Trinity River Viewpoint–Whistling Duck Pond, 14 lakes
11.9 mi · ▲ 112 ft · 4 hr 1 min
Trinity River Viewpoint–Whistling Duck Pond, 14 lakes is an 11.9-mile out-and-back in Trinity River Audubon Center near Fruitdale, TX. The route passes Wood Duck Pond, Dragonfly Pond, Trinity River Viewpoint and 8 more before reaching Cattail Pond at the turnaround, 5.9 miles in. It is mostly level, with 112 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Trinity River Viewpoint–Whistling Duck Pond, 14 lakes
11.9 mi · ▲ 112 ft · 4 hr 1 min
Elevation 378–445 ft
Out & Back · Trinity River Audubon Center
Trailhead: Pemberton Hill Trail · 32.73256, -96.71771
Weather Sep 20: Rain showers, high 96°F / low 79° · precip 26% · wind 11 mph · sunrise 7:15 AM · sunset 7:28 PM
Transit-accessible: 1 stop 775 m from the trailhead
- Start on Pemberton Hill Trail, heading S.
- 0.9 miTurn right onto AT&T Trail, heading W.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading W.
- 50 ftBear right, heading W.
- 3.7 miPass Wood Duck Pond.
- 150 ftPass Dragonfly Pond.
- 50 ftTurn right, heading N.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Trinity Forest Trail, heading N.
- 0.7 miPass Trinity River Viewpoint.
- 50 ftPass Raccoon Pond.
- 50 ftPass Spider Web Pond.
- 50 ftPass Trailhead Pond.
- 50 ftPass Great Blue Heron Pond.
- 200 ftTurn right onto Trinity River Trail, heading SE.
- 450 ftPass Bullfrog Pond.
- 50 ftPass Whistling Duck Pond.
- 300 ftPass Great Egret Pond.
- 50 ftPass Tadpole Pond.
- 50 ftPass Cattail Pond.
- 250 ftTurn right, heading NW.
- 150 ftBear left, heading W.
- 50 ftBear right, heading W.
- 200 ftReach Trinity River Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 150 ftBear left, heading N.
- 50 ftBear right, heading N.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Trinity Forest Trail, heading E.
- 0.7 miTurn left onto AT&T Trail, heading NW.
- 3.8 miBear left, heading N.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Pemberton Hill Trail, heading E.
- 0.8 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.2 mi in (~129 min). Leave by 4:59 PM for the 7:28 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:51 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: 1 stop 775 m from the trailhead
More from Pemberton Hill Trail Trailhead
- Overlook–Trinity River Viewpoint, 16 lakes 12.4 mi · ▲ 139 ft
- Pemberton Hill Trail 2.6 mi · ▲ 54 ft
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