Loop the Little Lake 2025 08

For this weeks blog we returned to Loop the Little Lake. This is a place near by us that my wife and I visit often. So its only appropriate that I revisit this hike.

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

We arrived at Fritse Park at midmorning as we usually do. There were people on the trail already but it was less busy than normal.

We decided to take our normal path. We would cross Little Lake Butte Des Morte on the trestle trail. Going from Fritse Park in Neenah to Menasha. While the Friendship Trail branches left to cross over the Menasha Lock, we turn right to cross the next trestle bridge to Doty Island.

On Doty Island we trekked the path around the water treatment plant and through a small neighborhood till we crossed to Neenah’s Arrow Head park. The trail again splits leading into downtown Neenah or along the south end of the lake. We took the latter to a small bridge.

That small bridge took us across the Neenah Slough to Herb and Dolly Smith Park. From there we followed the trail along North Lake St to return to Fritse Park.

But I get ahead of myself. We started across the Trestle Trail and were immediately surrounded by birds. Swallows zipped around us as we walked, picking bugs off the lake.

A pair of people fishing off a boat north of the trail we were being harassed by a quintet of pelicans. The pelicans were looking for an easy meal from the fishing boat.

Terns flew above us as we crossed. I took the pictures I could get. Swallows are fast birds and hard to catch on film. But a brave House Sparrow hopped across the artificial planks of the bridge.

A solo cormorant dove for fish just south of the bridge as we neared the eastern shore. Here the bridge hooks around the old rail line running along side of it till it reaches Menasha’s shore.

My wife found a mother duck guarding her sleeping ducklings underneath the bridge. More photos of swallows and a Redwing Blackbird were taken as we finished our crossing.

We reached Menasha and turned south toward Doty Island. But before we reached the second bridge we found a baby rabbit bravely nibbling on grass near the trail. I noticed a pair of women with some larger dogs walking north.

Waiting to see if the dogs or the rabbit would react to each other, we talked briefly with the women. They mentioned that they had seen a weird bird further up the trail. Thanking them for the sighting we continued south.

The crossing from Menasha to Doty Island gives a great view to a small island in the outlet of the Fox River. This island is covered in trees where Pelicans and Cormorants nest. So I was able to get a few good pictures during the crossing.

Once we reached Doty Island we noted that we had not seen a weird bird yet. So we continued hiking keeping a keen eye for the bird. But until we reached the western shore of Doty Island nothing seemed out of place.

The trail along the western shore ran was bordered on the east by the water treatment plant. As we rounded the corner to walk on the shoreline, we saw the weird bird.

In a group of female mallards stood a black and white duck. A duck I had never encountered before. I took a few pictures and posted one on Facebook to see if someone could identify the bird. But I have yet to get a good answer.

We continued on our way seeing some more sparrows and cormorants. After a while the trail turns away from the shore and into a neighborhood. The trail here is nothing more that normal sidewalk.

Over the course of the summer my wife had been hiking this trail on her own. And a few of the times she saw that the eagle nest in Cook Park was occupied. So as we neared the park we started to look for the eagles. Unfortunately the nest was not occupied on this day.

So we continued on to the bridge from Doty Island to Neenah thinking we had missed our chance to get eagle pictures. But on the bridge we saw a pair of photographers looking to the west. As we approached they left but we were able to see what they were taking pictures of.

Two young eagles sat in the tree branches above the river. We took some time photographing the eagles. And even got a few distant shots of their mother.

We decided to continue on our way reaching Arrowhead Park. This park sits on the site of an old paper mill. And for years it was just an open field. But now we could see upgrades being made to the park. A new kayak launch pier offered another place to pause our hike.

As we continued though a weird bird call attracted our attention. Another tern was flying around us as we walked and it sounded weird.

We crossed the bridge leading to Herb and Dolly Smith Park. Small gravel paths lead down to and between some swinging benches so we decided to walk along them. A few painted turtles sunned themselves on partially submerged logs.

Finally we reached N Lake St and the most boring part of the trail. We started north to return to our car.

It was another enjoyable hike. Though the sun was starting to get hot. And it seems as though the hottest part of the summer was going to be the last few weeks. Because of this and other personal events the last few weeks I’ve not had a chance to do new hikes. But I promise to have something for you next week.

In the mean time, thanks again for reading. Please share my website with friends. And feel free to share in the comments.