Sweetwater Regional Park in Bonita has an extensive network of trails along the Sweetwater River. While much of those trails are adjacent to roadways, this short loop around Morrison Pond provides a slightly more quiet and secluded spot to enjoy nature and watch the birds. There are plenty of options for extending your hike along some of the connecting paths if you’re so inclined, but even this little loop can make an enjoyable excursion.
From the parking area, we noticed a couple of different paths leading in different directions. The main trailhead, with a map kiosk and other amenities, was on the south side of the parking area, and that’s where we started.
A rock-lined path on the right led us to a tall willow tree with a picnic table beneath. Just beyond the tree was a 4-way junction.
You can go either direction at this point since its a loop, we arbitrarily chose left.
A short distance beyond the tree we came upon a “Y” junction and turned right.
We passed through thick riparian growth along the eastern edge of the pond.
The trail crossed the river here, but it was pretty much dry. I’d expect this isn’t passable during or just after heavy rainfall.
We came up out of the river bed and found a “T” junction. We turned right to head towards the pond.
The path here was quite sandy.
A short stroll brought us to a strategically placed bench where one could sit and enjoy a nice view of the pond. We spotted an egret on the far side of the water.
The trail continued along the south edge of the pond, then turned south for a short distance.
Around the .4 mile point we came to another junction. We turned right to cross back over the river.
The trail led through the thick brush and across the currently dry waterway.
Once on the other side we found another sandy stretch of trail leading northeast, back towards the pond.
Around .5 mile we found another bench right along the shoreline where we could get close to the edge of the pond. This was probably the best spot for viewing birds in the water. We were able to get some nice shots of the Great Egret we had seen from the opposite shore and a friend of his that showed up.
The trail continued around, crossing another dry stream.
Around .64 mile we came to another junction. The left fork leads directly towards the staging area, while the right fork takes a slightly more circuitous route by the pond’s edge before returning to the start. We chose to go right.
Once again we found ourselves surrounded by thick brush. There were a few spots where we could glimpse or access the pond.
Before long we found ourselves at the 4-way junction near the large willow tree where we had begun. From here it was just a short stroll back to the parking lot.
Directions:
From Highway 54 take the Briarwood Road exit and head south on Briarwood Road. Follow Briarwood for approximately .6 miles and turn left onto Sweetwater Road. The entrance to Sweetwater Regional Park will be on your right in approximately 180 feet. map
| Total Distance: | .8 mile |
| Difficulty: | Very Easy |
| Total Ascent: | Negligible |
| Dog Friendly?: | Leashed dogs allowed |
| Bike Friendly?: | Bikes Allowed |
| Facilities: | Water fountain at trailhead; No restrooms |
| Fees/Permits: | None |
For more information, visit:
View route or download GPX from CalTopo
