Bluff Creek is another one of my favorite SNA’s and another smorgasboard of natural communities. It consists of two parcels and can be accessed via several points including a pull-off on CTH P, typically populated by fisherman, off of Hi-Lo Road (bring your rubber boots), and off of Esterly Road. The Ice Age Trail (IAT) passes through the eastern unit, providing another access route. Bluff Creek is one of 7 SNA’s in the Southern Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest and one of 27 through which the IAT passes.
I have explored Bluff Creek 3 different times from 3 different access points. Back in 2010, I explored the area of the creek itself near its intersection with CTH P. Over 5 years later, I returned to the same parcel, but approaching from the southeast through wet prairie and sedge meadow. A few months later, I made it to the eastern parcel to explore the headwaters of the creek with its morainal seeps and also visited the prairie and fen areas near CTH P again. As mentioned, the IAT does pass through the eastern parcel, though that portion is mostly forested. The IAT crosses an power-line ROW, however, which one could take northwest toward the headwaters. I have found this to be a wonderful site every time I have visited and look forward to more trips here in the future.
More of my photos (and full-res) from Bluff Creek can be viewed here.
Additional Information
| SNA # | 271 |
| County | Walworth |
| Natural Communities / Geology |
Creek, Spring, Sedge Meadow, Fen, Southern Dry-Mesic Forest, Wet-Mesic Prairie |
| Size (Acres) | 296 |
| Parking | Parking Areas (gravel), Roadside |
| Trails | Yes (partial) |
| Easy to Find | Yes |
| Best Seen By | Foot |
| Marked Boundaries | No |
| Ownership | Wisconsin DNR |
| Located Within | Kettle Moraine State Forest – Southern Unit |
| Dates Visited | 5.2.10 / 7.19.15 / 9.13.15 |
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State Natural Areas of Wisconsin 