunging station.  By placing one foot up on the log, assume a lunging position, and slowly lower your back knee to the ground.  Remember to protect your knees, and make sure that you leg that is up on the log is maintaining a 90 degree position.  For a challenge, I would attempt the high log, and try it with a deeper lunge.

Next up was Station 14 and this one requires lateral movement activity along the log.  On the signage it suggests that you hop back and forth over the log on one foot, you could also increase the level of difficulty in this activity by jumping over top of the log with two feet.

Station 15 is a full body workout, and requires that you start in a squat position, and propel yourself up, onto your hands on top of the rail.  To make this more difficult, hold your body at the highest point for a count of 8, then slowly lower yourself back down.

Station 10 was a core workout, and requires that you maintain a strong core, and circle your body around, while hanging from a set of rings.

Station 16 is kind of self explanatory . . . basically get into a push up position, and pull one leg at a time up to your chest.  Group Instructors sometimes like to call this “Mountain Climbers”.  Torture!

Um, ya . . . this station . . . not so much my forte.  I have NO upper body strength . . . and a very heavy lower body!  You’re supposed to “travel along the bars”, but um, due to my previous admittance, there wasn’t NO “travelling” happenin’!

Simply hanging . . . thinking . . . "Hurry up and take the picture!"

All in all, this is a great little workout trail.  It adds for some variety to the mundaneness that often creeps into one’s gym routine.  Being out in the fresh air is always a bonus, and of course, the scenery around this lake is amazing.  Again, if you don’t  know what I’m talking about . . . go back, AGAIN, and look, with your eyes, at the beauty.

What do YOU do to releave the “boredom” that often creeps into the gym routine?

Happy Cardio-ing!