Willow Pond Park

 Willow Pond Park is a lovely park in Murray that features a pond with loads of ducks, coots, geese, and a number of other birds. It is also a very popular fishing hole. There is a quick short loop around the pond, or a longer loop around the full park.

It’s that time of year where I struggle to find a good trail, but after our longer walk yesterday I decided I wanted something shorter and easier. This ended up being a little too short for me today haha.

Quick Details:

Length: The short loop around the pond is .46 miles. The full loop is a mile.
Trail Type: Loop
Difficulty: DR2. Its pretty flat and paved.
Elevation Gain: NA
Restroom: Yes
Dogs? Yes, leashed.
Other Info: If you want to feed the ducks, remember bread is bad. Consider cut seedless grapes, cooked rice, birdseed, peas, corn, oats, and chopped lettuce.

To Get Here:

From the south: Take i15 to 7200 South. Head west. turn right on 700 West. turn right on Winchester Ave. Turn right on Riverside Dr. Turn right into Willow Pond Park.

From the north: take i15 to 5300 S. and head west. turn left on 700 west. Turn right on Greenoaks Dr. It will switch north, and then back west again. turn left on Riverside Dr. Turn left into Willow Pond Park.

The Trail:

While we were looking for parking I noticed a bird soaring above the park, so my first action was to pull out the telephoto and capture it. Looks like a turkey vulture.

Park rules, and a grackle.

The pond and mountains.

The pond again.

American coots.

American white pelican.

I love his wild “hair”.

The pond again.

Again.

Pelican and geese.

Ducks and coots.

We brought some dried oats with us today. The ducks and coots loved it!

Like a lot.

A lot a lot.

The, or one of the inlets.

The pond again.

The northwest side, where the outlet is.

Reflection.

Ducks enjoying some oats.

The pond and mountains.

American coot.

Mountains and pond again.

Mountains, pond, and grackles.

Grackle.

The pond again.

I love that I am seeing more and more of these signs popping up near our local waterways.

Thank You
For not feeding us bread

Bread makes us ill as it does not contain the right nutrition or calories we need to keep warm in winter.

Rotting bread pollutes our water and causes nasty surface algae, which kills our fish and gives us diseases. It also makes our water smell.

We do like:
Cut seedless grapes, cooked rice, birdseed, peas, corn, oats, and chopped lettuce

Well, there isn’t a whole lot to it, but I enjoyed the birds, and the mountain views. Plus I think this might be my new go to spot for a quick walk with the dogs. 7 out of 10 squirrels.

As for difficulty, it is paved, and flat. DR2.

Dogs are allowed, but must remain leashed. Please clean up after your furry friends.