Waterloo Prairie consists of four prairie parcels east of Waterloo, home of Trek bicycles. The southernmost parcel is the easiest to access with a large gravel parking area off of Blue Joint Road. A smaller parcel is just to the west and can be reached via other DNR lands between the two. A parcel to the north is accessible from a parking area on Island Road. The northernmost parcel is the one I would most like to still visit and that is found off of Highway 19.
My three visits to Waterloo Prairie have all been to the southernmost parcel. Here there are some wet areas (more depending on the season), and a few unmarked rivulets that can be a surprise as you walk. My favorite time to visit this site is autumn as the bright colors of the goldenrods and asters are wonderfully complemented by the brilliant blues of the gentians. I am eager to visit the northern parcel and its fen and am presently researching the best way to reach it.
More of my photos (and full-res) from Waterloo Prairie can be viewed here.
Additional Information
| SNA # | 63 |
| County | Jefferson, Dodge |
| Natural Communities / Geology |
Wet Prairie, Calcareous Fen, Spring |
| Size (Acres) | 220 |
| Parking | Parking area (gravel) |
| Trails | No |
| Easy to Find | Yes |
| Best Seen By | Foot |
| Marked Boundaries | No |
| Ownership | Wisconsin DNR |
| Located Within | na |
| Dates Visited | 9.26.09 / 6.12.10 / 9.20.15 |
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State Natural Areas of Wisconsin 