Rose Lake is a shallow seepage lake in Jefferson County surrounded by rich wetlands and prairie/savanna in the process of restoration. Rose Lake SNA overlaps with Dorothy Carnes County Park and vice versa. The main access point is via Radloff Lane which leads to a large parking lot and picnic area. A trailhead is also found here. Additional access is via a parking area on Jones Road on the opposite side of the lake.
Rose Lake is a great birding and spring ephemeral destination which were my initial foci when I visited here. The trails are wide and rolling on the western side of the lake but afforded me great displays of wildflowers. I also observed my first-ever purple martin near the parking area. Large bird houses provide a home for these very colorful birds. In the coming year, I plan to explore the wetland areas further, in particular the east side of the lake. These are among the areas being restored by Jefferson County, for which this site is a real gem.
More of my photos (and full-res) from Rose Lake can be viewed here.
Additional Information
| SNA # | 538 |
| County | Jefferson |
| Natural Communities / Geology |
Wetland, Prairie, Savanna, Oak Opening |
| Size (Acres) | 480 |
| Parking | Parking area (paved) |
| Trails | Yes |
| Easy to Find | Yes |
| Best Seen By | Foot |
| Marked Boundaries | Yes |
| Ownership | Jefferson County; More info: Wisconsin DNR |
| Located Within | Dorothy Carnes County Park |
| Dates Visited | 9.26.09 / 4.18.10 |
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State Natural Areas of Wisconsin 
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