Brown's Woods
| Brown's Woods | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Interactive map of Brown's Woods | |
| Type | Wildlife Preserve |
| Location | Des Moines, Iowa |
| Coordinates | 41°32′28″N 93°42′30″W / 41.541210°N 93.708390°W |
| Area | 486 acres (1.97 km2) |
| Established | 1972 |
| Hiking trails | Brown's Woods Tail |
Brown's Woods is a wildlife preserve in Des Moines, Iowa and is Iowa's largest urban forest. There are 4.4 miles (5km) of hiking trails in Brown's Woods with a total elevation gain of 213ft (64.92m).[1] Around 70,000 people visit Brown's Woods every year. Brown's Woods provides an essential stopping place for spring and fall migratory birds, such as warblers and vireos.[2] Showy orchids are listed as endangered species and can be found in Brown's Woods.[3] 100–200 feet (30–61 m) of bluffs are found at the western boundary where Raccoon River is.[4]
The wildlife area is named after Tallmadge E. Brown, a Des Moines lawyer who acquired large tracts of land around Des Moines in the late 1800s. One of them was this forest acquired by the Conservation Board in 1972.[5]
| Summer | 6:30am - 10:30pm | April 1 - October 31 |
| Winter | Sunrise - Sunset | November 1 - March 31 |
References
- ^ "Brown's Woods Trail". AllTrails. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
- ^ Danley-Greiner, Kristin. "Hikers can find more trails at Brown's Woods". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
- ^ Des Moines River Basin, Iowa and Minnesota: Communication from the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) Transmitting a Corps of Engineers Report ... Department of Defense, Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers. 1979.
- ^ Des Moines and West Des Moines Flood Protection: Environmental Impact Statement. United States. Army. Corps of Engineers. 1979.
- ^ "Brown's Woods - Polk County Iowa". Polk County. Retrieved 2024-09-13.