Donnelly Park, California
Markus looking at the white with orange beak ducks at Donnelly Park in California
You can read more about the road trip that we took from Vancouver to Los Angeles.
About Donnelly Park
Type: Park
Size: Small
Traffic: Low to Moderate
Route Type: Loop
Donnelly Park was a short stop for us, but it was exactly what we were looking for. On the leg from Sacramento to Los Angeles, we made three stops in between and two of them were outlet shopping malls. We were headed towards the Tulare Outlets and Donnelly Park in the city of Turlock was a natural stopping point in between and it was more for Markus. The park wasn't too far off of CA-99, so it was a good place to stop.
What we liked about the park was that it was very family-oriented with a beautiful lake in the middle. Since there aren't too many bodies of water in the area, a lot of geese and ducks end up congregating here. There were also a lot of children and families playing amongst the ducks, which was fun to see!
At Donnelly Park, you can make your way around the lake, but you'll have to walk on the grassy areas. As you walk through, you'll come across a skatepark where there were plenty of people skateboarding and scootering. There's also a playground area with swings for children to play and these areas are great for families. There are also some covered areas with tables and outdoor barbecues for sitting and eating!
At the end of the day, the thing that draws crowds and bring people together at Donnelly Park is the lake and the ducks and geese that gather together. When you walk around the lake, there were plenty of people - both children and adults - playing with the animals. For me, since I came from Canada, I had never seen the classic-looking white with orange beak ducks before. I guess we don't have those up here, but I was way more excited to see those ducks than Markus was.
Donnelly Park isn't too large of a park, but it's also why it was perfect. There are also public washrooms, so that's another reason to stop here. The walk around the park is quick, but it is more than enough to stretch your legs out and for your dog to find their spots around the lake and in the grassy areas. If you're looking for a stop that isn't too far off from the highway, then this is the place for you.
What we liked
There's a nice lake in the middle.
The geese and ducks were a lot of fun! If you're lucky, you might be able to spot very different looking or rare birds here.
It's very family-oriented. With a playground, there were a lot of families and children in the park.
What we didn’t like
There isn't a proper path that goes around the lake - just grass and dirt.
Our Recommendation for reactive dogs
Donnelly Park was a good stop for us. It’s an open park with a lake in the middle and our time was spent going around the lake. There isn’t really a proper path around the lake, so you’re essentially walking through the grass. We also didn’t notice any other dogs while were there, though we weren’t there for long. We didn’t have any issues bringing Markus here!
Disclaimer
Markus is a reactive, but not aggressive dog. His instinct is to avoid other dogs and he may growl, bark or lunge if provoked, but will not attack. We normally do not have issues with leashed dogs when both sides are controlled, but we will be on guard when an oncoming dog is not leashed. There are varying levels to a dog’s reactivity and only you can decide if this park, trail or hotel is appropriate for your dog. Our visits generally will not include off-leash areas; most experiences shared on The Markus Project are within leashed or undefined areas.
Please remember that our past experience visiting a park, trail or hotel may not be the same as your experience at the same park, trail or hotel. We have no control of who visits the park and whether they adhere to park rules - like leashing their dogs on leash-required paths - or not. Please use your discretion with the information provided and with your personal knowledge of your dog’s reactivity when visiting these parks, trails or hotels.
