Nippersink

I love this one! I've always thought the name was cute. I wonder where it comes from. If you know, let me know.

This preserve is small, so I wasn't expecting much. Even on the trail map it doesn't look like much. It's located right on 120, the trail is only about 1 mile around a couple of small lakes. I was kind of expecting something similar to Lake Carina.

I was wrong. This little forest preserve really has a lot to see and do. The trail goes around the two lakes with the wider loop going around them both. I did the outside loop.

When I first got on the trail there was a slight breeze. Since it was hot, the breeze felt good. I kept smelling a sweet fragrance, almost like honeysuckle, but not quite. But couldn't see anything that it could be. But the view was great. As usual I could hear many different types of birds-robins, red wing black birds, and a couple more I'm not sure of  yet.

They were doing some fishing camp this morning.
I saw him practicing casting.

Most of the trail is open, so I was glad the sun wasn't full force. it's hot today and that would have been too much. But, about half way around there is a "grove" of oak trees.

The oak passage. What a relief.

It was neat, the end of the walk was a little hilly. After being in Colorado, I liked that.

The view from the top of the little hill.

I went over a little walk walk way (I love those) that was over  the marshy part of the lake, near the one end. And just took everything in. It was beautiful.

Then, just before I got back to my car, I found it. The source for the wonderful sweet smell. It was so delightful-light, sweet, warm. I wish they had a smell attachment so you could enjoy it too.

If you know what kind of flower this is,
let me know!

So as I said before - Nippersink has a lot to offer: a good trail flat and some hills, fishing, shady picnic spots, biking trail. A lot packed into this small site.


Enjoy your Fourth of July weekend.

And enjoy the outdoors!