Buck Schroth Trail

3 miles | 68 minutes | Starts from: Schroth Trail Parking Lot

Expect to see views of the Sangamon River, forest containing oak, hickory, and maple trees, and one of the oldest prairie restorations in the state. From the parking lot, keep right as you begin your hike, noticing interpretive signs as you make your way through secondary forests. Here you will encounter and learn about oak-hickory forest and sugar maples as you wind your way along and away from the Sangamon River.

At the second intersection, keep left as the Blue and Red trail become a single trail for a short time. Keeping left again, continue along and keep your eye out for white-tailed deer and woodcocks. As you continue hiking, the forest opens up into one of the oldest restored demonstration prairies in Illinois, where Big bluestem and Indian grass sway in the breeze. Continuing along the main trail will take you back to where you started.

Look for: snow trillium, Virginia bluebells, Springbeauty, and hepatica (spring); compass plant (summer); ringed-necked pheasants (fall); pileated woodpeckers (winter)

Want a shorter hike? The trail has a shortcut (noted with a dotted line on the map) that may be taken without missing out on views of the Sangamon River or the demonstration prairie.