Page Creek Marsh features a variety of wetland natural communities surrounding Page Creek in central Marquette County. A parking area for the largest of three parcels is located off of CTH K, southwest of Montello. From there, a trail leads through the forest and to the creek. The remaining two parcels involve roadside parking.
Page Creek Marsh is a property owned by The Nature Conservancy, one of several in the general area. As the trail from the parking area wound through the forest, I was treated to my first-ever sighting of a house wren; a common bird to be sure, but still my first one and a treat nonetheless. The trail turns north and crosses the creek, offering photogenic vistas to the east and the west. Continuing north, the trail seems to end in a sandy savanna/prairie area, though it is replete with many undesirable species including butter-and-eggs and mullein. Common milkweed and hoary puccoon were the highlights in that area. Around the creek, swamp milkweed was abundant and provided nectar to several butterflies flitting about. Knowing more about wetlands than I did at the time of this visit, I would like to return and venture through the sedge meadows, fens, and bog and see what botanical treats there are to find.
More of my photos (and full-res) from Page Creek Marsh can be viewed here.
Additional Information
| SNA # | 330 |
| County | Marquette |
| Natural Communities / Geology | Northern Sedge Meadow, Southern Sedge Meadow, Creek, Lake, Oak Savanna, Fen, Wet-Mesic Prairie, Bog |
| Size (Acres) | 648 |
| Parking | Parking Area (gravel) |
| Trails | Yes |
| Easy to Find | Yes |
| Best Seen By | Foot |
| Marked Boundaries | No |
| Ownership | The Nature Conservancy; More info: Wisconsin DNR |
| Located Within | n/a |
| Dates Visited | 6.27.10 |
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State Natural Areas of Wisconsin 