Also included in the Greater Calumet Wetlands are a number of high quality prairie remnants. Prairies occur on black soil within a wide variety of soil moisture conditions and have native grassland species, such as leadplant, big bluestem, and little bluestem. Species that characterize this type of prairie include little and big bluestem, and prairie coreopsis.

Before Europeans ever came to the area, Native Americans crisscrossed the Calumet region using countless trails, including branches of the Sauk Trail and Vincennes Trace. Native Americans settled the region in villages of various sizes and in temporary campsites associated with seasonal migrations. One branch of the Sauk Trail followed Gostlin Street in Hammond and Brainard Avenue in Hegewisch, then turning north at Carondolet Avenue. This later was known as the Chittendon Trail and also as Indian Ridge. It is believed that a Native American village was once located near this trail in the vicinity of 116th and Torrence Avenue. Another major trail followed the Lake Michigan shoreline and crossed the Calumet River at the place where the 92nd Street Bridge crosses the river at present. By the time that the first Europeans came to the area, the Native American Trails were well known and well defined, so explorers, hunters, traders and others all used them. The trails were the predecessors of streets, railroad right of ways, highways, and expressways. Most diagonal streets in the Chicago which run contrary to the grid system were former Native American trails. Indianapolis Boulevard and the Chicago Skyway, South Chicago Avenue, and Brainard Avenue all are examples. 

(Article by Yolian C. and Karina C. Information from National Park Service Calumet Ecological Park Feasibility Study, 1998)