Final of seven hikes in the Walk in Wonder 2026 hike-a-thon.
We love this place. Hike-a-thon or not, LeFurge is a destination for us in all seasons.
In white season, the ponds ice over and the woods offer a hushed respite from the wintry wind on the snow-bound prairie.
In brown season, spring ephemerals decorate the woodland floor: trillium, trout lily, spring beauty, and jack-in-the-pulpit with all the energy of an early riser.
In green season, the forest canopy solidifies, offering shade for the over-warm hiker, while on the prairie the dragonflies flit and the grasshoppers throng.
Our visit coincides with the transition from green season to yellow season. The goldenrod is coming in, to the delight of the resident pollinators. Fruits begin to replace flowers, some of which you’d be wise to avoid eating—the blue cohosh looks like a blueberry, but it can be fatal.
There’s a small hill, and this is a favorite spot to pause. Here we can see over the tall prairie plants and spy into the wetland ponds. The red-winged blackbirds call from the edges, and once again we’re grateful for SMLC’s stewardship of this precious place.
This was the last hike of the Walk in Wonder 2026 hike-a-thon. Thank you for joining us in spirit!