Sumner Park, Pecatonica Prairie Path, Pecatonica Wetlands Forest Preserve 04-21-12

Wilma and I have been here before. Last time we went to the east side of the FP that is south of the river abutting the Pecatonica Praire Path (PPP). This time we went to the west side. This part of the FP is only accessible on foot via the PPP. It is a mile and a quarter to get from the closest parking (Pecatonica's Sumner Park) to the east entrance and about half a mile farther to get to the west entrance. So it does not get a lot of traffic, despite the very nice trails on both sides. I don't recall seeing a single piece of litter on either side. In fact, the only piece of litter I recall on the PPP, was one someone deliberately placed there to mark a large hole in the surface.

The trail system on the west side is longer than on the east side and is more open. It appears to me the west side was largely once a pasture, so there are fewer trees, although along the creek there are a lot of trees, but there are large open grassy areas as well.

No easy way to get across the creek here either, although there are a couple of places where you might be able to make it, but I did not try. But, it might be fun to come back later in the summer when the water is even lower and go across the creek and explore the island that is cut off by the river and the creek. I bet even fewer people have done that. Or maybe come back in the winter when the creek is frozen over.

Plenty of creek access for Wilma. She had a great time playing in the water and the mud. We even saw and got video of three deer running along the main trail, and saw a great blue heron, but was not able to get his picture.

The trail map accurately depicts the trails, at least on the side of the creek we were able to get to. There are trail markers, but the trail is a mowed grass path so they really don't add a whole lot.

Base Camp said it was 6.5 miles. About 3.5 miles of that is just walking to the entrance from Sumner Park and back where we parked.

There is a big hole in the surface of the PPP that someone has kindly marked with this coffee cup to warn horseback riders. It is perhaps a quarter of a mile west of the fairgrounds.

The entrance to this part of the preserve had a chain across it but it was easy to duck under it.

A well fed coyote must have been using the trail as well.

The three deer are at 8:38 in the video.