Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area

Trails

One of the best ways to experience Goose Lake Prairie is to hit the trails. With 7 miles of hiking trails, visitors have many opportunities to view the plants and animals that make the area unique.

Tall Grass Nature Trail is a self-guiding trek that winds through the prairie and the trail’s trademark grasses of big bluestem and Indian grass, which can grow to 8 feet in height.

The Sagashka Trail allows a chance to contrast many different habitats—nature preserves, restoration areas, and marshy areas supporting waterfowl.

Prairie View Trail, with 3.5 miles of moderate hiking, goes through prairie and farmland. Visible are surface mine reclamation areas, low-lying marshes, and farmland.

Depending on the route selected, the trail can be 1 or 3.5 miles long. One loop offers a hard-packed, accessible surface. The surrounding terrain lets you see the effects of a turn-of-the-century attempt to gain more farmland by draining Goose Lake. Farmers found the drained land, which remained wet even after the draining, was suitable only for grazing livestock, and some acreage couldn't even be used for that.

​Accessibility at Goose Lake Prairie:

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Parking - The visitor center has a paved parking lot with accessible parking sspaces andpaved access to the building. Note: The push-button doors are non-operational at this time.

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Restrooms - There are accessible flush restrooms located inside the visitor center.

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Picnicking - Prairie Grove Picnic Area has two accessible parking spaces available with concrete sidewalks that lead to the shelter, vault toilets, and wheelchair-accessible water fountain. The shelter has wheelchair-accessible picnic tables and grills.

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Fishing/Boating - The bank fishing area has accessible parking spaces and vault toilets but currently does not have access to bank fish. The boat ramp has accessible parking spaces and vault toilets with paved access to the docks. Bank fishing is not allowed at the boat ramp area.