“I wonder what the world is doing today?” Almost 150 years have passed since Henry David Thoreau wrote those words of intellectual curiosity, which have always held a special meaning for me even way back when I was a curious kid running with a net to chase bugs and butterflies.

I suspect Thoreau was devoted to the ebb and flow of nature’s way; a trait I still rejoice in whether hiking solo or with others. Last week, suffering from a bit of cabin fever, I returned to the lesser-known Nels Kimball Sanctuary, near Clarkston and managed by the Blue Heron Headwaters Conservancy. The website blueheronheadwaters.org has detailed information on all their sanctuaries.

Today’s “Wilder Side of Oakland County” takes you along on my meander through the 41 acres of the Nels Kimball Preserve. Although not very well known, the preserve is easy to find. Follow Northview Drive from M-15 to the end, turn left onto Perry Lake Road and look for the small entrance sign that leads to the parking area and trailhead. No permits are needed to hike there.

I stayed for almost three hours hiking, leaning against trees, sitting on stumps and listening to the subtle sounds of nature. The flow of the headwaters of the Clinton River added to my connection to this protected wildland from my vantage point on a footbridge over the river.

Colorful interpretive signs are located along the trail at special points of interest and near junction points of the small trails. I stopped to read all of them and enjoyed all the great information about the flora and fauna. The micro-environments sign summarizes how even small changes in topography alter the flora and add to the understanding of the nature preserve.

When I was at Kimball Preserve on a sultry summer day a few years ago, hordes of newly emerged mosquitoes attacked, keeping me on the move with barely a glance at the sign. I thought about that this time when I hiked past a massive fallen tree. Where the root mass was torn from the soil, a now snow-covered depression formed. Come spring, it will certainly be a place for mosquitoes to lay their eggs and thrive while nourishing numerous species including bluebirds, warblers and downy woodpeckers.

A sunny winter day is a splendid time to explore and tracks in the snow will remind you that you’re not alone. Deer, raccoon, opossum and skunk tracks were all present. The pounding of a Pileated Woodpecker was music to my ears. The chickadees were my songster companions in shrubby areas, and I had a fleeting glimpse of a Cooper’s Hawk zipping through the woods.

Conditions at the sanctuary vary greatly. The trail was almost obscured by fresh snow, but with the Clinton River on one side and noisy I-75 on the other, it would be hard to get lost.

Old grape vines thicker than my wrist wrapped around a few trees; a hint of early land uses since they normally don’t grow in a woodland. Colorful fungi were present on some dead trees, including a hefty Shelf Fungi.

Although I saw no fresh beaver activity, gnawed stumps from small, felled trees confirmed that beavers have found a niche in this hidden corner of our county.

A surprisingly large variety of trees grow in the preserve. Two species have eye-catching bark. Black cherry, a species that does well in dry areas, is easily recognized by its rough bark that looks like burned potato chips. Yellow birch, with its thinner peeling bark, has also found a home at Kimball.

I’ve discovered over the years that just because you do not see something does not mean it’s not there. I was excited to spy fox tracks. The same holds true for deer. Fresh tracks told me they bolted off unseen as I trekked. One of my favorite interpretive signs along the way is titled “Animals in Hiding,” serving as a reminder that many creatures remain out of sight either all or some of the time. Salamanders thrive under decaying logs while the hollows of dead trees provide habitats for raccoons and other creatures.

Although I saw no evidence of them, I suspect the Nels Kimball Sanctuary makes an excellent home for Barred Owls. I may have to return one day in hopes of hearing one of the owls at dusk. Great Horned Owls and Screech Owls also find sanctuary in this preserve, and I’m certain there are plenty of mice and rabbits to sustain them. Here’s a Great Horned Owl from a summer trek.

Happy hiking and see what the world is doing today at Nels Kimball Sanctuary — just don’t forget to read the trailside maps and signs. The nearby 5^th Street Tavern on M-15 is a great place to warm up and dine after your hike.

Jonathan Schechter is the Nature Education Writer for Oakland County Government and blogs about nature’s way, trails and wildlife on the Wilder Side of Oakland County.

Follow along with Oakland County on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, X, and YouTube using #OaklandCounty, or visit our website for news and events year-round.