Mesa Reservoir Trail

Dogs Off-leash

Features Lake · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

This trail gets less traffic and is pretty smooth, nice singletrack.

The Mesa Reservoir trail traces the raised rim of the reservoir. The best views of the swampy depression are from the western and eastern ends.

Starting from the western end of the Mesa Reservoir trail, run though dry fields of yucca and prairie grasses, with the antics of prairie dogs to amuse you. This nearly flat trail soon crosses the Degge Trail and continues straight. The Mesa Reservoir trail comes up the backside of the hill on the outside of a fence line. After the intersection with the Hidden Valley Trail, the reservoir itself becomes more visible and the foothills to the west provide a scenic backdrop. Waterfowl paddle about and you can hear frogs croaking from the shoreline. Follow the rim of the reservoir around, peeking though the trees, but do not venture off the trail- this area is protected. The Mesa Reservoir Trail ends at the rain shelter where the Eagle Trail appears.

Historical factoid: the Silverlake Irrigation Ditch used to feed Mesa Reservoir, but this connection has since been abandoned. Mesa Reservoir is now only intermittently filled by rain.

Eagles, northern harriers, red-tailed hawks, deer, coyotes, prairie dogs, rattlesnakes, bull snakes, frogs, ducks.