On an early April day, I drove up the Lac du Bois Road to a pullout parking area in the middle grasslands. I hiked east, following a route across the hills, one I have done many times, but this outing was a nature hike, enjoying the emergence of spring in the grasslands. I hiked a faint trail past ponds and between the hills out to a hilltop with wide views. Long Lake below was full of ducks. I could hear the calls of coots below. I continued north on the slopes, following cattle/game trails to the end of the lake, then I went off trail, bearing west to a hilltop overlooking Island Lake.
The traverse featured many wildflowers – sagebrush buttercups, larkspur, yellow bells, western spring beauty, desert parsley, and others. A few are shared here, but most of the images are featured on A Wildflower Journal. Island Lake lots of ducks, but I also spotted killdeer and grasslands birds in the distance.
Nature hikes take longer because I take the time to spot, observe, and photograph the flora, fauna, and landforms along the route. Some images are shared here in a gallery. click an image for a lightbox view and a caption/ID.
I plan to return to the grasslands for the next wave of wildflowers, pollinators, and flowering shrubs. Articles will appear on this website and on A Wildflower Journal. There are more articles on hikes in this area. Use the search bar to find more information.
DAS