Gasner Hollow Prairie features a dry prairie and oak savanna on a bluff overlooking several sloughs of the Mississippi River. It is located in Grant County, just south of Wyalusing State Park, wedged between CTH X and Gasner Hollow Road. Parking is a bit easier on the latter which is much less travelled, but there is a bit of scrambling up the initial slope to get and a brushy hike to get to the top.
I think this site has a lot to offer, perhaps more at another time of the year and perhaps with a little TLC. Most of the site is wooded and without attention the savanna will become a forest and the prairie will eventually disappear. Flowering species observed include prairie phlox, wild columbine, wild geranium, and inland New Jersey tea. Bald eagles and turkey vultures soared on thermals above the bluff and the river below. Tundra swans were observed gracefully following the river downstream. The views were very nice and would have certainly been nicer with a few less clouds. I would certainly like to return to this site for another exploration.
More of my photos (and full-res) from Gasner Hollow Prairie can be viewed here.
Additional Information
| SNA # | 261 |
| County | Grant |
| Natural Communities / Geology | Dry Prairie, Oak Savanna |
| Size (Acres) | 137 |
| Parking | Roadside (gravel) |
| Trails | No |
| Easy to Find | Yes |
| Best Seen By | Foot |
| Marked Boundaries | No |
| Ownership | Wisconsin DNR |
| Located Within |
n/a |
| Dates Visited | 5.28.11 |
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State Natural Areas of Wisconsin 