STAY IN SHAPE—AND HAVE FUN WHILE DOING IT—AT THE LAKE

It’s officially swimsuit season at Lake Martin! To be honest, from May to September swimsuits are the top choice for attire with the Big Fish Team—that means we’re always ready to jump in the lake at a moment’s notice! Of course, wearing your swimsuit all the time does lead to being more motivated to exercise. We’ve come up with our favorite ways to exercise at Lake Martin—and we’re here to tell you that, just as most things are more fun to do at the lake, the same is true for exercise.

Yoga On The Green

Get your mind right—in that Zen kind of way—with early morning yoga in the great outdoors. Big Fish Friend and Yogi Extraordinaire Abby Glass teaches yoga on the Green at Russell Crossroads at 7am on these Saturdays in the summer: July 1, August 5, and September 9. The class is adaptable for all levels of yoga so bring your mat and get ready to feel invigorated and inspired. Did you leave your fave yoga outfit at home? Don’t worry! Abby owns A Lotus Connection and she has the best exercise clothes among many other great things. Plus a shopping excursion is the perfect warm up for any form of exercise!

Hiking The Miles and Miles of Trails Around The Lake

One of the best-kept secrets of Lake Martin is its extensive trail system which enthusiasts claim to be among the best hiking trails in the state. Perfect for trail running and hiking, many of the trails feature wonderful views of the lake so be prepared to stop for photo ops—and rest stops! You can find both single and double track trails with enough elevation to make your outing challenging. Don’t worry most of the trails have enough downhill stretches to give your legs a break while you’re winding through the woods and around the lake.

Check out four of our favorite trails:

• Smith Mountain Fire Tower and Trails—Pick one of the four trails surrounding the historic fire tower which you can climb (if you dare!) for awesome views of the lake. Take note some of these trails are extremely difficult taking you along sheer cliffs so experience and caution are needed.
• Russell Forest—Five trailheads lead you into the 100+ miles of trails in Russell Forest where you’ll hike through beautiful hardwood forests. You can also bike or ride horses along these trails.
• The James M. Scott Deadening Alpine Trail—This 4.2 mile loop trail is best for experienced hikers as it’s one of the most difficult at the lake with challenging paths up rocky bluffs where you will love the views of the Tallapoosa River, Needles Eye and Jasmine Bluff.
• Wind Creek State Park—Two trails wind through this park offering plenty of scenery with a moderate to difficult trail rating. You can expect to experience rock outcroppings, a stream and plenty of chances to view wildlife.

If you are ready to venture out on these trails or learn about some of the others at the lake, visit the Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail Association for all the details on the 26+ miles of trails in the area. A group of volunteers lovingly maintain the trails and you can find all levels of difficulty depending on the type of hiking you’d like to do.

Paddle Board Your Way To Fitness

It’s always a great idea to get out on the water at Lake Martin, and paddle boarding fits the bill when you want to combine fitness with lake vibes. You can paddle around your favorite slough and give your whole body a workout. If you spot your dream home while you’re out and about paddling, give us a call when you’re back on dry land! Our favorite stand-up paddle board is by BOTE—there’s even one specifically designed for fishing. Big Fish Friend Sharon Johnston is the perfect resource for finding the right BOTE paddle board to fit your lifestyle. Reach out to Sharon at (334) 799-0529 for all your BOTE needs.

Give your friends at Big Fish a shout if you ever have questions about fitness (or any other) activities at Lake Martin—we’re always here to help!