Soapweed Yucca (Yucca glauca)

This plant is found all throughout the Midwest, up to Montana down through Texas. Many animals rely on Yucca for food and shelter, and even nesting sites for birds. One common animal you might see near one is a black-tailed jack rabbit. Native Americans had many uses for the Yucca. Flowers/fruits were for medicinal purposes and dye while stalks were used for baskets, ropes and brushes. The Yucca gets its name because it was used for soap as well. Root systems can reach up to 25ft into the ground.

Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoides)

The Cottonwood has been the State Tree for Kansas since 1937. They can live up to 100 years and survive well on the plains. The tree has adapted to brush fire by growing close to streams and rivers and by growing thick bark. Many birds utilize the Cottonwood for nests, including eagles, owls and hawks. Beavers also chew off branches to use for building dams. The tallest Cottonwood in KS is 96feet tall and is located in Sheridan Co.

Take a REST!

Nature will always be a wonder to us as each organism works together to form a perfect ecosystem. Ahead of you, we have an area that floods when the lake levels rise, abundantly filling with wildlife like plants, beavers, ducks, fish, and other animals that rely on the water for life.

The American Beaver (Castor Canadensis), builds dams along the banks of streams and rivers. They are the largest rodent in Kansas and can weigh up to 60 pounds. Ahead of you there may be a dome shape made of logs, which could be an active beaver dam.

Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus )

Native to Europe and Asia, this plant has been considered an ecological threat because of its rapid growth which can overtake native plants. Common Mullein is also known as Wooly Mullein because of its velvet-like petals. The stalks can grow up to 10 feet tall that produce a yellow flower. When over crowded by other grasses, the plant will die and leave behind a dried stalk, which you can see birds resting on most times.

Enjoy a walk on the trail to observe native plants, wildlife, and the geology of the canyon. The .95 mile (one way) trail follows Bison Creek, which once watered buffalo and the wild horses. Numbered posts along the trail correspond to numbers in the Buffalo Tracks Canyon brochure which is available at the park office, information shelters, gatehouses and local vendors.

Common Cattail

(Typha latifolia)

Cattails are found in most bodies of water, including rivers, ponds, marshes or lakes. Their roots , called Rhizomes, embed themselves in water. The thick, brown cylinder holds the seeds, which fluff out to carry seeds long distances when released. They are edible and were used for baskets, pillows, and glue by Native Americans. Many animals rely on cattails for food or shelter including deer, muskrats, and turkeys. The most commonly associated animal would be the

Red-Winged Black Bird (Agelaius phoeniceus) which can be seen perched on top of the stalks. There are four different types of Cattails found in the U.S. Here on the Coyote Trail we have two different types, which can be distinguished by the number of heads on the stalk.