Rice Creek Field Station

Summer 2012 to 2013
The year-long construction and upgrades at Rice Creek Field Station have led to temporary changes in ways visitors can access the nature trails. Hikers will need to use the parking area across the road from Fallbrook and walk a quarter-mile on the green trail from the recreation center to Rice Creek's trail system.  All sections of the trails north of the entrance road are closed during construction for safety reasons.  During this rebuilding year, enjoy a hike from Fallbrook to the green trail boardwalks.  Look for frogs, snakes, turtles, waterfowl, beavers, and more as you relax on a bench at one of the two overlook areas along side of Rice Creek.  Trails are open to the public year round during daylight hours.

Following this rebuilding year, the trail system will be open once again to the public year around during daylight hours. Use of the Red, Green, and Blue Trails is restricted to hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. Bicycles and activities listed above are allowed on the Orange Trail.

RED TRAIL

• Description: This trail, exhibiting the full range of natural succession, passes through hedgerows and young woodlands, a spruce and pine plantation, skirts Hilton Pond, passes through an open field, crosses a stone fence, and then takes the hiker into a mature hardwood forest community.
• Distance: 1.5 km [.93 miles]
• Trail Blaze:    There may still be remnants of the old red triangle blazes.
• Location: The trail begins just east of the maintenance shed on the north side of the parking area, proceeds north and east, then west for a short distance, returning south to its finish at the herb garden.
• Features:
  • Full range of succession from mown field to stabilized old-growth hardwood forest
  • Contrast in meadow between mown section and natural area
  • Bench at overlook area atop drumlin with sweeping views of meadows below
  • Contrast between second-growth forest and old-growth forest 100 years old
  • Remnants of farm use prior to 1955:
    • Hedgerow
    • Stone fence
    • Woodlot
    • Farm pond
  • Plant and animal life at Hilton Pond, a former farm pond

GREEN TRAIL

• Description: This trail comprises the Carlita Snygg Memorial Trail and the Wildflower Trail. The Snygg Trail leads one through young woods and wetlands bordering the upper reaches of Rice Pond and Rice Creek, past areas of beaver activity, through a locust grove, and through shrub lands and an evergreen plantation. The Wildflower Trail consists of several loops which branch from the first section of the Snygg Trail. It features a number of local trees and native wildflowers.
• Distance: 1.2 km [.75 miles]
• Trail Blaze:     There may still be remnants of the old green diamond blazes.
• Location: The trail starts at the east end of the lawn by the field station and enters the wild flower display area in the forest south of the entrance road. After traversing the wildflower area, it crosses the old bed of Brownell Road, and proceeds in a southerly direction with raised walkways providing passage through wetlands along the upper reaches of Rice Pond. Eventually it loops back through the forest to reenter the wildflower area near the point of beginning.
• Features:
  • Classic young woodland containing diverse tree specimens
  • Evidence and impact of beaver activity:
    • Beaver dam
    • Beaver-maintained wetland
  • Observation of wetland vegetation and wildlife--excellent birding area 
  • Benches at two overlook areas along side of Rice Creek
  • Exploration of wildflower area, planted with species native to this region

BLUE TRAIL

• Description: This trail, rich in the diversity of plant and animal life, takes the hiker through several distinctive habitats, including a conifer plantation, open meadow, transitional hardwoods, wetland forest, and along Rice Creek and Rice Pond.
• Distance: 1.8 km [1.1 miles]
• Trail Blaze:    There may still be remnants of the old blue dot blazes.
• Location: The trail begins just west of the herb garden, proceeds north, then west, and loops back in a southeasterly direction to the point of beginning.
• Features:
  • Characteristics of a 50-year old evergreen plantation
  • Historical evidence of farming activity:
    • Stone fence
    • Farm lane
    • Hedgerow
  • Meadow habitat and the effect of rotational mowing
  • Bluebird boxes, sometimes inhabited by tree swallows and house wrens
  • Transitional hardwoods and shrubs that have taken over former pasture land
  • Bench at overlook area along side of Rice Creek fish ladder channel
  • Stream valley verging on wooded wetland
  • Swamp forest along the edge of Rice Pond