Latodami Trails

Latodami Nature Center (NC) Trails

NC Red Trail - Nature Access Trail

Distance: 0.40 miles, loop trail
Difficulty: Easy

One of the most well-known trails in North Park, the Nature Center Red Trail (Nature Access Trail) is an easy path that winds its way around streams with signage about the local environment. Originally designed for use of hikers with a visual impairment, a rubber rope acts as a guide throughout the forest trail. This is a great path for a casual family stroll or picnic among wildflowers.

NC Pink Trail - Pond Trail

Distance: 0.25 miles, loop
Difficulty: Easy

This trail, closest to the Nature Center, is of special interest to children. Stop to look for tracks of raccoon, muskrat, white-tailed deer, and the occasional fox. Hikers can pause on the trail to read signage about the life in and around the pond.

NC Orange Trail

Distance: 0.23 miles, loop trail
Difficulty: Easy

One of the first trails built at Latodami, the Nature Center Orange Trail provides new wildlife experiences as many habitats merge in one location. Walk past remnants of the Pig Sty and Turkey Pen, which were purposely located at a distance from the farmhouse to keep away the smell of the animals that were once farmed there.

NC Green Trail

Distance: 1.15 miles, point-to-loop with several starting points
Difficulty: Moderate

Option 1: Start from the Latodami Nature Center barn with an uphill climb through old pastures and apple orchards and end with a relaxing walk around the North Field, a 32-acre meadow bursting with wildflowers and pollinators.

Option 2: Start from the small parking lot on Reynolds Road and walk the perimeter of the North Field. Once in the North Field, stroll through many reconnecting paths to explore this important meadow habitat that was once cropland for the Latodami Farm. Notice the remains of the windmill which was used in the days before electricity to pump and store water for the farm.

NC Blue Trail

Distance: 1.2 miles, loop
Difficulty: Moderate

This trail winds through a beautiful, mature woodland valley and an early successional forest that was once cropland. Crows can be heard and seen calling and playing during the day in the treetops. Barred owls have been nesting in this valley since 1999, and screech owls are often spotted and heard along this loop.

NC Purple Trail

Distance: 0.63 miles, point-to-point
Difficulty: Moderate

This trail branches off the Nature Center Red Trail (Nature Access Trail) and continues to wind throughout the forest. The hike begins with a formidable, yet shady, climb where hikers end up at an early successional forest. Look for Hawthorne and crab apple trees. This trail intersects twice with the Nature Center Blue Trail before heading back down a steep hill. On the downhill, notice the invasion of Japanese Barberry from nearby housing developments. This trail ends with many stream crossings making for important aquatic habitat. 

NC White Trail

Distance: 1.17 miles, point-to-point with several starting points
Difficulty: Moderate

Option 1: Start at the Nature Center barn for a pleasant stroll through successional fields, crossing Grom Run stream in Willow Flycatcher Wetland. The trail ventures through the apple orchard, then crosses Brown Road into Monarch Meadow. It continues uphill to cross over the Rachel Carson Trail. From there, the trail leads through the Walter and Pigeon Fields, both bursting with goldenrod and asters in late summer.

Option 2: Start at Pigeon Field and head downhill to the Nature Center Barn. 

NC Bike Friendly Trails

Distance: 2.50 miles, loop

Mountain bikers should use this designated mountain biking loop for a more enjoyable ride and to avoid sensitive habitats. This loop is marked with bicycle symbols  on the trail maps and at trail intersections.

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