The focus of Hogback Prairie is a ridge with a narrow crest and steep slopes of equal gradient. Dry prairie is found on the eastern and western slopes, while oak woods and an overgrown oak savanna are found to the south. The natural area is composed of 5 separate parcels accessible by local roads. Three parcels are just north of Steuben and two parcels west of Petersburg. The prairie portion is best accessed by parking along Citron Valley Road and walking up the ridge.
The gloomy weather continued as I made my way over to “The Hogback” as The Nature Conservancy used to call it. TNC donated the land to the DNR is 2009 and of course, all traces of its existence as a TNC property have disappeared from their website, as is typical for when TNC divests itself of a parcel. The main prairie is found in the north half of the largest parcel. Several smaller parcels are included in the natural area but I have not explored them. With a light mist and enveloping fog, up the ridge I went. Prairie plants of note included wild columbine and fringed puccoon, my first sighting of the latter. With grim weather making exploring the slope a treacherous endeavor, my time here was not as long as I would have liked. A return on a sunnier day would be greatly anticipated, as was the theme for this day.
More of my photos (and full-res) from Hogback Prairie can be viewed here.
Additional Information
| SNA # | 334 |
| County | Crawford |
| Natural Communities / Geology | Ridge, Dry Prairie, Oak Woodland, Oak Savanna |
| Size (Acres) | 1192 |
| Parking | Parking Areas (gravel) |
| Trails | No |
| Easy to Find | No |
| Best Seen By | Foot |
| Marked Boundaries | No |
| Ownership | Wisconsin DNR |
| Located Within | Kickapoo River Wildlife Area |
| Dates Visited | 5.29.11 |
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State Natural Areas of Wisconsin 