Buckhorn State Park

Buckhorn State Park includes a number of different environments, ranging from floodplain forest to prairie, savanna, and desert-like areas. The Park has family campsites, an outdoor group camp, 42 backpack or cart-in campsites and an accessible cabin for people with disabilities.

Buckhorn’s 1.8-mile canoe interpretive trail was specifically designed to help visitors enjoy and learn about wetlands. The trail begins and ends at the canoe launch on the park’s east side. A large map at the launch shows a detailed layout of the trail. There are 10 numbered posts are along the shoreline. The canoeing is easy, and at one point, provides a view of the open part of the flowage. The trip usually takes 60 to 90 minutes, but plan for more time.

There are six designated nature trails:

1. Barrens Nature trail (1.5 miles) Large, full-color nature signs along this 1.5-mile trail explain what barrens are, what oak wilt is, plants and animals found in barrens, and how the area is being restored. A 20-foot high observation tower is also on this trail located in the middle of the park. Check out the eco box on the way to the observation tower; turn the handle to listen to messages about the park and surrounding area.
2. Central Sands Nature trail (1.4 miles) begins near the parking lot next to the park amphitheater. This 1.4-mile loop trail connects the Turkey Hollow and Partridge trails.
3. Partridge trail (1.2 miles) connects to the Turkey Hollow and Central Sands Nature trail in the lower part of the park.
4. Turkey Hollow trail (1.5 miles) goes to the west side of the peninsula in the southern part of the park, providing access to backpack campsites.
5. Pond trail (0.5 miles) connects to the Barrens Nature trail at the parking lot. Relax on one of the benches around the pond and observe wildlife. A 100- by 100-foot deer enclosure was built along the Pond trail. Deer cannot get into the fenced area, which will allow the park to monitor plants inside the fence to show the difference between where deer can and cannot browse.
6. Turtle trail (0.4 miles), across from the park entrance goes to a pond stocked with fish for kids to catch.

Buckhorn State Park has areas of prairie restoration. Several large areas in the northeast section of the park were planted some years ago and have a beautiful growth of big bluestem and Indian grass, as well as some flowering forbs such as bergamot, goldenrod, asters, flowering spurge and round-headed bush clover.

Osprey, can be found in the Park. A few man-made nest sites are along the shoreline.

Source: WDNR