Get Directions to Spears Woods
A daydream come true. Discover the beauty and drama of the seasons as you make your way around wetlands, through open woodlands, and over rolling panoramas of prairie.
Here in late July at Spears Woods, wildflowers float above the prairie like musical notes in a symphony of color and texture.
Features:
- Woodlands, wetlands, and prairies
- Large expanse and rolling terrain with lots to explore
- A great place to get away and possibly a little lost
- Trails wind for miles throughout the preserve
- Wildlife: Coyote, deer, birds, butterflies, and much more.
Highlights:
- Late July: Prairie blazing star up to your neck fill the prariie.
- Wildflowers in woodland and prairie
- Autumn Color
Best Times to Visit:
- Yearlong enjoyment can be found here, even in the winter when the wetlands freeze and snow covers the trees.
Special Spots (click for map):
- Trailhead leading west into the prairies
- View through woodland of NE Hogwash Slough
- Eastern shoreline of Hogwash Slough
Trails:
- Main Trails: Gravel / Very Wide / Suitable for cycling and horseback riding
- Intimate Prairie & Woodland Trails: Soil / Narrow / Hiking Only / Not suitable for people with poor balance or eyesight
Restrooms: Portable (parking area)
Mike’s Thoughts: Spears Woods provides an exceptional outdoor experience because of its spaciousness and variety. In just a few minutes, you can hike from one of the most beautiful wetlands in the area, the crudely named Hogwash Slough; through a restored oak savanna; around an ephemeral wetland festooned with blue flag iris; past Boomerang Slough, where bats flit overhead just after sunset; and, finally, to the cusp of a chromatic prairie. Surrounded on all sides by oaks, the kaleidoscopic sea of flowers and grasses drops into a wavy bowl, bottoming out at a moist basin where a tall, solitary willow tree forms the perfect focal point. Look and behold—the most idyllic panorama in the region.
Learn more about Spears Woods from these websites:
Learn about how you can volunteer at Spears Woods!
