Fall Pack Goat Picnic Hike

Slow down and spend an afternoon on the farm with two of our gentlest residents.

This October, our Pack Goat Hike comes with lunch. Your private group sets out on a 90-minute self-led hike with Aristotle and Socrates, our pack goats, who carry your gourmet picnic and non-alcoholic drinks in their packs.

The trail winds through our prairie and around the farm's lake. Halfway around, you'll reach the Pack Goat Station, a rest stop on the far side of the water with a picnic table and a hitching post. Unpack your lunch, relax by the water, and enjoy the company of your goats. After your picnic, follow the loop back to the trailhead, leaving no trace and returning on time.

Every hike plants a butterfly garden

All proceeds from our October Pack Goat Picnic Hikes go toward a new butterfly garden on the farm.

Beside our gravel parking lot, there’s a patch of land overlooking the lake that has gone unused for a long time. We’re turning it into a garden for pollinators and people, with native flowers and shrubs, a walking path, a deer fence, and an American-made metal butterfly bench built to last outdoors. It will be free to visit whenever the farm is open, and easy to reach for visitors with a range of mobility needs.

As you walk the lake loop with Aristotle and Socrates, look across the water. That’s where the garden is going.

Our butterfly garden Kickstarter launches October 15 and runs for 30 days at prairiefruits.com/kickstarter.

Meet your trail companions

Socrates is the talkative one, with the long, floppy ears of his Nubian dad. His half-brother Aristotle is quieter, a little shy, and easily won over with an apple tree branch. They're calm, curious, and used to walking alongside guests.

What's included

• Two pack goats fitted with packs

• A gourmet picnic with non-alcoholic beverages

• Goat leads and a guidebook for the trail

• Use of the Pack Goat Station by the lake

• 90 minutes reserved for your group

Pricing and group size

$60 per person, picnic included

Each reservation is for a private group of 4 to 6 guests.

One adult is required for every child present.

Before your hike

Please arrive 15 to 20 minutes early to check in at the farm store, and to add wine or beer to your packs if you'd like. Outside food and drink are not permitted. Wear comfortable shoes for walking on grass and gravel trails, and dress for the weather.

Good to know

Parking is available in the gravel lot, with ADA parking south of the farmhouse. Photos may be taken for social media and marketing. Let our team know if you'd prefer not to be photographed.