Hiking Tours
Nachusa Grasslands Fall Festival, September 19, 2026
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Transportation for tours is by truck. Unless specified, tours last about an hour and a half.
SELF-GUIDED All Day
10:00 am – 4:00 pm: Self-guided Plant ID Trail The trail is a 0.5-mile-mowed path that is accessed from the Visitor Center. Just follow the hiking trail signs. Scan the plant sign QR codes to learn more. Easy and Child Friendly 10:00 am – 4:00 pm: Prairie Experience Take a self-guided tour of Clear Creek Knolls unit any time today to learn what it takes to restore and maintain a prairie. Follow the signs to discover how this retired cornfield became a grassland. Ask the Hike Tent for directions. Easy and Child Friendly 15+ minutes — up to you 10:30 – 10:45 am — Ridge Walk
Looking for a quick 15-minute introduction to the prairie? John Schmadeke will walk with you on this short hike along the ridge just behind the festival site. Easy 15+ minutes — up to you 10:45 am – 12:45 pm — Discover the Fen One of Nachusa’s most unusual habitats is the Fen, a rare alkaline wetland fed by a spring that bubbles up through the sand. The spring flows year-round, even through droughts and the coldest winters. Heather Herakovich will guide you on this hike through tussock sedges and other unique plants. Difficult 2 hours 11:00 am – 12:30 pm — Photography Charles Larry, a long-time photographer, will lead you to one of the most photogenic rock outcrops. He will share tips for capturing great nature photographs. Moderate 1.5 hours 11:15 am – 12:15 pm — Bennett Woods Drive Enjoy a guided ride through a beautifully restored woodland with steward Mark Herman. This easy tour is perfect for visitors with mobility limitations. No walking required. Easy 1 hour 11:45 am – 1:15 pm — How about those Bison? Volunteering in the bison unit presents challenges, including surprise encounters with both the animals and their meadow muffins. Join Al and Mary Meier as they hike through remnants and restorations, observing bison paths and wallows as well as late summer blooms. Expect to walk uphill through knee-high vegetation. Moderate 1.5 hours 12:15 pm – 12:30 — Ridge Walk Join Abbigail McWilliams for a 15-minute walk along the festival site Ridge Trail to explore and learn about the Nachusa prairie. Easy 15+ minutes — up to you 12:45pm – 2:15 pm — A Prairie Introduction Visit the beautifully restored Clear Creek Knolls prairie unit, where an easy walking path and interpretive signs tell the story of Nachusa and how prairie is restored from retired corn and soybean fields. Steward John Schmadeke will also share the story of a restored creek and a remnant prairie knob. Easy and Child Friendly 1.5 hours |
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm — Greenhouse Gasses
How does the prairie influence greenhouse gasses that affect global climate? During this tour to Stone Barn Savanna Michael Yonker, a researcher at the University of Illinois, will discuss the effects of microbes in the soil and plant roots and what they reveal. Moderate 1.5 hours 1:15 pm – 2:45 pm — The Woodland While Nachusa is best known for its prairies, it also has oak and hickory woodlands. Join steward Mike Carr to tour Stone Barn Savanna, which features spectacular rock outcrops and beautiful prairie plantings. Discover how these wooded areas are being restored. Moderate 1.5 hours 1:30 pm – 1:45 — Ridge Walk Join Abbigail McWilliams for a 15-minute walk along the festival site Ridge Trail to explore and learn about the Nachusa prairie. Easy 15+ minutes — up to you 1:45 pm – 2:45 pm — Orchids Nachusa is home to several orchid species. Steward Betty Higby helps ensure these rare plants are protected for the future. This includes searching for individual plants and counting them each year. There will be a discussion under a festival tent. Easy 1 hour 2:15 pm – 3:45 pm — Plant Ecology What role do iconic prairie plants play in the ecosystem? Michigan State University researcher Ethan Rose has been considering that question in his work at Nachusa. Join him at Clear Creek Knolls to explore a restored prairie, a creek and a remnant prairie knob. Moderate 1.5 hours 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm — Prairie Meets Savanna Longtime steward Bernie Buchholz will guide you through the woodlands and prairies of Stone Barn Savanna. Explore impressive rock outcrops and restored prairie areas filled with blooming fall wildflowers. Moderate 1.5 hours 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm — The Corral Every fall, the bison are rounded up and brought into our corral to sort for transfer. The mechanics of this process can be complicated when thousand-pound animals are involved. Nachusa steward Damian Considine had a leading role in building the corral and the bison fences and will tell you all about it. Easy 1 hour 3:15 pm — Ridge Walk A steward will guide visitors on a 15-minute walk along the festival site Ridge Trail to explore and learn about the Nachusa prairie. Easy 15+ minutes — up to you |
UPDATED 08/2026