Carl and Myrna Nygren Wetland Preserve — Attraction in Rockton Township

A true gem for our area, this pristine and very-well-maintained wetland is truly unique. This preserve offers a small parking area with a fairly easily accessible elevated wooden viewing platform with a telescope to help budding birders get excited about seeing water birds they may not have known about.

One can take a fairly simple 2-mile-or-so walk around the main body of water, easily following the circular path, or take one of the other paths branching off into prairie or near smaller bodies of water.

Geese, ducks, cranes, herons, woodpeckers, deer, evidence of beavers, even cute little minks and frogs are all animals you may encounter here on any given trip depending on time of year.

Some guided signboards offer a little more insight about the critters and changes in the land over time.

Definitely come during warmer months to enjoy the absolute cacophony of the sandhill cranes - there's nothing quite like these tall birds and their familial groups. But it's still a unique gathering place for many animals in the...

This is my new favorite preserve. Extensive trails, high volume of wildlife and wildly varying terrain. So nice to have a place with wetlands, multiple ponds, open fields, woods and a creek. When I went it was incredibly windy near the parking lot but the wooded areas were lovely.

There are no pets allowed which is a surprise positive. I enjoyed not needing to watch out for dog poop and just focused on birding.

Wildlife spotted: robins, cardinals, woodpeckers, egrets, pelicans, bald eagle, cranes, sparrows, ducks, chickadees, turtles, frogs, many more song birds and...

This was the second family event that we attended. The presenters are very knowledgeable and if you went to the water station most likely after seeing the leaky landfill presentation you will want to reduce the stuff you toss in the garbage. The prairie was planted so you will see black eyed Susan's, come flowers, gray bearded coneflowers, bee balm, white lupine, compass flower, milkweed and many other flowers. The event we attended today was very...