Wood Duck Ponds (aka South Pittman):
0.4 mile to Wood Duck #1 Pond, total 1.0 mile to Upper Wood Duck Pond; easy; 350’-430’-350’ to #1 Pond; 350’-560’-480’ to Upper Pond; 15 minutes to #1 or 30 minutes to Upper; Tread: old double-track road, except the drop down to the back of #1 Pond has some rolling rock surface. Equestrian and Hiking.
Friends of Spenceville refer to the trail to Upper Wood Duck as the South Pittman Trail.
DESCRIPTION:
Both are family-friendly strolls through open oaks. Wood Duck #1 Pond sits on the rim of a large meadow and is large enough to support a fishery. I photographed a perch big enough to be my supper by itself. Especially by summer, growth by water plants makes fishing tricky. Plan your tackle accordingly. Upper Pond is probably too small to sustain a population.
The Friends show on their map that the trail loops back to Dry Creek a little below the falls. If so, I missed the connection that drops below the falls. The first of the trail off the road to Upper Wood Duck Pond was pleasant, but then it dived down, down to cross a draw and scrambled back up again. Then more level, old road is followed until the route gets near the western WA boundary. Then the “trail” dives down the firebreak and continues to Dry Creek above the falls. Horses can cross the deep hole readily but hikers will hope to scramble across a rocky area and then hope to jump the creek. In the spring, “hope” is a correct description of the jump. Beyond the ponds, once over this extension was plenty for me. Horses would have a better time, but there are many better trails in the WA. All of them.
DIRECTIONS:
To Wood Duck Ponds (aka South Pittman):
From the east and Grass Valley: Drive 12.5 miles via Highway 20 west of the Highway 49/Highway 20 intersection in Grass Valley. Continue to the black-topped Beale Air Force Base road(Hammonton Road). Turn left (south) and drive 3.8 miles to Smartville Road. Turn left again (south) on the blacktopped road and drive 1.8 miles to graveled Waldo Road. Follow south until cross the Waldo Bridge and then left again onto Spenceville Road. Continue about 2.5 miles past the primitive camping site and the parking area at the concrete bridge until you see the wooden bridge that has been closed due to flood damage. The trailhead is on the right (south) side of Spenceville Road through (over) a metal gate.
From the west and Marysville: Follow Highway 20 towards Grass Valley and east as it climbs into the Sierra Foothills. After 15 miles turn right (south) onto the Beal Air Force Base road (Hammonton Road). After leaving the highway follow the directions above.
ACTIVITIES:
Hiking: Dayhikes (Rating: Good)
Family stoll or adventure for kids over five.
Equestrian Trail Riding (Rating: Poor)
A rather short ride to either pond, and there's no obvious links to other trails. The loop that bends back down to Dry Creek above Shingle Falls then connects to the falls trail. But there are better options.
