Rolling Prairie Trail offers top views of fall colors, bustling wildlife

Just because summer is over doesn’t mean it’s time to put away bikes and hiking shoes.

In fact, Ned Parker, Franklin County Conservation Director, said mid-October is the perfect time to utilize the Rolling Prairie Trail throughout the county.

“It’s about the best time of year to be on the trail in my opinion,” he said. “The bugs are gone, it’s not all humid and the leaves are starting to turn.”

Parker said that at various points in the trail, which stretches from Coulter past Hampton, bicyclists and hikers can find quiet spots to stop for a rest and catch a glimpse of the changing fall colors and wildlife activity.

Hot spots include the creek area on the stretch between First Street in Hampton and Olive Avenue, the stretch of trail past Casey’s that leads to the prairie by Hampton-Dumont Middle School and various points in the rural parts of the trail, such as Thursty’s Oasis between Coulter and Hampton.

“It’s a good time to see wildlife,” he said. “We have a lot of deer, song birds and pheasants moving through.”

Randy Sanders, Hampton Tree Board member, said that a top spot for wildlife sightings is the conifer forest stretch in the Hampton Cemetery.

“You see wildlife all the time there,” he said. “It can be like looking in a forest.”

Sanders said that efforts of the Hampton Tree Board and the Franklin County Conservation Department to replant trees along the trail and throughout town has helped build wildlife habitat and has added to the fall color offerings. In just this year alone, the tree board has planted more than 190 trees throughout the community. At the gazebo on First Street in Hampton, the groups have planted ______ varieties of trees in recent years.

Sanders said color viewing along the trail can vary by tree variety and individually among each tree. Some species stay green throughout the year while others boast bright, vivid colors.

“Some of it is short-lived while others hang on for a long time,” he said. “A lot of it is just mother nature.”

As far as when to spot the best colors, Sanders said trees should reach peak color periods by the end of this week into early next week.

Parker said that he encouraged anyone who wants to catch a glimpse of wildlife, see the fall colors or just get some exercise to see what the trail has to offer. He added that the conservation department also has fat tire bikes for rent for anyone who wants to test one out and take in the sights.

“It’s just a great place to get from one side of town to the other,” he said.