Brooks-Hummel Nature Preserve — Attraction in Fayetteville

Brooks Hummel Nature Preserve is a retreat from the cement into the serene peace of non-human mystery, where you might see a fox kit pouncing on an insect in the spring or a buck drinking from a stream during the fall. There are no gravel or paved trails, and one feels like they were stepping down into a large bowl of autumn soup full of leaves instead of alphabet noodles.

Located behind Ozark Natural Foods in the Evelyn Hills Shopping Center, the trailhead borders the AppleSeeds Inc. Teaching Farm. The foot path proceeds downhill, crossing a bit of a stream and following its banks along 13.75 acres of “Wow, I had no idea this existed!”

Brooks Hummel was acquired in 1997 and is overseen by the Fayetteville Parks & Recreation Department. Volunteers from the Fayetteville Natural Heritage Association, Ozark Natural Foods (ONF), AppleSeeds Inc., NWA Master Naturalists, and Boy Scout Troop 142 have cleared debris and invasive non-native plants such as Japanese honeysuckle and privet shrubs. With chainsaws, loppers, and sometimes just plain muscle, these volunteer workers seek to protect our ecological heritage by creating space for native plants to grow unobstructed by invasives. The plants, in turn, support native pollinators and wildlife that make the...

This place is completely surrounded by private property making it nearly inaccessible. However, possible entrances include parking at Ozark Natural Foods and walking directly east. I accessed a trail located by the driveway northern most house in that neighborhood located directly behind ONF. Another preserve entrance is from the wooded area off of S Rayview drive. I would walk these wood often as a kid, and could find such things as an old cemetery and loads of trash. After the ice storm however, the debris from fallen tree matter has completely obscured the once clear trails. Maybe it's a good idea for a community project? Clean, restore, and label the trail and give the little nature preserve a name for itself after all...

So glad i didnt give up on finding this place! For those that have trouble finding the right/safe place to go into the park, find the trailhead behind First United Presbyterian Church. Drive behind the church to the dead end and the trailhead is right there! So much easier and safer than parking by Tacos4Life, walking up the creepy side street, basically walking onto someones property and fitting through a tight fance. I absolutely love this little spot and ready to come back when it's warmer. I will definitely check out the Skelton Cemetery on property the next time I'm there. Beautiful stream flows through the park, and for it being in the middle of town, you hear little to no noise in the little...