The 1,800-acre Paul Douglas Preserve offers visitors exceptional birding opportunities. Birders can spot various nesting species with open grasslands, restored wetlands, and a heron rookery. With 25 miles of paved and unpaved trails, visitors can partake in various activities, including peaceful walks, hiking, biking, and more.
Paul Douglas Trail: The trail network offers diverse options, from paved paths to mountain biking routes. It's perfect for peaceful walks, invigorating hikes, and exciting biking. These trails also connect to Crabtree Trail and Nature Center.
Mountain Biking at Paul Douglas: The Paul Douglas Trail offers cyclists rides on sweeping grasslands and rolling hills adjacent to scenic wetlands. The Paul Douglas Trail includes miles of designated single-track trails. These unpaved trails are narrow and designed for mountain biking and hiking. E-bikes are not allowed on these trails.
Nature Notes: Since a large wetland was restored along Poplar Creek, pied-billed grebes, ruddy ducks, and state-endangered yellow-headed blackbirds once again nest in the area. The heron rookery, which consists of nesting platforms along the marsh, attracts great blue heron pairs. Beavers are active here, too. Marsh marigolds and a variety of sedges populate Paul Douglas’ wetlands. Eastern meadowlarks, Henslow’s, and savannah sparrows and bobolinks nest in the larger grasslands. Red-eyed vireos and black-throated green warblers sing in the trees, and sharp-eyed visitors can spot rough-legged hawks and northern harriers.
