Belle reynolds nature trail - oakfield, wi
A few weeks ago we took a trip to Oakfield to hike the state natural areas among the Niagara Escarpment there. On our way to the east segment, I thought I saw a sign for a nature trail. Since I was driving, I didn't have time to jot down what it said. What I remembered later was "Belle something". I did a bunch of web searches and wasn't coming up with much at first. But then I finally found a bit of information going back several years to a Fond du Lac Niagara Escarpment event that included it. Once I knew that I hadn't imagined it, we decided to go back to the area and find it. I'm so glad we did.
Though it isn't a long trail, the surrounding forest is charmingly scenic. There was just a hint of fall color popping out on the trees. We spotted a few White Breasted Nuthatches, and a warbler or two. Blue Jays called back and forth overhead. There were lots of chipmunks scurrying about. The trail is basically a loop, with a few short offshoots, and exit points that abut private residential properties. One exits to a small basketball court belonging to the neighboring school.
The trail is a community based project going back to December, 2002; and serves as a school forest for the Oakfield School District. It was developed in cooperation with the Wisconsin Environmental Education Board Grant Program, the Oakfield School District, the Oakfield High School Tech Ed. Department, the Village of Oakfield, the Burke Center of Waupun, the staff of Belle Reynolds Elementary School, and others.
It resides on part of the Niagara Escarpment, and is dotted with large rocks along the trail. No ledges to speak of, however. More evidence of those can be found in the neighboring Oakfield Ledge State Natural Areas, and at Ledge County Park in Horicon.
There is not a parking lot on-site, though there is a gravel drive in that loops around the water tower. You could park in the parking lot to Belle Reynolds Elementary School. We opted to park in the parking lot up the street at the Oakfield Ledge State Natural Area. It was a short walk from the lot. If you're looking for a longer hike, you could combine the two locations for an afternoon of hiking. Keep in mind that hunting is allowed at the Oakfield Ledge property.
If anyone is from the area and has further information on the site, please feel free to contact me at [email protected].
Location: 330/340 Oak Street (behind the Oakfield water tower), Oakfield, WI (Fond du Lac County)
Though it isn't a long trail, the surrounding forest is charmingly scenic. There was just a hint of fall color popping out on the trees. We spotted a few White Breasted Nuthatches, and a warbler or two. Blue Jays called back and forth overhead. There were lots of chipmunks scurrying about. The trail is basically a loop, with a few short offshoots, and exit points that abut private residential properties. One exits to a small basketball court belonging to the neighboring school.
The trail is a community based project going back to December, 2002; and serves as a school forest for the Oakfield School District. It was developed in cooperation with the Wisconsin Environmental Education Board Grant Program, the Oakfield School District, the Oakfield High School Tech Ed. Department, the Village of Oakfield, the Burke Center of Waupun, the staff of Belle Reynolds Elementary School, and others.
It resides on part of the Niagara Escarpment, and is dotted with large rocks along the trail. No ledges to speak of, however. More evidence of those can be found in the neighboring Oakfield Ledge State Natural Areas, and at Ledge County Park in Horicon.
There is not a parking lot on-site, though there is a gravel drive in that loops around the water tower. You could park in the parking lot to Belle Reynolds Elementary School. We opted to park in the parking lot up the street at the Oakfield Ledge State Natural Area. It was a short walk from the lot. If you're looking for a longer hike, you could combine the two locations for an afternoon of hiking. Keep in mind that hunting is allowed at the Oakfield Ledge property.
If anyone is from the area and has further information on the site, please feel free to contact me at [email protected].
Location: 330/340 Oak Street (behind the Oakfield water tower), Oakfield, WI (Fond du Lac County)