Borah Creek Prairie State Natural Area (WI)

Some Driftless Drifters hiking club friends* and I recently took advantage of a guided remnant prairie wildflower walk in the Borah Creek Prairie SNA near Fennimore WI. 

Here is what Mississippi Valley Conservancy wrote about the hike:

"A rare glimpse of the rolling grassland and wildflowers that once carpeted much of this area can be seen on a free guided hike offered to the public by Mississippi ValleyConservancy(MVC) and The Prairie Enthusiasts. Gary Eldred, a founder of The Prairie Enthusiasts, and Chris Kirkpatrick of MVC will identify native grasses and flowers and show where prairie restoration efforts have created more habitat for pollinators such as butterflies and bees.

Image- Marge Loch-Wouters

Borah Creek Prairie includes 181-acres of scenic remnant grassland of the sort that was prevalent throughout the area 200 years ago. The property is a boon for native plant, bird, and butterfly enthusiasts. Grasses include big and little bluestem, Indian grass, side-oats grama, and prairie dropseed, interspersed with wildflowers such as pasqueflower, cream wild indigo, rattlesnake master, rough blazing star, yellow coneflower, bird’s-foot violet, downy gentian. Birders will be treated to a cacophony of grassland birds, including bobolinks and eastern meadowlarks. 

Borah Creek Prairie was discovered by local prairie enthusiast Gary Eldred, who noticed the abundance of native wildflowers on the site and worked with the landowner to manage the prairie with prescribed fire and invasive species control. Borah Creek Prairie was acquired with funding from the Wisconsin DNR's Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Prairie Rose
Image Marge Loch-Wouters

Partners in the permanent protection of the site include Mississippi Valley Conservancy, The Prairie Enthusiasts, Driftless Area Land Conservancy, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and the Fish and Wildlife Service."

How could we resist? 

Bushwhacking
Image- Marge Loch-Wouters

The two-hour hike took us down mowed paths and up and down the prairie where we bushwhacked right up to a wide variety of plants. Our guides identified many plants, birds, insects and grasses. Each identification included information about the insects/plants/birds and the interdependency of each species upon the other. Invasive plants were pointed as well as the ongoing efforts that are undertaken to control them.

Cream Wild Indigo
Image- Marge Loch-Wouters

The variety of plants was truly stunning. I was also struck by how Gary Eldred and other prairie enthusiasts discovered so many remnant prairies in the mid-80s. Grant and Iowa counties were experiencing a few years of drought. They discovered that the only green in the landscapes were remnant prairies and identified a number of them. 

I know I will return to this lovely prairie area again as the seasons change and new flowers take center stage. What I learned will inform my meanderings on future visits there.

Leadplant
Image - Marge Loch-Wouters

THE HIKE

I can't describe it better than MVC did in the quoted description above. The prairie remnant includes rolling hills with lovely views of the prairie and the small creek. You can wander up, down an around for hours. Prepare for bushwhacking to see the best of the wildflowers and grasses. This map provides a general outline of where you can wonder and what you may find!

Location: Borah Creek Prairie State Natural Area, 11949 Mt. Ridge Rd, Fennimore WI

From Fennimore head west on US Hwy 18. Turn left onto Cemetery Rd and right onto Mount Ridge Rd for about 3 miles. The access road into Borah Creek Prairie is on the right. Parking for 6 to 8 cars is available by the property gate. For larger events, the gate is unlocked and parking along the access road is allowed. 

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.