The American Hiking Society has designated Saturday, June 3 as National Trails Day. We are fortunate to live in an area that offers many trails to enjoy hiking, biking, skiing, etc. The Fillmore Soil and Water Conservation District, in partnership with the Bluff Country Hiking Club, is utilizing the Lost Creek Hiking Trail west of Chatfield as an opportunity to also educate people about forest management, land use practices and local landscape features.
This trail is somewhat unique because it is on private land through areas of forest that are managed by private landowners. Featured along the trail are various forest management practices that can be used by landowners in our area to enhance timber production and wildlife habitat. Signs along the trail identify areas of interest. At the entrances to the trail, there are brochures with a map of the sign locations and a brief description of each of the practices or landscape features. For example, the sign identifying a “wolf tree” has an explanation in the brochure that says a “wolf tree” is a large tree that uses a lot of sunlight and soil space with no prospect of economic use in the future, and although it may show signs of decay, it functions to provide habitat and produce seed crops for wildlife. To the average person, such trees may not appear to have any value, so they have learned something that may help them make decisions about their own land.
In addition to the information provided in the brochure, more extensive information about each practice or feature can be found on the Fillmore SWCD’s website at www.fillmoreswcd.org. More information about the trail can be found at www.bluffcountryhikingclub.org.
June 3 would be a great day to enjoy the Lost Creek Hiking Trail near Chatfield while learning more about ways to better manage our forests and local landscape.