POSTED ON MAY 23RD 2021
ON GOOGLE MAPS — PLASTER CREEK TRAIL
PARK AT — CONTINENTAL RENT TO OWN AT 613 28TH ST. SE
Google Maps labels this quiet half mile trail Plaster Creek Trail. Starting from Continental Rent to Own on 28th St., this wide, paved path runs through lowland woods alongside the creek to Madison by Brookside school. Seen from a hawk’s point-of-view, it progresses in a flattened out “W’.
Here Plaster creek is broad, often muddy, and shallow. At both ends, the path runs close to the creek: starting at 28th street, the woods on the left are younger and thickety; approaching Madison, the path runs between and below the long, retaining wall for neighboring houses on one side, and a narrow bank of shrubs and trees right along the creek on the other. Also at both ends, the opposite side of the creek has some large trees and, as edge habitats, can be very fruitful for migrants, notably warblers. The mid trail runs through a tract of older trees anchored by some very large Cottonwoods and Oaks and, except for a couple of small clearings, lacking undergrowth. On the right day you can catch a few migrant thrushes here while Baltimore Orioles sing as they move well above you in the canopy.
This trail is used less than the more popular Kenosha Plaster Creek trail, although since the onset of the Covid pandemic it seems that more people have discovered this path. With the third leg of the trail – the second down incline in the “W” – passing through shaded, sparse undergrowth forest and directly under the largest Cottonwoods and Oaks, Plaster Creek Trail also has more of the deep forest soothing than Kenosha. Just be aware that it does not last far. 18 species of warblers have been reported here in eBird during Spring migration. At ground level you will often run across White-Tailed Deer, sometimes Wild Turkey – usually across the creek in homeowners’ back yards – and, once in a great while, a Red Fox. This is a great path for an early morning rejuvenating walk before work. In the Spring (more so) and Fall (less so) you might catch several species of Warblers and still get to work (almost) on time. If we have a wet summer, there could be two patches of standing water suited for mosquitos, so from June on wear insect repellent.
Park behind the Continental Rent to Own. The trail starts off the parking lot and, in the morning, this puts the sun behind you. At the Madison end, you can park on Ken-O-Sha drive and take the trail underpass beneath Madison. The eBird hotspot for trail actually extends West to Division Avenue by the Ray Kroc Center so you can make a longer hike out of it if you wish: Plaster Creek Trail – 28th St. to Division Ave.