Johnson Sauk Trail State Recreation Area

Today I hiked around Johnson Sauk Trail State Recreation Area. I was sitting on the couch watching TV because it was about 10 degrees outside. I decided even though it was cold, I should get out and see what's up.

Address:

28616 Sauk Trail Rd.

Kewanee, Illinois 61443

1-13-18 -

Today was cold (14 degrees) and breezy. If you're wearing the right amount of clothing then you can still get out and be one with nature. Today most of my hike was around the roadway that goes around the lake. The road is closed this time of year to vehicular traffic but it is a fairly easy and peaceful hike. It's nice when it is cold because you have the park to yourself.

As I was walking around the lake I could hear the ice making an eerie popping sound. There was one guy out ice fishing and I watched him walk across the deepest part of the lake pulling his shanty so it must be pretty think. When I hiked across the dam there were a bunch of Canada geese. Several were lying on the ice but there was still a little bit of open water where they were swimming.

I walked the Ojibwa trail which is .3 miles around the east side of the lake. They have the trail listed as moderate but it is pretty easy. There was a tree down across the trail but it was manageable. I was running out of time so I hiked the rest of the way back using the road. Three trails on the south side of the park are closed to hunting.

I saw a few American cardinals, a few American crows, about a hundred Canada geese, a red tailed hawk and a black capped chickadee. I also saw what I think was a downy woodpecker and some sort of grouse or prairie chicken. I can't be fore sure on the last two.

Until next time.