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…
Tag: Iowa County
Pine Cliff, SNA #19 (75/674)
Pine Cliff is a rare pine relict in the southern part of Wisconsin and is unusual for the presence of all three of Wisconsin’s native pine species: red, white, and jack. Located within Governor Dodge State Park in Iowa County, ample parking is available and a leisurely walk around Cox Hollow Lake will lead you…
Ridgeway Pine Relict, SNA #326 (49/674)
The steep cliffs and gorges left behind by the glaicers create a cooler microclimate that allows relict pine stands like those found at Ridgeway Pine Relict SNA to persist in the southern part of the state. This site consists of three separate parcels, though only one has a parking area. The other two involve parking…
Barneveld Prairie, SNA #405 (48/674)
Barneveld Prairie represents a small piece of the prairie and grasslands that once dominated the southwest portion of Wisconsin. Now, this SNA consists of five parcels in Iowa and Dane Counties that themselves are part of additional natural areas, or more accurately, project areas, including the Military Ridge Prairie Heritage Area, which is itself embedded…
Arena Pines & Sand Barrens (17/674)
Tall pines and sand blows compose the landscape at Arena Pines & Sand Barrens. It is a similar natural community to that present at Gotham Jack Pine Barrens just a few miles away. Here, however, the site does not have Wisconsin River frontage and its associated sand terraces. It is a rectangular parcel of land…
Avoca Prairie & Savanna, SNA #68 (14/674)
The largest natural tallgrass prairie east of the Mississippi River is found at Avoca Prairie & Savanna, just northwest of the town of Avoca and directly across the river from Gotham Jack Pine Barrens SNA. Access to the site can be interesting depending on the time of year that you go. I have travelled to…
Tower Hill Bottoms, SNA #33 (3/674)
Tower Hill Bottoms is located, appropriately enough, within Tower Hill Sate Park, one of Wisconsin’s lesser known state parks. The park is so named due to its mid-1800’s usage as a lead shot production facility. The trail to reach the top of the hill is quite steep. At the base of the hill, is a…
State Natural Areas of Wisconsin 