Visiting a Red-tail preserve is a taste of wilderness. Nearly all of Red-tail’s trails are natural paths with no paving or alteration. Trails are regularly trimmed or mowed to keep the path clear, though some remain narrow. Plants may droop onto paths.
Dutro-Ernst Woods and Red-tail Nature Preserve are the only public nature preserves which have graveled trails. These are wide, generally flat paths.
Red-tail protects vital, biodiverse habitats which include wetlands and wetland forests. After rain, trails may be muddy or temporarily submerged in water. Whenever possible, please use boardwalks. To protect sensitive plants you may not see, do not walk off trail. Walk through the puddles.