I hope this is the right trail name because it’s the only one that came up (actually named James T. Slavin Conservation Area). We ran the loop and luckily the ground was still frozen in most places. Highly recommend if hiking or running to start in the early morning when the freezing temperatures keep the ground solid to prevent trail erosion. Swans and ducks on the lake but no other wildlife spotted. 

I was birding and it was a great location.  I saw 40 species while meandering 6.2 miles over a 3 hour period.  The trails are flat and easy.  My route did double back over itself, but most of it was unique and there were more trails that I did not explore.

A group of 7 people and one dog  set out on this hike. Little bit of mud and ice in area but overall  trails in good shape. Catching a sunset  in this flat open space is one of my favorites. #loveyourlocaltrails 

After all the work that WTA has done here (yay, trail crews!), you can make a lovely pair-of-wings-shaped 6-mile walk out at the Slavin Conservation Area. How apt for this bird paradise with avian-named trails. The area is extremely flat and suitable for most hiking abilities, full of waterfowl enjoying the ponds, and is relatively unused despite being so near town.

The ½ mile off of Hwy 195 to the trailhead parking lot is unpaved but in good condition and passable for all vehicles. The lot had plenty of space on a Friday afternoon. There is a posted trail map at the trailhead, but be aware that not all of the trail junctions are marked, so be prepared to wander a little on the new trails.

TrailKat, poopy, and I looped from the entire outer trails to the inner trails, starting south on outer Quail Loop, then making a sharp left at Vireo East and crossing between the ponds on Goldeneye. We then took the Goldeneye Loop west of the large pond clockwise, passing by the entrance to the decommissioned old trail. Finally, we returned to the trailhead via the inner track, taking the brief detour off of inner Quail Loop onto Redwing to visit the lookout. The trail is boggy in areas, so boots are advisable. In our couple of hours we only passed 2 hikers and 1 equestrian, and were treated to stretches of grass widows and buttercups.

A small part of the loop around the pond is closed due to flooding and mud, but we still spent a lovely several hours of wandering the trails, looking at wildflowers, and spying on birds (yellow-headed and red-winged blackbirds, various ducks, etc.). Aside from the flooded section, the trails are in good condition. There are a few logs to step over or around in places, but nothing posing a big obstacle. It was a cool day (high around 60 degrees), and we did not encounter any ticks or mosquitos.