Loop the Little Lake

Loop the Little Lake is a trail that my family was walked several times. My Facebook page has multiple pictures from this trail. And you don’t need to walk the entire trail to enjoy it.

Key Features

• Distance: 3.5 miles
• Four trestles: Fox Cities Trestle, Slough Trestle, Neenah Trestle, and Menasha Trestle
• Scenic views of Little Lake Butte des Morts, the Fox River, and the surrounding cities
• Four developed parks with restrooms
• One undeveloped park
• Access to Fox Crossing, Menasha, and Neenah
• Suitable for biking, walking, and running
• Family-friendly

Review

When we starting walking this trail it was just the Fox Cities Trestle. Starting at Fritse Park in Fox Crossing the Fox Cities Trestle is an old Rail Road trestle that has been converted into a walking path.

Before you start, if you start here, on the north side of the park is an area Rydell Conservancy. This is a little natural area that they have been creating paths and benches for people to enjoy.

Fritse Park also has the normal picnicking and play equipment common in parks. There is also a boat and kayak launch for accessing Little Lake Butte Des Morts.

After enjoying the park you can start walking across the Fox Cities Trestle. Be wary that people use this trail for biking as well. It’s not uncommon to hear a bell indicating that a bicycle rider intends to pass you. There is a pavilion and two fishing decks off set from the trail. These provide resting spots for people crossing the trail.

Once you reach the Menasha side of the trail you have a choice. You can walk north to the Menasha lock. I have referred to locks several times on this blog but never defined what they are. On rivers around the work there are lock systems that allow boats and ships to navigate up the river around dams or sections of rapids.

The Fox River has a series of 17 locks that once allowed navigation from the Bay of Green Bay to Lake Winnebago. However only 16 of these locks are open to limited use now. As fear of invasive species getting into the Fox River and further up the water ways has shut down the last lock in Green Bay. You can read more about them here. As a teen I had the privilege of traveling the entire lock system but the Menasha Lock was our most frequently used lock.

Continuing south from the Menasha Lock you will cross the Menasha Trestle. To the west of this trestle you can see James Island, a habitat for nesting birds. Up in the trees of this island this year was a flock of nesting cormorants. Their nests are easily seen from this trestle in the Fall. A pavilion with benches faces the island about half way across this bridge.

The south side of the Menasha Trestle ends on the Menasha side of Doty island. From here you will walk through a neighborhood and along side of Shepard Park. When you reach the lake again you will walk between the lake and the Neenah Menasha Sewage treatment plant. After the sewage treatment plant you will then go into a small Neenah neighborhood and by Cook Park. Make sure to look up in the largest tree to see an eagles nest. You might be lucky enough to see one.

After you pass Cook Park, the trail will take a right and cross over the Neenah Trestle. The Neenah Trestle will take you from the Neenah side of Doty Island to Arrowhead Park in Neenah. Arrowhead Park used to be part of a large paper mill complex but has been converted back into a natural area. If your making a day of the trail this would be a great place to break away from the trail as downtown Neenah is near the Neenah Trestle. Downtown Neenah has several great restaurants and coffee shops to enjoy.

Continuing along the lake side of Arrowhead Park you will come to the final trestle of the trail. The Slough Trestle crosses the Neenah Slough connecting Arrowhead Park and Herb and Dolly Smith Park. The Neenah Slough is a small river that winds through the City of Neenah and empties into Little Lake Butte Des Morts.

Herb and Dolly Smith Park is a small park with a restroom and Kayak access to the lake. From here the trail follows Lake Street North back to Fritse Park. This section of the trail is basically a side walk taking you past Eggers Foundry (no relation) and through the old Neenah Paper complex. You will pass the Burial Chamber Haunted House Complex and assorted warehouses. Eventually passing more houses before reaching Fritse Park again.

While the Loop the Little Lake trail may be too much for some people there is parking near each of the trestles so you can walk small sections of this trail if you want. However my extended family has joined me to walk this entire loop. And often times you will pass people at one point of the trail only to pass them again later on the trail as they walk or bike the loop. Even if you don’t live in the Fox Valley area this is a great trail to visit.

If you plan on visiting this trail soon feel free to comment. Or comment for any other reason. Thank you again for visiting my site, enjoying my pictures, and reading my blog.