Recently I hiked along a segment of the Wapsi-Great Western Line Trail and the adjacent Huffman Wildlife Area just south of the town of McIntire, Iowa. The Wapsi-Great Western Line Trail is a paved biking and walking trail built mostly along the path of an abandoned railroad line that runs through a variety of landscapes and natural habitats. The particular portion that I was on was an ecosystem called Oak Savanna which is a transitional area between woodland and prairie. I think the picture of the sign posted along the trail will explain it better than I can.

It’s a beautiful and diverse area with stately oaks, prairie grasses, and an abundance of wildflowers. I’ve posted some of the shots I took below. There is also a trail that branches off from the Wapsi-Great Western Line Trail that goes through the heart of the Huffman Wildlife Area. The day I was there I discovered an abundance of Monarch Butterflies along the trail. I will share some of the shots I captured of them in my next post.