Watershed Nature Center

This is a great place to be with family or take your dog on a walk. My favorite is the marsh trail. There are trails all the way around the water, but half of it is paved and half of it is dirt so bring some walking shoes and visit the nature center. It’s like a hidden jewel that I came across by accident.

Watershed Nature Center is a beautiful nature reserve located in the heart of my town. It is a wonderful place to go for a run, have a picnic, take the kids for a family walk, or just to sit and enjoy the beauty and peace of nature. I take pride that there is a nature reserve in my town and that people in my community take the time to appreciate the nature and beauty of it all.

Watershed Nature Center
«…to promote environmental stewardship and provide opportunities for the community to understand and appreciate nature.»
The Watershed Nature Preserve, a nature preserve within the City of Edwardsville, was founded to preserve and restore local ecosystems. As part of the Cahokia Creek watershed, Watershed Nature Center is comprised of over forty acres of wetlands, prairies, and upland and lowland forests.
The Center was founded in 1991 as a result of volunteer efforts from concerned community members dedicated to the preservation of natural habitats and environmental education.
The Watershed Nature Center is owned by the City of Edwardsville, managed by the Nature Preserve Foundation, Inc., and supported by a local community of volunteers and sponsors. The trails are free to the public and accessible from dawn to dusk.
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The above was taken from their website. Anyhow, if you are a local, you pretty much know this place as the hub of education activities. You probably had a «class field trip» there as a kid or volunteered there too.
Pretty serene environment and the loop around the whole nature center grounds is about 1 mile. The lake is popping with bass and other fish. Don’t get caught illegally fishing though. Good place for photo opportunities.
I always got a kick out of beavers chomping away at the trees. They reproduce like crazy and the population is out of control but they are a pleasant sight to see swimming on their backs if you can catch them at dusk.
Parking is ample. Not a problem.
It’s a pretty good place to unwind and get your mind off the busy world outside. Bring some binoculars if you have a chance. Great place to bird watch.