Flag Pond Loop

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Lake · Wildlife

This trail begins and ends on the Lake Somerville Trailway, which you'd have to take to actually turn this into a full loop. Most of this trail follows a service road for an active oil pump, so be mindful that there can be traffic on it. The pump is a little noisy too. Although that might not sound like the description of a trail you'd want to take to get into nature, the route is surprisingly good. The road doubles as the embankment for the man-made pond, so it offers excellent and typically unobstructed views of the water and its plentiful bird population. The pond is actually specifically managed for migratory birds.

This trail also passes over the various check dams and pipes used to maintain a bird-friendly water level. There are primitive campsites at both the beginning and end of this trail, but due to damage from Hurricane Harvey these sites have been closed. Check in with the park before planning on using them.

Tons of birds can be found here, including herons and ducks. "Wild" pigs and armadillos are also around.