- Trails are open 24/7 at no charge. Enjoy a Winnie-the-Pooh themed TRAIL TALES Storybook Walk.
What’s Happening: Open House
“I had no idea.” That’s the comment we often hear from first-time participants in the Crossroads Trail Run & Walk—and, ironically, from those who have participated before. In fact, it’s a common reaction from many visitors who have been walking, running or skiing at our preserves for years. Crossroads at Big Creek is amazing and it is changing!
The 16th Annual Crossroads Trail Run will take place on Saturday, June 21 at 8:00 am. This community tradition promotes wellness, healthy living, and multigenerational recreation while increasing awareness of sustainable living. It’s also a major fundraiser supporting Crossroads’ education programs and ecological restoration efforts.
Thanks to Evergreen Nursery, each runner will also receive a locally sourced tamarack tree. Post-race refreshments will be provided along with chip-timed results for all participants. Winners of various categories will receive prizes.
We like to think of the event as an open house for our preserves. The term “open house” might seem an unusual description for a trail run, but it is appropriate because the root word “eco” comes from the Greek word for “house.” Whether running or walking the 2K, 5K, 10K routes, participants will experience a remarkable variety of ecosystems—and witness our ecological restoration work in progress.
The 2K route winds through forest and meadow, crossing several bridges and offering a view of blooming wetland flowers.
On the 5K route, participants pass through evergreen and deciduous forests, meadows, and fields. Along the way, they will see areas where invasive trees have been removed or girdled, and places where biodiversity has been boosted by planting native species.
The most dramatic changes can be seen on the 10K route, which takes runners into our Ida Bay Preserve. There, non-native Scots pine, buckthorn, and honeysuckle have been removed, and currently, former weedy fields are now recovering from a prescribed burn.
With so much to see, it’s no wonder that many race participants return to enjoy the preserves at a more relaxed pace.
Some may want to join our weekly Wandering Wednesday hikes at 1:30 p.m. or attend a free screening of the documentary Green Fire, which tells the story of Aldo Leopold. Our educational programs are offered at no cost, and our preserves are open to the public 24/7—also free of charge.
So, for those who once said, “I had no idea” how beautiful and fascinating our preserves are—now you will. And you’re always welcome to come back and explore Crossroads as it changes with the seasons.
– by Coggin Heeringa, Interpretive Naturalist
For more information, please check out our Crossroads calendar or stop by the Collins Learning Center and pick up a printed calendar. Our trails are open all day every day, free of charge, thanks to donors like you!
Crossroads at Big Creek Learning Center and Nature Preserve is located at 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay. Crossroads is a 501(c)3 organization committed to inspiring stewardship of the environment through education, research, and outdoor experiences. We welcome your support.
Upcoming Activities
