​Prairie Tours

Autumn on the Prairie, September 21, 2024

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Prairie. From the French, meaning meadow.

Prairie Experience — All Day
10 am to 4 pm.  
Take this semi self-guided tour of the Clear Creek Knolls unit, a magnificent example of a restored prairie. For this hike, drive your vehicle 1 mile north on Lowden Road from the festival site and park in the Clear Creek Knolls parking lot. Then you can stroll leisurely along the path, where signs will illustrate key points. Or walk into the prairie to get personal with the 150 or so species growing there.
​Easy to Moderate depending on your desire

12:00 pm to 2:00 pm. Interpreter Stationed
Join Kevin Kaltenbach, a long-time Nachusa steward, for some personal interpretation. He will be on hand to point out special things to see at Clear Creek Knolls.

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10:45 – 11:30: Continuous short hikes
Walk on the Ridge Trail next to the Visitor Center. Join a Nachusa guide for an easy walk on a mowed path through the prairie where signs highlight interesting plants and facts about the prairie. 
Easy and Child Friendly          15+ minutes — up to you

​11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Join Nachusa science director Dr. Elizabeth Bach as she shows examples of a few of the many scientific research projects that are conducted at Nachusa from discovering endangered bees to measuring the impact of bison on the prairie.
Easy            1.5 hour
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11:15 am – 12:45 pm
Nature photography has special dos and don’ts that help any photographer achieve the best results. Nachusa steward Charles Larry will take you to a scenic site and offer his tips.
Easy            1.5 hours

11:30 am – 1:00 pm
Restoration or remnant. Is there any difference? Heather Herakovich will help you understand the differences between these two prominent grassland types and why they are both valuable.  As an experienced birder she will also explain prairie’s importance to grassland nesting birds.
Moderate             1.5 hours

11:45 am – 1:15 pm
How about those bison! Volunteering in the bison unit brings challenges, including surprise encounters with the animals and their “prairie muffins.”  Stewards Al and Mary Meier will guide you through late summer blooms in their remnants and restorations while sharing bison tales.
Moderate             1.5 hours

12 noon – 2:00 pm: Prairie Experience
Experience the diversity and glorious colors of the prairie in the fall by visiting the Clear Creek Knolls unit on your own schedule where signs will lead you on a leisurely walk into this restoration. Long-time steward Keven Kaltenbach will be on hand to answer questions and offer suggestions. Stay on the trail or walk in among the plants.
​Easy and Child Friendly             15+ minutes — up to you

​12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Join Austin Webb to explore Stone Barn Savanna. This oak/hickory woodland encompasses magnificent St. Peter’s sandstone rock outcrops. You will see places where prairie plants have been restored in beautiful settings.
Moderate             1.5 hours

​12:15 pm – 1:45 pm
​Restoring woodland has been steward Mike Carr’s goal for years. He has been leading projects ranging from removing unwanted species to restoring habitat to encourage the growth and reproduction of threatened species such as oak and hickory.
Moderate to Difficult            1.5 hours

12:45 pm – 2:15 pm
The reintroduction of bison grazing in prairies can have a big impact, but there is still a lot left to learn. Explore grazing lawns with visiting scientist Samantha Berk as she sheds light on how the unique eating habits and social behavior of bison impact the prairie.
Moderate            1.5 hours

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
What good is a bison wallow? Visiting scientist Josh Klostermann will take you to where the bison roll. There he will explain how certain native bee species use the wallows for nesting.
Easy to Moderate            1.5 hours

1:15 pm – 2:00 pm: Continuous short hikes
Walk on the Ridge Trail next to the Visitor Center. Join a Nachusa guide for an easy walk on a mowed path through the prairie where signs highlight interesting plants and facts about the prairie.
Easy and child friendly           15+ minutes — up to you

​1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Steward Bernie Buchholz will focus on beauty and purpose as you join him on a tour of his exceptional restoration at Clear Creek Knolls. Enjoy as he identifies plants and tells stories about how this rich new prairie arose from farmland.
Easy to Moderate            1.5 hours

2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
If you admire the beauty of a work of art, you will want to join steward Betty Higby for this introduction to how she draws and paints the plants of Nachusa. A small note pad and pencil will be provided to try your hand. Look for her art around the festival site.
Easy            1.5 hours

2:45 – 3:45
The corral is where everything happens each fall as the bison are rounded up and given annual medical checkups. Damian Considine is one of the builders of Nachusa’s bison fence and corral system. Learn the inner workings of the squeeze chute and hear some good stories.
Easy            1 hour

3:00 pm – 3:45 pm: Continuous short hikes
Walk on the Ridge Trail next to the Visitor Center. Join a Nachusa guide for an easy walk on a mowed path through the prairie where signs highlight interesting plants and facts about the prairie.
Easy and Child Friendly           15+ minutes — up to you

UPDATED 07/2024