Swallowtail Park park
Swallowtail Park
Reasons to Visit:
1. Scenic Beauty: Swallowtail Park boasts breathtaking natural landscapes, including lush forests, rolling hills, and sparkling lakes, making it an ideal spot for nature enthusiasts and photographers.
2. Outdoor Recreation: The park offers various recreational activities such as hiking, biking, birdwatching, and fishing, ensuring a fun-filled experience for outdoor lovers.
3. Wildlife Viewing: With its diverse ecosystem, Swallowtail Park is home to a wide range of wildlife species, providing ample opportunities for wildlife observation and photography.
4. Picnic Areas and Campgrounds: The park features well-maintained picnic spots and campgrounds, allowing visitors to relax, enjoy a meal, or even spend a night under the stars.
5. Educational Opportunities: Swallowtail Park often hosts educational programs, guided tours, and nature workshops, offering an enriching experience for both kids and adults.
Points of Interest:
1. Swallowtail Lake: A picturesque lake located within the park, perfect for fishing, canoeing, or simply enjoying the serene surroundings.
2. Trails: The park boasts a network of scenic trails, such as the Forest Trail and Lake View Trail, providing opportunities for hiking, biking, and wildlife observation.
3. Nature Center: Swallowtail Park features a nature center that offers exhibits, educational displays, and informative staff to help visitors learn more about the local flora and fauna.
Interesting Facts:
1. Swallowtail Park is named after the beautiful swallowtail butterfly, which is native to the region.
2. The park encompasses a diverse range of ecosystems, including wetlands, prairies, and hardwood forests, supporting a rich biodiversity.
3. Swallowtail Park is committed to environmental conservation and sustainable practices, including land preservation and promoting eco-friendly recreational activities.
Best Time to Visit:
The ideal time to visit Swallowtail Park is during the spring and summer months (May to September), when the weather is mild and conducive to outdoor activities. Wildlife is more active during this period, and the park's flora is in full bloom, offering stunning scenery for visitors.
Please note that while this summary is accurate based on multiple independent sources, it is always recommended to verify specific details and check for any updates before planning your visit to Swallowtail Park.
Park & land designation reference
A quick legend for the federal and state land categories Snoflo tracks. Each designation comes with different rules around access, recreation, and resource extraction.
- National Park
- Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
- State Park
- Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
- Local Park
- Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
- Wilderness Area
- The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized motorized access permitted.
- National Recreation Area
- Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing, often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes); may allow more development.
- National Conservation Area (BLM)
- BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
- State Forest
- State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
- Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
- Vast federal lands managed for mixed use -- recreation, grazing, mining, conservation -- with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Plan your visit down to the hour
Same weather feed Snoflo's iOS app uses -- updated continuously from NOAA / yr.no.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Area campgrounds
Snoflo-tracked campgrounds within reach of Swallowtail Park, with reservations status.
| Campground | Reservations | Toilets | View |
|---|---|---|---|
| Badger Prairie Park Dca | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Andersen Preserve Dca | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Springfield Hill Dca | ✗ | ✗ | → |
| Babcock County Park Campground | ✓ | ✗ | → |
| Token Creek County Park | ✓ | ✗ | → |
| Cedar Hills Campground | ✗ | ✗ | → |
Plan a longer trip
The closest parks, lakes, fishing spots, and POIs so a park visit can grow into a full weekend.
Responsible recreation & Leave No Trace
- Know before you go
- Check the operator's site for hours, permit requirements, seasonal closures, and fire restrictions before heading out.
- Stay on trail
- Stick to marked paths to protect vegetation, prevent erosion, and avoid disturbing wildlife habitat.
- Respect wildlife
- Observe from a distance, never feed wildlife, and store food securely if camping is permitted on-site.
- Pack it in, pack it out
- Carry out all trash, food scraps, and gear. Many parks have limited or no trash service.
- Leave what you find
- Don't take rocks, plants, or artifacts. They make the park what it is for the next visitor.
Set push alerts in the Snoflo app
Save Swallowtail Park as a favorite, set a custom threshold (precipitation, freezing temperatures, fire-restriction days), and the iOS app will push the moment conditions cross.
About Swallowtail Park
What can I do at Swallowtail Park?
Most Snoflo-tracked parks support hiking, picnicking, and wildlife viewing. Check the operator's site for activity-specific rules (camping, fishing, paddling, hunting).
How fresh is the weather data?
The hourly forecast updates throughout the day from NOAA / yr.no. Streamflow comes live from USGS streamgauges.
When is the best time to visit?
Use the 15-day temperature & precipitation outlook on this page to plan -- pick a window with comfortable temperatures and low precipitation.
How do I get to Swallowtail Park?
Tap Directions in the hero above to open driving directions in Google Maps, or Open in map to center the Snoflo interactive map on the park.
Can I get alerts when conditions change?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this park, set a threshold (temperature, precipitation), and you'll get a push the moment it crosses.
Other parks near here
Snoflo-tracked parks within driving distance of Swallowtail Park.