Rush Creek SNA (WI) Bluff - Guided Hike

Fringed puccoon
Image - Marge Loch-Wouters

In the second hike I was on this year sponsored by the WI Natural Resources Foundation (the first was up by the Chippewa river on the Ice age trail), a Drifless Drifter friend and I had an outstanding guided hike up WI's Rush Creek SNA (State Natural Area). This 3.5 hour, 3 mile hike had some of the steepest hiking I had ever done.

If you've ever been in the Driftless blufflands area, you have no doubt seen very steep goat prairie slopes on some of the bluffs. These unique prairies hold an incredible number of wildlife and plant life. Rare grasses and wildflowers thrive in these open, sunny and high wind areas. Trees are sparse except for hardy (and invasive) red cedar. 

Our guide Armund Bartz
Image - Marge Loch-Wouters

The Rush Creek State Natural Area near Ferryville WI is a managed wild area that features hardwood forests, goat prairie and wetlands near it's base.  Armund Bartz, a Driftless Area ecologist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ Natural Heritage Conservation program was our very informative guide. Assigned to the La Crosse station, he is responsible for the management of DNR owned State Natural Areas in a 7 county area. He provided a running commentary throughout the hike focused on the management and protection of rare species and their natural communities with a focus on remnant prairie and savanna with an eye towards management for climate resilience.

Hikes like this are integral parts of my annual training hours to maintain certification as a MN Master Naturalist volunteer. There are classroom/webinar (sit-and-get) opportunities to fulfill my CE learning. And then there are hands-on field trips guided by subject experts that add to my knowledge base - my favorite way to learn!

A  45° climb made us grateful for hiking sticks!
Image - Marge Loch-Wouters

The hike was partly off-trail, straight up the 45° prairie slope. All the while, Armund provided commentary and identification on wildflowers, grasses, wildlife, insects and herps. He also delved into the importance of and sites of prairie burns and compared areas we hiked through for the intensity of the management in opening up the landscape to return to it's original uses.

The off-trail hike up the goat prairie side of the bluff started us off. From the lush base of the bluff filled with ferns, mayapples, nettles and other spring wildflowers common to the forest, we quickly entered a prairie savanna covered in fields of sun-loving grasses and wildflowers. Brilliant orange Indian paintbrush, yellow star grass, blue-eye grass, compass plant, wood betony, cream wild indigo, fringed and hoary puccoon, bastard toadflax, prairie ragwort were just a few of the wildflowers we saw as we angled ever higher. 

Once at the top, the views were amazing
Image - Marge Loch-Wouters

The views of the river, surrounding bluffs and IA bluffs were spectacular. The pace was slow enough (the climb took most of two hours) to allow frequent observation rests and information sharing on everything Armund or we observed. Hiking sticks were the best thing to make this climb achievable.

Once up at the top, we rested and ate our lunches. We observed butterflies and turkey vultures as we ate our lunch and recovered from the challenging hike (which felt like straight up for the last 1/4 mile). 

After lunch, we followed an established trail along the ridge and slowly down an old logging road through a huge hardwood forest. On one side of the trail we saw an intensely managed area that had been burned and managed for restoration. Selective logging had been done to leave hickory, cherry, oaks and a few other hardwoods  as the dominant trees. The understory was clear of non-native invasives and underbrush. The forest floor was wide open. Sunlight filtered through. It was similar to the forests of the past that experienced burns to keep them healthy.

A managed (regular burning) forest
Image -  Marge Loch-Wouters

On the other side of the trail, the forest has been left alone. There was more forest debris, the trees were denser and bushes grew thick under the trees. It was a stark contrast between the two areas. The SNA is managed for both forest types.

An unmanaged (unburned) part of the forest.
Image - Marge Loch-Wouters

The trail ended as we traversed a small wetland area around Rush Creek back to where we started. That second half of the hike (1.5 miles) heading down is what most people hike as an out-and-back to the amazing bluff top view. I recommend it  - even without a guide.

THE HIKE

Rush Creek State Natural Area (SNA), Ferryville WI

After walking through a short section of wetland, head up a gradual-to-steep forested hike on an old logging road that brings you to the top of a ridge. From there follow a narrower trial out to the blufftop outlook overlooking a steep goat prairie on the south side. You see surrounding WI bluffs, a vast view of the Mississippi River Pool 9, sloughs,  IA bluffs and a soon-to-be-decommissioned IA power plant across the river. There is no path down the goat prairie but it can be bushwhacked. Be aware that this type of landscape is prime area for Timber Rattlers especially around rocky areas so be cautious and give them a wide berth.

Location - Rush Creek Road, Ferryville  (43.374084, -91.136755).

From WI State Highway 35 3.1 miles north of Ferryville Ferryville, go northeast (right) on Rush Creek Road. Continue for 0.5 mile to a parking area west (left) of the road. The established trailhead is across the road on the east side. Weblink map

The view from the top!
Image-Marge Loch-Wouters

* The Driftless Drifters is a member-led hiking club program sponsored through the La Crescent-Hokah Community Education Department of MN ISD 300. Begun in 2021, the group goes on weekly "under 5 mile" hikes around the Driftless area and weekly "Ambles - shorter hikes on flat surfaces for hikers looking for a slower pace. All hikes feature learning opportunities as they identify flora, fauna and fungi around the area. New members are welcome - the fee for the club is $14 /yr (July through June). Members have access to a weekly newsletter with hike locations and tips as well as additional pop-up hikes. Contact Community Ed at 507 895-5150 to join.