Haller’s Haven Nature Trail

NOTE: Doug Raasch, who passed away earlier this month, wrote a trail guide series for the Friends of Hagerman newsletter, Featherless Flyer in 2008, with the first installment published in the August, 2008 edition; later the trail guides were published independently to hand out to visitors to Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge. They were last updated in November, 2013. We will be publishing one each week in our blog, honoring his memory and love for the Refuge.

By Doug Raasch

The Visitor Center volunteers know that most folks that come in for information are looking for a “trail” to walk and, hopefully, see wildlife.  The hike that every visitor should be offered is the newly named “Haller’s Haven Nature Trail.” The name was chosen in April, 2009 by popular vote.

To reach the trail from the Visitor Center, turn right out of the driveway, stay straight and cross the low water crossing, go past the intersection with Hagerman Road, make a hard left at the curve ahead. In about 1/2 mile the road splits. Stay to the right and proceed into the Day Use Area.  Stay right and pass the restroom. The trailhead sign is about 200 feet ahead on the right. 

Follow the trail about 400 feet to Picnic Pond, turn left for less than ¼ mile to the steel bridge.   The large pond on the right past the bridge is quaintly named “Dead Woman’s  Pond.”   The name, in fact, may be as fascinating as the trail. Since no one has a story that is something other than rumor, each of us can choose the variations we like best.  Here goes:  A farmer and his much younger wife were scraping out a living in Grayson County. The attractive young wife had not been seen for a while when her husband was noticed by a neighbor driving his wagon down to the local pond with a large bundle in the back.  Said farmer returned home with the bundle missing.  From that time on, the locals began referring to the pond as “Dead Woman’s Pond”  thinking he must have dumped her there. No one knows what happened to the farmer or his much younger wife.

Dead Woman’s Pond is a true Hagerman gem.  From the parking area to the pond is only

¼ mile so most visitors are capable of walking the ½ mile round trip.  This is one of the few places on the refuge that visitors are guaranteed  to see birds or wildlife.  As you walk the road that defines the pond you will see and hear birds of all kinds. The herons, objecting to your presence, make a fabulous squawk that is somewhere between a very old rusty gate hinge and an unhappy burro.  

Year-round there is a flow of activity that never disappoints.  Keep your eyes and ears open for stately turkeys, woodpeckers, eastern bluebirds, hawks, deer, and maybe even a beaver.  

The pond is a jumping-off point for those who are looking for a more strenuous adventure.  A hiker can continue on up the hill and walk a mowed loop trail while looking for upland birds.  There is a bench on the left at the ½ mile point overlooking Lake  Texoma.                                                         

Continue on until presented with a fork in the road. It is best to turn left (clockwise) to avoid confusion in navigation.  At the one mile point, the trail forms a “T” giving hikers an opportunity to turn left for a look at Lake Texoma or turn right and continue the loop. Look for the next right turn in about 0.2 miles. The two-mile point coincides with the end of the loop and the walk continues back to Dead Woman’s Pond.  Arriving back at the trailhead completes a 2.7-mile walk.

Next week:  Crow Hill Trail