Public Trail Map

Pleasant Valley Conservancy is a natural area rather than a public park. It is open for limited hiking and bird watching only.

Directions: The Conservancy is about 4 miles southwest of the Village of Black Earth. Go west from Black Earth on County Highway F and continue south on F until Pleasant Valley Road. Turn left on Pleasant Valley Road. The preserve will be on your left. Continue past the steep hillside until you reach an open area and walking trail entrance (about ¾ mile east on Pleasant Valley Road from the junction with County F). Cars should be parked off the road facing the entrance.

The trails shown on the map below permit excellent views of the whole conservancy. The Long Trail is 1.5 miles and can be completed in 1.5-2 hours. The Short Trail is 0.6 miles and can be completed in 30 minutes to 1 hour. Both trails begin at the Preserve entrance and follow the same route to a trail fork at the highest point on the Preserve. Follow the signs. The trails use in part mowed trails and the rest use the ridge-top service road.

The Long Trail has one narrow steep section that descends to a fine prairie remnant and passes through an abandoned quarry (now mostly prairie) to County Highway F. The Long Trail then crosses Pleasant Valley Road and follows the edge of the wetland. This lower section provides excellent close-up viewing of the wetland. If desired, you may also return to Parking along Pleasant Valley Road, which provides a broader but less intimate view of the wetland.

The Short Trail accesses two overlooks which provide nice views of prairie remnants and Pleasant Valley Creek. It has one very short steep section.

Although not marked, a 15 minute stroll around the Pocket Prairie along a mowed fire break provides a quick view of this diverse planted prairie and its adjacent savanna (with fine old white oak trees).

Please stay on the marked trails! Do not remove plants or seeds. No motors allowed.

Just added to trail map: New Boardwalk into the wetland!

Public Trail Map: Revised (with Boardwalk)