Designated as a public wildlife management area in 1991, Sand Prairie quickly caught the eye of local wildlife and outdoors enthusiasts. Local residents and a steadily growing number of tourists use the public land for hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, birdwatching, nature photography, or observing nature. Covering just over a square mile, Sand Prairie encompasses diverse native plant communities. A trail cuts through 100 acres of restored tall-grass prairie. Small remnants of original prairie are also scattered throughout the property.
Wetlands ranging from wet meadows to large, open-water marshes dot the wildlife area.
Visitors can see frogs, toads, shorebirds, ducks, swans, geese, sandhill cranes, egrets, and herons. On the area s eastern half, a wooded mosaic of aspen, oak, and brush encircles the prairies and wetlands. These woodlands contribute to the diversity of habitat in Sand Prairie. Here live deer, woodcock, and ruffed grouse. More than a dozen species of warblers use these woods and brushlands during spring and fall migrations.