Here is some information on the trails at Wehr Nature Center:

Woodland Trail (.5 mi., approximately 30 min.) Winds along a glacial moraine covered by an upland deciduous forest. The forest consists of three layers: a ground layer mostly of wildflowers, a middle layer of shrubs, and the dominant canopy layer consisting of trees. The most abundant species of tree in this woodland is the sugar maple, but there are also many old oaks and hickories. Look for wildflowers such as Trillium and Jack-in-the-pulpit along the trail in spring. The colorful leaves and berries make the woodland trail especially beautiful in fall. {INSERT_RELATED}

Oak Savanna Loops (.5 mi., approximately 30 min.) A savanna is a community in which the trees are so scattered that grasses and herbaceous plants thrive as a ground cover. The Bur Oak is a common savanna species whose thick corky bark provides protection from wild fires. Wehr Nature Center uses fire as a means of keeping the savanna open, burning the area every few years. Without these controlled burns, the savanna would become an oak forest in 25 years. Look for wildflowers such as Black-eyed Susan and Gray-headed Coneflower in the Oak Savanna in summer. Ring-necked pheasant may be heard or seen here and Indigo Buntings and Goldfinches like to perch on the trees.

Prairie Loops (.8 mi. approximately 40 min.) The prairie is adapted to a climate of temperature extremes, constant wind, and occasional drought. This community is dominated by grasses and flowering herbs that can withstand these harsh conditions. The prairie you see today is the result of restoration of farmland initiated in 1965. The prairie is a patchwork of color during the summer months as wildflowers such as Blazing Star, Compass Plant, and Goldenrods bloom. Look for butterflies nectaring at the beautiful Purple Cone Flower in July. Prairie grasses such as Big Bluestem and Indian Grass grow up to six feet tall.

Wetland Loop (.6 mi., approximately 30 min.) The wetland trail will lead you through a variety of wet habitats including a lowland forest, a shrub carr, and a sedge meadow. Trees such as Black Walnut and Black Willow survive in areas that are moist but never flooded, while wetland shrubs such as Red-twig and Gray Dogwood grow in areas with wetter but not saturated soil. Sedges and wildflowers such as Joe-Pye-Weed and Swamp Milkweed dominate soils that are saturated most of the year. Wetlands are extremely valuable habitats, acting as sponges that slow and filter run-off from upland areas, as well as being a home for resident and migrating wildlife.

Glacial Loop (1 mi., approximately 40 min.) The Glacial Trail Loop begins at Wehr Nature Center and continues into Whitnall Park. Along the trail you will see evidence of the Wisconsin Glacier that covered this area 10 to 20 thousand years ago. Look for glacial features such as large rocks, known as erratics, and ridges called moraines.

Natural History Trail (1.7 mi., approximately 1 hr. 30 min.) The natural history trail circles much of the Nature Center, connecting parts of the woodland, prairie, and wetland trails. This trail is designed to display the different communities withtheir varied plants and animals, geologic features and beautiful vistas.

Mallard Lake Loop (1.5 mi., approximately 1 hr. 15 min.) There is no specific lake trail loop, but you can travel around Mallard Lake by following a series of marked trails as seen on the map. Mallard Lake is a 20 acre man-made lake. It was constructed during the 1930's by the Civilian Conservation Corps by building a dam at the outlet of a marsh.