Tap tap tap. “What’s that sound, Mama?” Tap tap tap. We scanned the trees, searching for the noisy drummer. “Look up! I found a woodpecker. Right over there. Look up! Look up! Do you see it?” My 4.5 year old and 2 year old were delighted to discover a real woodpecker, clothed in a bright red hat, and focused intently on drumming his own little happy beat, making even the dreariest winter morning cheerier.
The barren trees made it easy to see birds of all kinds, and large nests perched carefully atop tall trees made us wonder aloud what kinds of birds called them home. Frozen ponds offered the perfect space to watch birds ice skate, a truly fun experience, and climbing to the top of the observatory tower gave us some additional cardio and an awesome aerial view. A flat and easy 1.2 mile loop, this trail is perfect for littles.
The Park Mama Tips:
- The parking lot is small and only accommodates about 10 cars. Street parking is also available. Directions here.
- Parts of the trail become muddy after rainfall, and with all of the loosely packed dirt, your shoes will get quite dirty. Plan to wear waterproof shoes if it has recently rained / shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty.
- There are no restrooms. Bring a travel potty.
- Children can walk right up to the pond edge from the trail. Watch them closely to prevent accidents.
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