Visitor Services: Hiking,
Photography and Wildlife Observation

Look to Crab Orchard NWR to share in some of the most enjoyable and unique hiking, photography, and wildlife observation experiences.  There are five established hiking trails - Rocky Bluff Trail, Grassy Creek Trail, Wild-Turkey Trail, Woodland Trail, and Harmony Trail, that are self-guided and allow Refuge visitors to experience Crab Orchard NWR at their own pace.  The Woodland Trail also allows the opportunity for wheelchair accessibility.

Hikers need to assume individual responsibility for planning their trips and hiking safely. Before setting out on your hike, stop by the Visitor Center to obtain needed warnings and recommendations so you will increase your odds of a safe hike, decrease your disturbance to wildlife, and lessen cumulative damage to resources.

Rocky Bluff Trail - Moderately Difficult, 1.8 mile loop. This trail displays a spectacular hardwood forest natural area on the Refuge.  The trail includes waterfalls, sandstone cliffs, Grassy Creek and rolling terrain.

Grassy Creek Trail - Moderately Difficult, 1.4 mile loop.  This trail has a wide paved surface.  It displays a hardwood forest and runs along a ridge top as it overlooks Devils Kitchen Lake.  The eastern part of the trail is bordered by Crab Orchard s 4,050 acre National Wilderness Area.

Wild-Turkey Trail - Moderate, 1.7 mile walk from one trail head to the other. (3.4 mile loop)  This trail will take you through a variety of habitats from pine plantations to hard wood forest.

Woodland Trail - Easy, .9 mile loop.  This trail has a paved surface for the first mile.

Harmony Trail - Easy, 1 mile loop.  This trail will take you through a variety of habitats from pine plantations to wetlands to hardwood forests.

The Refuge Woodland Bookstore, located in the Visitor Center, carries a complete line of trail guides and field guides to aid hikers.  Maps of the five hiking areas are available at the Visitor Center.

For other photography and wildlife observation opportunities, visitors can enjoy the Refuge on the 9 mile auto tour.  The auto tour route begins near the Visitor Center and highlights wetlands, grasslands, and woodlands and the wide variety of wildlife found in these areas.  Spring and fall migration are peak times to observe many wildlife species and concentrations of birds. Early morning or evening is best for viewing wildlife. Please see the Refuge wildlife list for information on wildlife species found on the Refuge.

Also, be sure to stop by the Visitor Center in October (please call for specific dates) to view The Wild Things and Wild Places Photo Exhibit.  Or better yet, enter one of your photos in the contest this September.  Please contact the Visitor Center at (618)998-5933 for more details.

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