The Ecosystem
at Coler Mountain Bike Preserve
Coler in Bloom
The cyclical falling and filling of the Coler canopy insures new perspectives and experiences throughout the year.
In summer, the hardwood forests of the Ozarks shade these hillsides, a dense cover concealing the landscape. The trees drop their leaves in fall in preparation for the cold winter, revealing the transition between valley and hillside. In early spring, there’s a brief time before the trees leaf out when the warm sunlight reaches the ground.
Then, magic happens. These hills come alive with color as an amazing variety of blooms burst forth, including Spiderwort, Butterfly Weed, Dense Blazing Star, Kalm’s St. John’s Wort, Black-Eyed Susan, and Phlox. They must grow, bloom, fruit, and seed, before the canopy once again shades the hills. Understory trees also take advantage of this magical time. Small natives—sassafras, redbud, dogwood, and pawpaw—survive in the cooler temperatures along the creek and under the protection of larger oaks, hickories, and black walnuts.
Coler Creek
As you cross the bridge, notice that two streams converge, continuing together beneath the bridge. The water in these creeks flows from the hillsides all around—this is the Coler Creek watershed. Coler Creek is a tributary to Mckisic Creek which then flows to Little Sugar Creek.
