Renak-Polak Maple-Beech Woods features southern mesic and wet-mesic forests on level topography just east of the Root River in Racine County. There is no recommended parking and I would not suggest the roadside due to the lack of a shoulder and narrowness of the road. Linwood Park is located just southwest and would probably be the best bet for parking, though I did not know of its location at the time of my visit.
Due to the narrow road, I was very skittish about spending much time at this site. The forest was certainly nice enough to walk through with little groundlayer to battle in the southwest portion, where I spent my time. Fall had not yet struck here in southern Wisconsin at the time of this visit, so fall colors were non-existent. The site is known for its displays of spring wildflowers, so perhaps a visit during late April-early May is in the cards.
More of my photos (and full-res) from Renak-Polak Maple-Beech Woods can be viewed here.
Additional Information
| SNA # | 95 |
| County | Racine |
| Natural Communities / Geology | Southern Mesic Forest, Southern Wet-Mesic Forest |
| Size (Acres) | 107 |
| Parking | Roadside (extremely narrow) |
| Trails | No |
| Easy to Find | No |
| Best Seen By | Foot |
| Marked Boundaries | No |
| Ownership | UW Board of Regents; More info: Wisconsin DNR |
| Located Within | n/a |
| Dates Visited | 10.2.10 |
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State Natural Areas of Wisconsin 