A Short Wetland Walk With Big Mountain Views

Tall grasses and bulrushes give way to open wetland, distant mountains and a surprisingly broad sweep of valley sky on this compact boardwalk preserve. It is close enough to a freeway exit for an easy stop, yet the roadway fades quickly once you are out among the shallow streams and marsh vegetation.

The route is only about a mile round trip, but it is not a walk that needs to be hurried. Bird calls carry across the wetlands, dragonflies work the edges of the water, and there is enough open scenery to make a brief outing feel pleasantly removed from the day’s errands.

The preserve’s main route is a flat, paved boardwalk loop that is generally easy to manage, including with strollers. It works nicely for people who want some time outdoors without taking on a long trail, steep terrain or a complicated route.

You can make a quick circuit, or turn the same mile into a slower ramble by stopping at displays, railings and wildlife-viewing spots. Benches and wooden railings offer places to pause over the view; as with any outdoor seating, it is wise to look an area over before settling in.

The setting has enough calm and open space for a casual family outing, a quiet date walk or a solo lap to clear your head. The flat route has also served as a backdrop for photography sessions and even a small outdoor elopement.

This is a good place to bring binoculars, though plenty happens close to the path as well. Birds are a regular presence, and the wetlands also support frogs, dragonflies and other small creatures that can reward a patient pause.

Rather than looking at a pond from a single overlook, the boardwalk keeps changing the angle. One stretch may put you beside tall vegetation; another opens toward water and flats, with the mountains holding the horizon in the distance.

The sounds help set the pace. Wind moves through the grasses, birds call from the habitat around the walkway, and in places there may be the faint trickle of water below the boards. Early mornings and overcast days can be particularly hushed.

Two structures along the route give the loop a little extra personality. They provide another reason to stop, look around and see the wetland from a different height rather than simply walking the path straight through.

The standout is a three-story lookout tower with 360-degree views over the wetlands, mountains and surrounding valley. From above, the scale of the basin becomes more apparent, and the old Lake Bonneville shoreline—often called the bathtub ring—can be visible across the landscape.

The structures are enjoyable enough to make the walk feel like more than a simple paved loop. A climb breaks up the stroll, and the elevated outlooks give photographers a useful change from ground-level grasses and water.

Interpretive displays give some context to the habitat as you go, useful for anyone who likes to know what they are seeing without turning a leisurely walk into a formal lesson. They are easy stopping points for families, too.

An audio tour adds another layer. It can be downloaded before or during a visit and offers information at points along the boardwalk, so you can listen selectively as you move through the preserve.

The audio component is especially handy on a repeat visit. One day may be mostly about the birds and wide views; another may be a slower look at the wetland’s plants, water and larger landscape.

Sunset brings some of the preserve’s best photography conditions. Light shifts across the flats and mountains, turning a straightforward evening walk into a lingering stop for sky, silhouettes and reflections where water is present.

Spring and summer tend to bring lush vegetation and more visibly active wetland life. In autumn, dry grasses and the changing evening light give the route a different character, with the open valley views still doing plenty of the visual work.

Conditions do change with the season and with dry periods. Water levels in the lake or wetlands may be low at times, and wildlife activity will naturally vary from one visit to the next.

Entry is free, and parking is free as well, with easy access from a nearby freeway exit. Restrooms and a water fountain or water station make the preserve comfortable for a short family stop or a longer, more lingering loop.

Binoculars are worthwhile for birdwatching, while water, sunscreen and insect repellent are sensible additions to a small day bag. Mosquitoes and other biting insects can be numerous, especially later in the day and around dusk.

The boardwalk can also be windy, so a light jacket can come in handy even when the walk itself is short. Sunset may bring more photographers and fellow walkers, while a morning visit leaves plenty of time to take the loop at your own pace.