Nature Preserves
Together with you, we protect rare plant communities, threatened wildlife species, top-notch cold-water trout streams, archeological resources, scenic beauty, and land for sustainable agriculture – many of the best features of the southwestern Wisconsin landscape. Our nature preserves provide opportunities for people to get outdoors, connect with nature and develop healthy habits of good exercise. Please review the policy, safety and trail condition notices below.
Public access
We encourage public use of the nature preserves. Visitors must follow our recreational use policy as well as all federal and state laws and local ordinances. When visiting protected lands, please be careful to avoid trespassing onto the lands of neighboring property owners.
Descriptions and maps for the individual nature preserves are further down on this page.
The trail maps include driving directions and trail descriptions for each nature preserve. Please review the Recreational Use Policy (above) when planning your visit, as the policy does include details about specific activities allowed and not allowed on specific properties.
Stay safe during hunting season
Please see our Recreational Use Policy (above) for information about hunting and trapping at specific nature preserves. We advise you to wear bright colors and be aware of the possible presence of hunters when visiting the nature preserves, as hunting is allowed on most of them (subject to state and local ordinances). Turkey hunting happens in April and May (see link below for specific dates).
Click to see the Wisconsin DNR's Fall 2024-Spring 2025 hunting season dates.
Trail condition awareness
Please be aware that hiking on muddy trails causes permanent damage to sensitive habitats. If you come upon a muddy trail, go back – don’t go around. Going around muddy spots makes trail conditions grow worse.
Support our land protection and restoration efforts today
Your support is needed to help ensure the nature preserves will be healthy and beautiful for today and forever.. Please consider a donation or become a member of our community-supported organization today.
Indigenous Land Acknowledgment
Mississippi Valley Conservancy acknowledges that we conserve land which is the ancestral and traditional home of several Indigenous peoples, including Ochethi Sakowin, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Myaamia, Kikaapoi, Wahpeton, Sauk, and Meskwaki. The Conservancy recognizes that Indigenous peoples were forced to leave this region, primarily by settlers of European heritage.
It is part of our mission to conserve land for the health and well-being of current and future generations of all people and all the life we share it with. To accomplish this, the Conservancy will recognize and respect the full history of land stewardship within Wisconsin’s Driftless Area and will endeavor to protect our common home in a collaborative, inclusive, and equitable way.
