Pecatonica River Woods features several southern Wisconsin forest types including southern mesic, southern dry-mesic, southern dry, and floodplain forest along a stretch of the Pecatonica River.  A gravel pull-off in front of a DNR access gate is found on the east side of the river as it cross CTH A in Iowa County.

I feel that I haven’t really caught this site at the best time.  One visit was in July and the other in September.  I think that spring and late fall visits would be more photographically appealing.  That said, it is an interesting location with more area to explore than I have seen so far.  It is easy to focus on the river as you walk along the path from the gate.  In the summer, this area will be thick with nettles, so be aware.  The forest on the eastern side of the river, where most of my time has been spent, was rather unremarkable during summer and early fall.  There were numerous large-flowered trilliums in fruit during September, suggestive of a nice floral show earlier in the spring.  American bellflower is abundant as well.  In the fall, asters and goldenrods dotted the landscape between the river and the forested slope.  I will try and make it back here in concert with the two Belmont sites, which are located not too far away.

Pecatonica River

Forest

Goldenrod

American Bellflower

Forest

Insect

Pecatonica River

Pecatonica River

Eastern Comma

Forest

Wild Mint

Gate & Sign

More of my photos (and full-res) from Pecatonica River Woods can be viewed here.

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