Prairie Trail

Dogs Off-leash

Features Birding · Fall Colors · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

During winter months, the trail can become saturated and a little muddy in a few areas where water sits. Preserve open only during daylight hours.

The trail is mostly flat and wanders through an ongoing prairie restoration at the Ranch North Woods Preserve. It is mowed throughout the summer and provides a great place for viewing birds and wildflowers. The total length of the trail is 1.8 miles, but there are plenty of places to shorten the run if desired. The trail has multiple access points to the water, as well as picnic tables and fire rings in various places. This is a great place to bring aspiring mountain bikers, as it gets them off the pavement and onto a natural surface trail without much technical riding.

Due to the restoration, many prairie wildflowers are present throughout the summer, including sunflowers, blazing star, rattlesnake master, black-eyed susan, and milkweeds. Plenty of deer roam the preserve, as well as an awesome diversity of birds.