Situated on a low Driftless Area ridge, Black Earth Rettenmund Prairie features a small, but intact dry-mesic prairie and harbors a rich flora of more than 80 native prairie species. Grasses include big and little blue-stem, Indian grass, northern drop-seed, purple love grass, June grass, and numerous Panicum species. Forbs include such showy species as […]
Tag: Walk
Pleasant Valley Conservancy State Natural Area
Located in the Driftless Area of southwest Wisconsin, Pleasant Valley Conservancy sits on a long narrow ridge that runs almost due east/west, with steep hillsides facing both north and south. The site contains a nearly complete range of southern Wisconsin natural community types including oak woodland, oak savanna, dry and wet prairie, sedge meadow, shrub-carr, […]
Kahl Halfway Prairie Park
Kahl Halfway Prairie Park is a 3.4 acre multi-use park with a conservancy of native plants, a scrape pond for waterfowl, and wetland habitat. Amenities include paths through the park, benches, reservable shelter, and a playing field. Owned and managed by the Town of Berry, Kahl Halfway Prairie Park is located adjacent to the Town […]
Hickory Hill Conservancy Village of Cross Plains
The Hickory Hill Conservancy, part of the Ice Age Trail Cross Plains segment, starts at the end of Hickory Hill Street in Cross Plains, where a gate crosses an access road that leads north uphill to the Hickory Hill Conservation Park. Departing from the access road, the segment enters a former agricultural field being restored […]
Lower Wisconsin State Riverway Mazomanie Recreation Management Area
The 2,300 acre Mazomanie Recreation Management Area located on the south side of the Wisconsin River Resource offers a range of wetland, open grassland/barrens and forested habitats. The area is a popular destination for pheasant and deer hunters, day hikers, birders and sun bathers at the beach. The area’s extensive network of management roads receives […]
Lower Wisconsin State Riverway Black Hawk Ridge Recreation Management Area
Black Hawk Ridge is an 835-acre area encompassing a high, steep linear ridge with a flat to gently rolling area on top. The historic Wisconsin Heights Battlefield site lies off the northern end of the ridge. Black Hawk Ridge has long been a popular destination for hiking, horseback riding and day use activities on the […]
Mazomanie Oak Barrens State Natural Area
Situated on a broad and gently undulating sand terrace along the Wisconsin River, Mazomanie Oak Barrens features a significant oak barrens remnant containing large scattered black oaks with bur oak, black cherry, and small amounts of white oak. Groves of smaller oaks occur amid sand prairie openings with species such as big and little blue-stem, […]
Mazomanie Bottoms State Natural Area
Mazomanie Bottoms encompasses a large area of Wisconsin River floodplain forest dissected by old river channels that are dry except during periodic floods. Silver maple, elm, basswood, and ash dominate the forest; other trees include swamp white oak, cottonwood, willow, river birch, and hackberry. Openings in the canopy due to elm mortality have a dense […]
Walking Iron County Wildlife Area
This 898-acre property sits between Walking Iron County Park, Mazomanie Recreation Management Area of the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway, and Mazomanie Bottoms State Natural Area, linking thousands of acres of conservation land. Turkey, pheasant, deer, cottontail rabbits, mergansers, and grebes are abundant on the property open to the public for hunting, trapping, fishing, hiking, and […]
Halfway Prairie County Wildlife Area
This 128-acre conservation area across SH 19 from Indian Lake County Park offers a two-mile loop trail for walking, trail running, and cross-country skiing. The property encompasses the former Matz farmstead and features remnants of the limestone farmhouse built around 1907 that burned down in 1949. […]
Black Earth Creek County Wildlife Area Sunnyside Unit
This 292-acre property extends from the lowlands along Black Earth Creek, a Class I trout stream, to high, glaciated ridges, encompassing mostly level and gently rolling lands. The steep hillsides support deciduous woodlands. Varied topography creates many microclimates with the potential for a diverse wildlife habitat. An uncommon ‘goat prairie’ has survived just above the […]
Blue Mound State Park
Perched atop the highest point in southern Wisconsin, 1,153-acre Blue Mound State Park offers spectacular views and unique geological features. A swimming pool is available in during summer. Over 20 miles of scenic hiking, off-road biking and cross-country ski trails, as well as a family campground, access to the Military Ridge State Trail with bike-in […]
Morton Forest County Park
Morton Forest, named after its benefactor Steve Morton, is approximately 114 acres and offers passive recreational use in a quiet and tranquil setting. The Forest is located about 2.5 miles south of the Village of Mazomanie within the Driftless Area of southwest Wisconsin, known for its steep hills and lush valleys. The park offers year-round […]
Walking Iron County Park
Walking Iron County Park and Natural Resource Area is located just west of the Village of Mazomanie in the Town of Mazomanie. Walking Iron is reached by driving from US Highway 14, north on County Highway Y, then west on Hudson Road. The 288-acre site offers miles of hiking and equestrian trails which wind through […]
Brigham County Park
This 232-acre park is named after Ebenezer Brigham, one of the first settlers in this area. The park provides a panoramic view of the Wisconsin River Valley. (Dane County Parks Department) […]