Parrish Oak Savanna State Natural Area

Description:

Situated on a ridge of St. Peter Sandstone capped by a thin layer of Platteville dolomite, this prairie and savanna complex harbors a very diverse flora. Bedrock ledges, low cliffs, and a small pinnacle add geologic interest to the site. Sandy, dry to dry-mesic prairie occupies the steep, south-facing flank of the ridge. Prairie grasses, including little bluestem, side-oats grama, and hairy grama, are interspersed with a host of prairie forbs, including such rarities as prairie fame-flower, prairie dandelion, and upland boneset. Patches of the common prickly pear cactus attest to the thin soils and droughty conditions here. The prairie grades into bur oak savanna and dry-mesic oak/hickory woodland. More than 235 native plant species have been recorded from the natural area. Many bird species use the site, including red-headed woodpeckers and field sparrows, two species of greatest conservation need in Wisconsin. Parrish Oak Savanna is owned and managed by The Prairie Enthusiasts and was designated a State Natural Area in 2015. (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources)

608-638-1873
Moyer Road Blue Mounds WI 53517
Open daily, year-round
43.056421 -89.812488
Amenities:
  • Scenic Overlook
For information about hunting, visit The Prairie Enthusiasts website at https://www.theprairieenthusiasts.org/content.asp?contentid=191

Contact the The Prairie Enthusiasts (Empire-Sauk Chapter) at empiresauk@charter.net.

 

 

 

Local Knowledge:
The preserve is home to the Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus), a Wisconsin state special concern species.
Photos:

Directions

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