From the main trailhead in day-use parking lot pick up the Chief Pontiac Trail at its east end. In a few hundred yards the wide path reaches a well-posted junction where you head south (right) to quickly cross the park road. On the other side the Marsh Trail is marked with a large sign.

At this point the trail is basically a mile-long loop around the impoundment. Follow in a clockwise direction to save the best for last and in a quarter mile you’ll pass a couple of interpretive panels before coming to a bridge that crosses the outlet stream. The trail than skirts a bank above the south shore and arrives at a bench halfway along the loop. If it’s spring you can sit here and search for waterfowl and other migrating birds.

At the west end of the impoundment the trail uses a series of boardwalks and bridges to allow you to cut through the cattail marsh. This is another great spot to have children look and listen for wildlife. Uusdually there are a couple of muted swans nesting at this end of the marsh. Within a mile the loop returns you to the park road where you backtrack to the day-use parking area.