Southards Pond Park

Jinx Thinks: 

This park was where we discovered I was a water dog. There are a bunch of places that are easy for a dog to walk into the pond, so on a nice warm day, mom and dad let me go up to the water to check it out for the first time. Once my feet hit the water once, I dove in and jumped around and almost pulled dad in a few times. There was a tunnel for me to superbark in, and the trails were nice dirt paths that were comfortable to walk on.

Our Thoughts: 

After Eric narrowly survived Jinx jumping in the pond, we decided to walk the trail that follows the curve of the pond. We had never been here before and there is no trail map, so we just moseyed along for a while before we turned around and came back. The next time we came back we decided to conquer the loop trail that heads away from the pond. It’s flat and easy, and about a mile long, so not overwhelming at all. There are plenty of gorgeous spots for photo ops, both on the main loop and on the smaller offshoots. This park is part of the Carlls River trail system, and connects to Belmont Lake State Park, Argyle Lake, etc. After figuring out the lay of the land, this has quickly become one of our favorite parks. It’s not overly huge, but you can basically customize the length of the walk you want to do. 

Fun Facts & Sights to See:

• Know Before You Go: horses coming from the nearby barn pass through the trails, you may see some!
• We have had the pleasure of seeing tons of wildlife in this park, definitely a go to for bird watching!
• Know Before You Go: There are almost always bicycles and people walking/running. The trails are pretty wide in most areas, so it’s easy to pass others. 
• Parking: There are several places to park on the street, but there is not a dedicated parking lot for the park itself