Hikers exit their cars at a parking area surrounded by mid-grass prairie species. As they proceed around the all-weather asphalt trail, prairie species give way to plants indicative of disturbed soil. Signs placed along the trail educate visitors on the plant and animal species they may observe. Further along the trail, a boardwalk made from recycled plastic lumber, crosses over a wetland area and leads to a deck, complete with observation scopes, overlooking a wetland area dominated by sedges and rushes.
Thousands of ducks, geese and shorebirds use the wetland area for feeding and loafing during the fall, winter and spring months. After leaving the deck, visitors travel through a riparian corridor with an overhead canopy of soapberry, mulberry and elm trees. The trail circles back to the parking area through a transition zone between habitat types.
