Blues Creek Preserve

9627 Fontanelle Rd., Ostrander - 139 Acres

Blues Creek Preserve was acquired at public auction in 1993 with funds provided by an anonymous donor. The original purchase was 97.5 acres. In 1999 an adjoining 41 acres were acquired, bringing the total to 138.5 acres.

Facts

• 138.5 acres of mixed habitat, including wetland woods, stream corridor, wetlands, and meadows
• Opened in 2001
• Hours of operation: 8:00 a.m. to dusk

Facilities

• Two picnic shelters
• Restrooms
• Playground and tot lot
•  Trails  *
  *  Leashed dogs are allowed on these trails, but you must clean up after your pets. “Mutt mitts” are provided at the kiosk to assist you in the clean up.

Future Plans

• Additional trails
• Additional picnic facilities
• Pond
• Nature center

Trails at Blues Creek Preserve

Shagbark Loop Trail - At 1 mile, this gravel trail is the longest in the park. You may enter the trail across the drive from the small parking lot near the park entrance, at the pedestrian bridge, or near the picnic shelters. This trail takes you through a meadow which is reverting from a previous farm field to a wooded area. The many young trees you will see are evidence of this succession. After traversing the meadow, you will enter a mature woodlot where you will see several large Shagbark Hickory trees. This section of the trail is a loop and leads you back to the meadow portion of the trail, or you may choose to continue onto the Bluestem Trail. A variety of wildlife may be seen from this, or any, trail in the park.
Approximate walking time: 45 minutes.

Bluestem Trail - This short 4/10 mile grass loop leads you through a meadow which has emerging prairie plants, such as Big Bluestem, and a small pond in which muskrats have established residence. You can see their mud and cattail lodges in the pond.
Approximate walking time: 15 minutes.

Fox Run Loop - Beginning at the picnic area parking lot, this 7/10 mile grass trail winds through a meadow in which you might see foxes, deer, pheasants, wild turkeys and a variety of other grassland birds, such as red-winged blackbirds, meadowlarks, eastern bluebirds, and kestrels.
Approximate walking time: 30 minutes.
(Note: there is no shade along this trail).

Meadowlark Trail - Also beginning at the picnic area parking lot, this 3/10 mile grass loop trail heads north towards Blues Creek as it winds its way through a separate section of the meadow. Because this trail comes closer to the woods and stream corridor, other bird species which may be seen include hawks, owls, fox sparrows and eastern towhees.
Approximate walking time: 15 minutes.

(Note: there is no shade along this trail).