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Ernie Miller
Park and Nature Center
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Ernie Miller Nature Center
- Photo by Jim Mason |
A beautiful, relaxing spot, Ernie Miller
Park, on the west edge of Olathe, was created to
heighten awareness of the natural world. The nature
center has many interesting interpretive displays, including a stream
aquarium and a bird-feeder court with butterfly and hummingbird
gardens. A large meadow area between the nature
center and the entrance road is ablaze with wildflowers. |
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Outside, the Bittersweet
Nature Trail, Ridge Trail, and Old South Trail are walking paths which
allow you to meander along streams and through riparian and oak-hickory
woodlands and native prairie. |
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Big and little bluestem, switchgrass, Indiangrass, and numerous species of
wildflowers are found in the prairie. The woodlands include American elm, hackberry, black
walnut, bur oak, bittersweet, sumac, and buckbrush. Mammals sighted year-round are
white-tailed deer, eastern cottontail rabbits, woodchucks, raccoons, gray squirrels, and
fox squirrels. In summer, five-lined skinks and slender glass lizards can be seen
scampering and slithering through woodland debris. Many species of sparrows and warblers
migrate through the area in the spring and fall. Nesting varieties include warblers,
vireos, thrushes, thrashers, swifts, and swallows. Rough-legged hawks are frequently
observed in the winter, as are black-capped chickadees, tufted titmice, American
goldfinches, and dark-eyed juncos.
 | Visitor center, Restroom, Picnic shelter. |
 Camping not allowed.
 Old South Trail
(1.75 miles); Ridge Trail (0.75 mile);
Bittersweet Nature Trail (0.33 mile,
handicapped-accessible)
Click the icon to find a birding list for Johnson County.
Click the icon to locate nearby Geocaches
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Directions:
From 1-35 travel west on Santa Fe through Olathe to K-7. Travel north about 1.5
miles. The entrance is on the west side of K-7.
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Ownership:
The entity responsible for management of Ernie Miller
is Johnson
County Parks & Recreation. If you have specific
questions about use or management of the site, contact them at (913) 764-7759.
113 acres
Click here to visit their web site.
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Click here for a brochure! |
©2007
Kansas Nature-Based Tourism Alliance
Re-publication of site content in any form other than for personal use
requires written permission.
This web site is underwritten by the Kansas
Department of Wildlife and Parks through the Chickadee Checkoff Program. If you are
a Kansas resident, please assist with this and other wildlife viewing and conservation
programs by contributing to the Chickadee Checkoff on your state tax form. |
Questions or comments about Natural Kansas may be directed to Jim Mason
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