Strasser Woods State Preserve

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State Preserves

Strasser Woods State Preserve contains a 40-acre tract of forest within the city limits of Des Moines. Joseph and Elizabeth Strasser, who had owned the property since 1965, donated the woodland to the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation in 1981. The area was transferred to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources in 1982 and dedicated as a biological state preserve. Management of the preserve was transferred to the Polk County Conservation Board in 2018. 

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About the Land

Located along the southern margin of the Des Moines Lobe landform region, the preserve contains an upland forest and an old field in a bottomland. 

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Directions

  1. From the intersection of I-235 and East University Avenue (Highway 163) in the east side of Des Moines, go east on University Avenue for 2 miles to East 36th Street. 
  2. Turn north (left) and go 3 blocks through a residential area to the parking area at the end of the street (sign: Strasser Woods State Preserve).
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Plants

Upland Forest

The upland woodlands are dominated by basswood, with some bitternut hickory, red oak, American elm, and buckeye. The understory includes shrubs such as hazelnut, hawthorn, honeysuckle, common elder, and coralberry. 

The upland forest area features a good display of spring wildlflowers. Beginning as early as March:

  • Bloodroot
  • Swamp buttercup
  • Rue anemone
  • Hairy blue violet 
  • Downy yellow violet
  • Spring beauty
  • Wild ginger
  • Dutchman’s breeches
  • White troutlily
  • Solomon’s seal
  • Bellwort
  • Mayapple
  • Blue cohosh
  • Woodland phlox
  • Toothwort
  • Jack-in-the-pulpit
  • Wild geranium 

In the summer you can find: 

  • Wild leek
  • Wild yam
  • Woodland sunflower
  • Purple joe-pye-weed
  • Starry campion
  • Zigzag goldenrod 

By August, blue wood aster and elm-leaved goldenrod can be seen among the northern maidenhair fern, rattle­snake fern, and creeping fragile ferns that cover the forest floor. 

Bottomland

The grassy old field in the bottomland is partially filled with Kentucky coffee tree, box elder, American elm, silver maple, and cottonwood. 

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Visitor Information

The Four Mile Creek Greenway (featuring a bicycle trail) runs along the creek through the bottomland. Several hiking trails also run through the upland portions of the preserve. 

Other natural areas in the vicinity include Brown’s Woods, Walnut Woods State Park, Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt, Yellowbanks Park, Margo Frankel State Park, and Engeldinger Marsh.

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