Crabtree Nature Center: Phantom Prairie Loop

This past weekend I was also able to get out for a hike at the Crabtree Nature Center, a 1182 acre preserve operated by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County located in Barrington, IL. It felt good to be back there, I hadn't been since I was a kid visiting with scouts in grade school. It's kind of funny how I'm rediscovering all of this outdoor stuff back home in Illinois after so many years of taking it for granted. I have Arizona to thank for it! I hiked the Phantom Prairie Loop, a 2 mile hike through woodland and prairie. Being winter I had the trail almost completely to myself and the addition of snow on the trees made everything look really pretty. Along the way I saw a coyote and a few white-tailed deer, as well as dozens of birds at the bird feeders outside of the nature center building. The preserve is home to 89 species that breed on-site and during spring migration over 260 can be seen. As beautiful as the snow was I can't wait to go back and enjoy this hike in the summer when the wildflowers are blooming.

Black Capped Chickadee

Northern Cardinal and House Finch

White Breasted Nuthatch

American Goldfinch (Female)

The Hike: 2 miles, hardly any elevation change
Check out Crabtree Nature Center here: http://fpdcc.com/nature-centers/crabtree-nature-center/

Leave No Trace!