The Trails at The Nature Institute are Open.
The Nature Institute Trails
Hutchinson Bird Sanctuary
Hutchinson Trail – Pink Loop ~ .4 miles This easy trail travels over flat ground for 0.4 miles. A casual stroll will take about 20 minutes. The Hutchinson Trail ambles through the prairie restoration in our Hutchinson Bird Sanctuary at the corner of Levis Lane and S Levis Lane. We encourage you to visit this trail throughout the warm months to watch prairie plants grow, bloom, and set seed. It is the perfect place to view pollinators, birds, and other wildlife.
Cypress Pond Trail – Teal Trail ~.4 miles This easy trail connects Talahi Lodge and the main trail system to Cypress Pond and Hutchinson Bird Sanctuary. This trail allows you to walk from one to the other while staying off busy S Levis Lane. There are a few road crossings required.
Olin Nature Preserve (easiest to hardest, map below)
Frog Trail – Green Loop ~ .5 miles This easy trail is perfect for beginners. The 0.5 mile paved loop traverses flat terrain. Highlights include a view of the Mississippi River from the Olin skeet range, savannah habitat, and multiple sinkholes. This trail hosts Hayner Library’s Story Walk. You may even hear a frog call from the sinkhole ponds or see an indigo bunting flitting through the trees.
Fox Trail – Orange Loop ~ 1 mile This easy trail is level with mostly flat terrain. The highlights include all the features of Frog Trail, but you will also get to see successional forest habitat. You can take a detour to see a formerly used nesting site of bald eagles. Use your track knowledge to find out what animals are sharing the trail with you like deer and raccoons.
Rock Trail – Red Loop ~ 1.5 miles This trail is moderate at 1.5 miles, and may take up to 2 hours to complete. The trail takes you past the highlights of the Frog Trail and down to the bottoms where you will find a small stream, the Underground Railroad Monument, and exposed bedrock. The highlights of this trail will make the changes in elevation worthwhile.
Beaver Trail – Purple Loop ~2.3 miles This difficult trail is 2.3 miles and may take up to 2.5 hours to complete. The loop will take you directly to Beaver Falls, the largest waterfall on the property, and back to the parking lot. Note: The water flow depends on recent rainfall.
Deer Trail – Black Loop ~ 3 miles This difficult trail is is our longest loop at 3 miles. It will give you the full tour of our property. This hike will take up to 3 hours to complete and requires trekking up and down hills. You will see varying ecosystems as you hike past hill prairie, savannah, successional forest, mature forest, and restored prairie.
Mississippi Sanctuary (easiest to hardest, map below)
Aune’s Trail – Blue Trail ~ .5 miles This easy trail was one of Aune Nelson’s favorite places in the Mississippi Sanctuary. The forested hillside is drier and rockier then other places on the property, so the plant communities you will encounter are unique. You will notice more chinkapin oak and other tree species that can grow in shallow soils.
Owl Trail – Brown Trail ~ .75 miles This intermediate level trail gives you creek access and a pleasant walk through the forest. This trail is one of the best for spring wildflowers and spotting wildlife (if you are quiet).
Bluff Trail – Yellow Trail ~ 1 mile This intermediate, 1 mile trail gives you a chance to experience all the different habitats in the Mississippi Sanctuary. you will walk to the highest point, walk along some sinkholes, traverse the creek with 2 creek crossings, carefully experience the edge of the bluff, and return through a dry upland forest with lots of rock outcroppings. This trail takes you to the edge of the bluff overlooking the Mississippi River. Be careful as you watch vultures defy gravity on the thermals.
