Explore the Door Hike 

Ephraim Preserve at Anderson Pond

Evening "Spring Peepers" Frog Hike

The vernal pond at the Ephraim Preserve teems with wildlife.  Come celebrate the return of spring to the chorus of "spring peepers!"  at the Land Trust's smallest preserve located right in the heart of Ephraim.  Bring a walking stick and flashlight but we will do our best to acclimate to the darkness and plan to be back to our cars before total darkness.  Wear sturdy footwear. The hike will be held in light rain but not heavy showers or thunderstorms. Dress accordingly.

WHEN:  Thursday, May 8, 7pm to 8:30pm.  Hikes begin promptly, so please be on time.

WHO:  Free and open to the public

WHAT:  90-120 minute hike with stops along the trails

WHERE:  Ephraim Preserve at Anderson Pond.  Meet at the parking lot at the Ephraim Historical Society.  Please park at Anderson Dock or at the Historical Society.  We wil lwalk up to the preserve area together.

REGISTER:  Click the "Register Now!" button below.  Attendance is free.  Registration is limited to 24 participants and spaces fill quickly, so please register early.  If you are unable to attend, please call us so we may offer the opportunity to another hiker.  Call us at (920) 746-1359.

WHAT TO BRING & WEAR:  Please dress for the changing weather.  Waterproof shoes and a walking stick may be helpful.  A flashlight may come in handy too!

Register Now!

If registration fills, please sign up for our waiting list.  Add your name to the Waiting List.

Ephraim Preserve at Anderson Pond

In the heart of a busy village, the Ephraim Preserve at Anderson Pond is a quiet refuge of wetlands, fields, forest and escarpment. The history of this preserve is intimately connected with that of Ephraim. In 1853, Rev. Andreas Iverson, a Norwegian missionary, arrived at Eagle Harbor with his small congregation. Struck by the beauty of the densely forested wilderness, Iverson and his congregation established a tiny village named Ephraim. Despite sickness, crop failure, isolation and bitterly cold winters, the villagers persevered. Others joined them, including a hard-working Norwegian named Aslag Anderson. In 1858, Iverson and Anderson entered into an agreement that Anderson would build a deep-water pier for the village. In exchange, Iverson sold him 110 acres of land at its original cost—$1.15 per acre. Anderson completed the pier the next year as well as a house, barn, and general store. He then cleared land around a pond for farming.

That pond and its surroundings are now the Ephraim Preserve at Anderson Pond. What was once a farm now provides shelter for migrating and nesting birds. Wildflowers bloom in the spring, and magnificent trees stand on portions of the land that were never cleared. A craggy section of the Niagara Escarpment cuts across the eastern edge. As a nature preserve, this historic land retains its connection with the Anderson family name and will forever remain a place of beauty and solitude.