Carpenter Nature Center's Wisconsin Nature Preserve is 300 acres of wooded land and restored prairie with hiking trails running through it. The preserve is located slightly more than four miles south of the city in the Town of Troy. Walking through the preserve is a great way to connect with nature and experience the land in much the same way that early settlers did. Near a trailhead there is a small shelter that displays information about the plants and wildlife one is likely to see while walking the trails. The Carpenter Nature Center is based in Hastings, Minn.