Burlington School Forest in Burlington

The Burlington Area School District maintains a 160-acre School Forest as a natural environment dedicated to the educational use of the students of the District. But it is also open to the public for hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and foraging. Leashed dogs are welcome. There is no hunting allowed.

 

The terrain is mostly level with some gentle contours. It is located on property that was to be included in an Air Force Base, along with adjacent Richard Bong State Recreation Area. Most of the land is forested with a mix of planted conifers, hardwoods and natural succession, although one large corner is old growth hardwoods. There is also a restored tallgrass prairie.

 

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology identifies it as a birding hotspot on its ebird website with 97 species recorded.

 

 

For a trail map, click here.

 

Gallery (click to enlarge)