This 256-acre Designated Natural Area offers a two-mile Trail Through Time, with scenic views including sandstone cliffs, canyons, arches and waterfalls. Activities include bird watching and nature hiking. Some of the interesting geologic features include a double arch that holds up a shelf of sandstone, narrow slot-like canyons, hoodoos (mound or pillar-like sandstone blocks, weathered into unusual shapes), a spring flowing out of sandstone (Pickle Springs) and sandstone talus slopes.
More than 20 species of fish, including rainbow darter, striped shiner and silverjaw minnow, swim in the cool waters of the Pickle Creek Natural Area. The stream rushes over granite outcrops and shut-ins, as well as sandstone and a banded crystalline rock that some geologists believe is a metamorphic gneiss rock. This is one of the few places in the state where such a diversity of rocks is exposed at the surface.
Because of Pickle Creek’s high quality and pristine nature, it has been designated an outstanding state water resource.
Hunting is prohibited.
