Summer’s Best Driftless Prairie Hikes

Sugar Creek Bluff prairie

Let's celebrate National Prairies Day on Saturday June 6! And what better way to celebrate than hiking one of the many prairies in the Driftless regions of MN, WI and IA? Check the following list of over 30 prairie hikes to find some new spots to explore and enjoy.

The prairies listed feature fairly flat, dry sand prairies that are easily accessible for gentle hikes, to blufftop prairies remnants you earn with a significant gain in elevation, to goat prairies that are extremely steep and challenging. 

Summer is the very best season to enjoy these gems, many of which are maintained and restored by groups like the Mississippi Valley Conservancy, The Prairie Enthusuaists and the Friends of the Blufflands, Park and Rec Departments and Friends groups among others. There are many familiar as well as rare plants you can enjoy. 

Here are a few of my favorite prairie hikes to celebrate the summer in. You can click on the title for hike descriptions/locations. I've also graded the hikes on level of difficulty so you can match the destination to your ability.  

Goat/Hill Prairies

Hixon Forest Prairies, La Crosse WI - moderate to difficult

A literal  prairie "string of pearls," on this hike take you to numerous goat prairies (and spectacular views) in various stages of restoration thanks to TPE, Friends of the Blufflands and the city. You can reach the closest three prairies by doing a 2.3 mile loop or extend the hike to reach Vista and Stry prairies to the east. The hiking to the first three prairies has some ups and downs but is relatively moderate.

"String of Pearls"prairies in yellow
City of La Crosse Park and Recreation map

Great River Bluff State Park, Nodine MN - moderately easy

The King's Bluff trail is notable for its fine hill prairies along its route. From pasque flowers in the early spring all the way through the asters of fall, the prairies here never disappoint. Restoration work is ongoing at this state park and SNA. And, of course, the views of the Mississippi River and Queen's bluff at the end of the out-and-back trail are worth the price of your MN annual park sticker. 

Marowski Bluff, Ferryville WI - moderate to difficult
Recently acquired and protected by The Prairie Enthusiasts, this steep bluffside prairie is being actively restored by their Coulee Region chapter. A kiosk with information about the property and its donor, Dr. Marowski greets the public at a small cul de sac. The prairie and encircling woods features a large number of plants. While there are no signed trails, for the wandering prairie enthusiast, there are treasures to be found along its steep slopes.

Sugar Creek Bluff, Ferryville, WI - moderate

This Mississippi Valley Conservancy property features a steep restored and carefully maintained prairie at the end of an out-and-back forest walk of about a 1.5 miles. Spectacular views of the Mississippi River and MN bluffs along with a rich prairie environment await. 

Rush Creek Bluff SNA, Ferryville WI - very challenging

You earn this goat prairie after a steep hike up an old logging road. Those in the know can also walk south from the parking lot and bushwhack up from the bottom  - the lower third of the hike up the south esast side of the bluff is full of rare and amazing prairie plants. Not for the faint of hear or body.

Perrot State Park - Trempealeau WI - moderate to difficult

Brady's bluff trail takes you through a large steep goat prairie south of the shelter at the top. Flowering spurge is quite prominent but sharp-eyed hikers will spot other prairie stalwarts on the steep slope. 

Dry Sand Prairies

Kellogg Weaver Dunes SNA
Image - MN DNR

Kellogg Weaver Dunes SNA, Wabasha County, MN - moderate

Have your trails app on and explore this trailless series of sand dunes near the Mississppi River. Your reward is sightings of rare flora, fauna and insects throughout the growing season - including the elusive fameflower. There are patches of poison ivy throughout so stay alert but don't let that stop you from exploring this amazing ecosystem.

Holland Sand Prairie, Holmen WI  - easy

This Mississippi Valley Conservancy property near the edge of a subdivision is a riot of prairie plants. Regular prescribed burns make this tract one of the best destinations for frequent return trips to see the constant carpets of ever-changing, blooming prairie plants. Easy.

Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge, Trempealeau WI - easy

While best known for it's migratory birds and wetlands, the refuge has a spectacular trail that hugs a series of old sand dunes and is a riot of dry sand prairie forbs and grasses. The hills in late May to early June are carpeted in blue wild lupines but any time in the summer you can find colorful prairie plants on this flat trail suitable for any ability. 

Upper Mississippi River National Fish & Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, Onalaska WI - easy

Located at N5727 County Rd Z, Onalaska, WI on Brice Prairie, the "trails begin at the visitor center and wind through a restored sand prairie. Paved pathways lead from the visitor center to the Lake Onalaska Overlook, connecting to longer packed gravel loops along the way. Plenty of native prairie plants provide year round color and are a-buzz with wildlife from late spring through fall. Outdoor restrooms are available year round." This is always a beautiful and well-maintained prairie. 

Borah Creek Prairie SNA, Fennimore WI - moderate to challenging.
This sand prairie in southwest WI stretches over acres. There are few trails but walking right into the prairie itself reveals an ever-changing variety of forbs, grasses, birds and insects.

Bluff-top Mini-Remnant Prairies

These lovely little jewels are a reward at or near the top of bluff hikes. While small, they are stunning in their variety, full of rare and familiar native plants. They are seldom burned or maintained so can be overgrown but are rewarding for the welcome pops of color when coming out from forest trails. These hikes can sometimes be difficult due to steep elevation changes.

• Vetsch Park's Stoney Point, La Crescent MN - moderately difficult

Vetsch Park's remnant prairie

• South Park, Houston MN - difficult

• Maglessen Bluff - Rushford MN - easy from park top

• Beaver Creek Valley State Park , Hole-in-the-Rock Trail- Caledonia MN - moderately difficult

• Yellow River State Forest, Luster Heights Unit - Harper's Ferry, IA - easy

• Yellow River State Forest, Paint Rock Unit - Harper's Ferry, IA - moderately difficult

• Greens Coulee/Savannah Oaks, Onalaska WI - difficult

• Eagles Bluff, La Crescent MN - moderate

• Wildwood Trail, Bluffside Park - Winona MN - easy

• Chickadee Trail, Bluffside Park, Winona MN - easy

• Reno Quarry Trail - Reno, MN - moderate

• Whitewater State Park (especially Dakota Trail and Eagle Point trails), Altura MN - difficult

Open Prairies

These prairies are fairly large and found at or near the top of bluffs.

• Easter Road Hass Conservancy, La Crosse WI - moderate to difficult

• Upper Hixon Forest Thompson Prairie Loop - County FA, La Crosse WI - easy

• Effigy Mounds National Monument, Harper's Ferry, IA - moderate to difficult

• Norwegian Ridge Nature Trail, Spring Grove MN - moderate

• Apple Blossom Overlook Park, Winona MN - moderately easy

Pollinator Gardens

I am including some planted "pollinator gardens" because they boast a stunning variety of prairie forbs, grasses and pollinating insects - and a few provide more accessible hikes for all abilities.

Community Prairie and Butterfly Garden - Decorah IA - easy

This city butterfly garden and prairie was originally planted in 2002 to protect water quality on the Upper Iowa River.  Start at the butterfly garden to learn what's in bloom and observe pollinators close-up. Then head into the expansive prairie to put your new forb knowledge to the test. There are 2 miles of mowed trails under Decorah's limestone cliffs, making it a lovely summer walk at whatever length and path you choose.

Vetsch Park, La Crescent MN - easy

A huge swath of pollinator plants (and insects) greet you at the parking lot of this park. You can follow the easy, sunny, mowed trails suitable for anyone of any ability. If you want to see a small remnant hill prairie, head up the spiderweb of trails to the top at Stoney Point for delicate wildflowers and prairie plants clinging to the hillside.

Mathy Quarry, La Crosse WI - easy

This Mississippi Valley Conservancy and City of La Crosse property has some great restored pollinator prairies full of insect and bird life. Trails can be hilly but one or two are flatter and bring you up to great views on your way to and from the pollinator prairies.

Lemon cuckoo bumblebee
gathering pollen on a coneflower

Shelby Butterfly Gardens, Shelby WI - moderate to difficult

These scout-project gardens sit atop a bluff. While not continuously maintained and so are a bit rough with some invasives, there are still abundant flowers and insect life that await you at the end of your bluff climb.

Lake Park Walk Pollinator Gardens, Winona MN - easy

Along the north shore of East Lake, there are a number of shoreline pollinator gardens with a variety of native prairie flower blooms from spring to fall. The paved asphalt makes this path accessible for any ability.

Whitewater State Park, Altura MN - easy

The Meadow Trail (first parking lot on your left if coming in from the south) has a robust sand prairie combined with stream views and rock wall views as you cross footbridges and wander this area. Very easy and flat.

I hope you can head out and enjoy some prairie beauty this summer and fall. Be sure to let me know in comments what other prairies you know about. I'd love to hike them and tell everyone. To read more about remnant prairies, please stop here.

See you on the trails!

[Note: this post is an updated list of prairie hikes originally published June 6, 2025 ]

Images, unless noted - Marge Loch-Wouters

Holland Sand Prairie
Image - Kris Lawson

You can read my quarterly column on seasonal hiking suggestions in Inspire(d) Driftless Magazine available online or pick up a free copy at businesses and organizations around the Driftless areas of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa.

Great River Bluffs (MN) State Park - King’s Bluff Trail

Black-eyed Susan on the prairie

Minnesota's Great River Buffs State Park is an all-season wonder with many trails. The Kings Bluff Ovelook Hiking Club trail is a definite must if you are in the La Crescent/La Crosse area. You can do it as a 2.5 mile out-and-back hike that is perfect for hikers of almost all abilities. Or you can lengthen your hike by hiking the many trail loops connected to it through pine forest, prairie, wetlands and woods.

The trailhead

 

The hike starts at the first parking lot on your left after you pass the Welcome Center at the park's edge. A trailhead sign and a sign reminding you that this is timber rattlesnake country start you on your way. 

Pines early in hike

The main trails heads straight into an old pine plantation with a couple of connector trails with maps along the way. You will eventually come to a main intersection with a bench and trail map just slightly to your left. Head down this trail to earn the reward at the end!

Hiking through the woods

On this .75 mile part of the trail, you will pass through a beautiful hardwood forest that has abundant ephemerals in spring, mushrooms in the summer and expansive views through the trees in the winter. There are informational signs along the way that highlight the restoration work going on. Near the end of the trail you pass by a park border marked with signs and descend slightly before making your final short climb to the King's Bluff Overlook and its surrounding prairies and bluffs.

Cylindrical blazing star

To the west, from the first Pasque flowers in spring through the asters of fall, the restored goat prairie is awash in flowering forbs and grasses. Pollinators are in evidence and during nesting season you may hear/spot bluebirds near the bluebird boxes. To the east, you get a magnificent view of the backside of neighboring Queen's Bluff, a special scientific area (sorry, no hiking there).

At the overlook

You also see the Mississippi River and it's sloughs against the backdrop of the Wisconsin bluffs that hem it in. A bench lets you drink in the views and you will find your Hiking Club password nearby.

The Kings Bluff trail in blue from the Great Rivers Bluff State Park map

THE HIKE
A lovely rolling, fairly easy (52 ft in elevation gain) 2.5 mile out-and-back hike that can be done by hikers of most abilities. The highlights include a lovely prairie and spectacular views of surrounding bluffs and the Mississippi River. The hike can be extended additional miles by exploring the many loop trails that branch off the main trail and from across from the parking lot into meadows and bluffside trails that explore a good portion of the park and its overlooks. 

The Location: 43604 Kipp Road, Winona MN

Conveniently located about a mile or two off Interstate 90 off the Nodine exit, turn north off the exit and right on Apple Blossom Drive. Look for the park sign and take a left at Kipp road. Follow it from the asphalt onto the gravel road. Less than a mile from the Welcome Center there is a parking lot on your left. Pit toilets are available at the Welcome area, picnic  and campground areas around the park.

Additional posts describing Great River Bluffs State Park:

• Great Rivers Bluff State Park

Looking for more area hikes? Please stop by the web version of the blog and under the "Labels" tab on the right hand side of the blog, click on "find-a-hike". There are over 70 hike descriptions and lists of hikes to try!

A glimpse (through wildfire smoke) of Queen’s Bluff

Images - Marge Loch-Wouters

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Sugar Creek Bluff State Natural Area (WI) Hike

A view from the top of the overlook

While this Mississippi Valley Conservancy property (MVC) is a wonderful short amble, it would be a disservice not to include it's potential as a great hiking spot as well!

The trail out to the prairie

The mowed trail from the parking lot off North Buck Creek Road in Ferryville WI is a quick 1.5 mile out-and-back hike to an overlook on rolling hills - the elevation gain is relatively slight.  You can increase your mileage by exploring further down and around the prairie slopes. During the growing season, the flowers, grasses, pollinating insects and songbirds are abundant.

The trail  takes you through a ridgetop forest that is festooned with wildflowers and the songs of migrating birds in the spring. It leads out to a spectacular overlook and goat prairie at the end. Summer and fall are the best times to enjoy the ever-changing colorful prairie plants along its steep sides. Any time of year is a great time to stop at the overlook and see the Village of Ferryville along the Mississippi River below and the Iowa bluffs across the river.

Down in the prairie
looking up towards the overlook

A huge, steep goat prairie fans out below the overlook. A faint path goes out into the prairie to progressively lower elevation rock outcroppings. Hiking sticks and care are important here. There are many rocks as you explore and they can be tippy and trippy. Also, as in any Driftless blufftop hiking, be aware that you are in timber rattlesnake territory. Be alert and respectful.

A burn circle from restoration work

The results of MVC restoration work on the prairie, in the woods and at the entrance are clear. A huge tree planting by volunteers 2-3 years ago greets you at the small parking lot. As you walk the woods trail, you will also see burn circles where invasives and dead ash trees have been removed and burned. 

The prairie looking toward Ferryville

The prairie has been consistently cleared of red cedar along with other woody invasives and prescribed burns have helped bring out a plethora of prairie forbs and grasses. On a late June hike through the woods and tramp up and down the steep prairie slopes, I spotted tall hairy agrimony, grooved flax, self-heal, Joe Pye weed, tall boneset, purple prairie clover, white prairie clover, wild bergamot, grey-headed coneflower, purple coneflower, tall cinquefoil, leadplant, hairy sunflower, white heath aster, woodland sunflower, false sunflower, wrinkle-leaf goldenrod, flowering spurge, big bluestem, little bluestem, bottle-brush grass, sideoats grama, lady fern, hoary vervain, American germander, whorled milkweed and Virginia mountain mint.

If you like a little prairie slope scrambling and hiking, this is a wonderful place to enjoy a true prairie remnant with a vibrant flowering season of native prairie plants and their pollinating insects. And if you like great views, anytime of the year is a great time to hit this trail.

Bloodroot in the spring

THE HIKE
A short, one way .75 mile hike through woods brings you to a great goat prairie overlook above the Village of Ferryville, the Mississippi and Iowa bluffs. Head down into the prairie slopes to access progressively lower rock outcroppings and huge swaths of blooming prairie flowers and grasses during the growing season. Bring hiking stick(s) and be cautions on the steep, rocky slopes. Return by the same trail for a minimum 1.5 mile hike (or more if you wander and climb the slopes of the prairie).

The Location -North Buck Creek Road, Ferryville WI. Heading south on Hwy 35 from La Crosse, turn left on N. Buck Creek Rd about a mile and turn left into the small parking lot by the MVC kiosk.

Looking for more area hikes? Please stop by the web version of the blog and under the "Labels" tab on the right hand side of the blog, click on "find-a-hike". There are over 75 hike descriptions and lists of hikes to try!

Images - Marge Loch-Wouters

Additional posts describing Sugar Creek Bluff:

• Sugar Creek Bluff Amble

Catching the Prairie Bug

While we are celebrating prairies during National Prairie Day (first Saturday in June), I thought it would be helpful to re-visit and update a past post (originally published in July 2024) about prairie ecosystems in the Driftless.

For people who know me, it's no surprise that I've "caught the prairie bug." Two years ago, as part of my MN Master Naturalist training hours, I went on a guided hike sponsored by The Prairie Enthusiasts and the Friends of the Blufflands. That hike - to see three prairie remnants in the "string of pearls" prairies in upper Hixon Forest in La Crosse  - absolutely ignited my passion for these amazing fire-dependent ecosystems. 

The Driftless area is home to many remnant prairies nestled at the tops of bluffs, steeply dropping along the southwest bluff slopes and on the dry sand prairies surrounding the Mississippi River.  During the summer, these lovely prairie remnants are alive with native flowers, grasses, pollinators and other insect and wildlife. Each visit throughout the summer months is a feast of beauty and discovery. 

Looking down at the steep restored Lookout Prairie,
 a goat prairie at Hixon Forest
Image - Larry Sleznikow

Sand prairie wild lupines 
Trempealeau (WI) Wildlife Refuge

There are two main types of prairies in the Driftless area. They are both fire dependent ecosystems. 

Goat prairies - also known as hill, dry or bluff prairies - are what you often see on blufftops or steep south, southwest-facing slopes.  The steepness leads to the name - so steep only the goats could use it. 

Sand prairies are found on sand deposits surrounding the Mississippi River, especially in the La Crosse and Prairie du Chien areas of WI, MN and IA.

Heading up Rush Creek (WI) goat prairie

Our Driftless prairie remnants are thousands of years old. How did they survive the influx of agriculture that swept through the places where Europeans colonized? 

Many of the goat prairie remnants made it because they were too steep to be farmed or grazed, had very few trees and were very dry. In fact, during a time of drought in the last twenty years, prairie seekers were able to identify additional remaining remnants by driving along looking for green areas in the drought-stricken Driftless. Those green places were often dry sand and goat prairies where the plants thrived in those conditions. 

Up until the last two hundred years or so, these fire-dependent ecosystems were the dominant feature of the Driftless area. 

Looking at historic drawings from the 1800's, one sees the tall grass prairies of the southwest-facing slopes of the bluffs with occasional scrub oaks rather than the heavily forested bluffs of today. The only forests tended to be on the north slopes. Frequent fires set by indigenous people or produced naturally kept the prairies open and free of woody plants. Once settlers came in and fires were suppressed, the forests took over these habitats.

Note the unforested bluffs

Watercolor of ‘Wabasha’s Village on the Mississippi River

Painted ca.1845 by Seth Eastman. Photo: MN Historical Society

Source: The Driftless: the land and the humans. February 1, 2021

The loss of burning to control woody plants has resulted in ever-shrinking remnants. One of the most pernicious woody plants is red cedar (sometimes referred to as the "green glacier") which is tenacious and spreads broadly across the remnants that are left. In order to have a healthy prairie, removal of trees like red cedar and prescribed burning on a regular basis is necessary. 

The burning also allows new growth of healthy flowering plants with the newly open soil. Grasses and thatch build up before a burn. After burns, flowering forbs can emerge with new vigor, continuing to strengthen the diversity of the remnant.

Today, less than .01% of these original prairies are left. They store carbon and the deep-rooted plants hold the soil. These remnants are a wild mix of rare native grasses, flowers and abundant prairie-dependent insect and wildlife. It's estimated that there are over 100 plants that are unique to these prairie ecosystems and over 1000 insects that are dependent on prairie plants. So each saved prairie remnant is a biodiversity celebration.

Here on the right are just a few of the lovely prairie forbs that show this rarity and diversity. 

Clockwise from left: Lead plant is an indicator of a healthy prairie. They can live to be up to 100 years old, with deep roots.

The narrowleaf milkweed and whorled milkweed are two of many milkweed species that can be appreciated.

Mountain death camus is named for it's toxicity to humans and livestock.

The small Leonard skullcap is a delicate, incredibly intricate 1cm flower found on short stalks - they are  easy to miss and a delight to find.

The original prairies had topsoil that was on average 15" deep - or more. They were literally "old-growth sod," as Jon Rigden has referred to them. The deep-rooted native forbs and grasses anchored the soil and their breakdown built it as well. When converted to agricultural uses, the many farmed areas eventually eroded to a mere 2-3" of topsoil. 

My very first "aha" learning moment on this came during my MN Master Naturalist volunteer training. We were learning the history of the Whitewater MN area bluffs area. The destruction of the steep bluff slopes occurred when prairies were replaced with farm fields. Neither wheat nor corn roots could hold the slopes. The erosion was massive and the run-off choked the river.  Occasional floods became so frequent that the community of Beaver MN was basically flooded out and lost its population and economic base. No one would buy existing properties. The state of MN came in and bought the land and it eventually became part of Whitewater State Park and Wildlife Management Area. 

Above is a graphic on the floor of the Visitor Center at Whitewater (MN) State Park. It compares the root length of native prairie forbs and grasses with agricultural plants (the two on the left). The long native plant roots hold the soil on steep slopes far better than crops.

We are fortunate to have so many people concerned with prairie restoration. Thanks to groups like The Prairie Enthusiasts (TPE), Friends of the Blufflands, Mississippi Valley Conservancy and other conservation- and restoration-minded groups, individuals and agencies, these amazing remnants are being restored and maintained in many places in the Driftless. Prescribed fires, invasives control and removal (buckthorn, red cedar, honeysuckle, black locust, roundleaf bittersweet are among the invasives), seed saving and broadcasting and carefully planned forest management in surrounding forests done by these groups have created a strong archipelago of prairies throughout the blufflands regions. 

They are always looking for volunteers to help, so please contact them or consider joining their organizations.

A lush prairie full of grasses, forbs, pollinators - and people!
Hixon Forest's Zoerb Prairie

For additional information, stop by for a listen to WDRT, Viroqua's community radio station Conversations show with TPE's Jim Rogala and TPE/Friend of the Blufflands Jon Rigden from June 5, 2025. They explore the concept of prairies and the work of the Prairie Enthusiasts and Friends of the Blufflands. This conversation finds its way into this post as well. Thank you Jim and Jon!

For a list of suggested summer prairie hikes to help you catch the prairie bug, please stop here.

Images, unless noted - Marge Loch-Wouters

 Brownsville Bluff (MN) in May
Image - Kris Lawson

It’s Prairie Hiking Season!!

Zoerb Prairie, Upper Hixon Forest

Now that we've officially entered the summer season, I start to say goodbye to the riot of spring ephemerals in the woods. They are beginning to fade and die back and their variety and blooms will lessen as temperatures rise. They have been replaced by the vibrant greens of the summer forest floor.

Luckily, we are fortunate to live in a region with many prairies of various kinds - from fairly flat, dry sand prairies that are easily accessed to hike, to blufftop prairies remnants you earn with a significant gain in elevation to goat or hill side prairies that are extremely steep and challenging.

Here are a few of my favorite prairie hikes to check out as we get ready to celebrate National Prairies Day on Saturday June 7. You can click on the title for hike descriptions/locations.

Goat/Hill Prairies

Hixon Forest Prairies, La Crosse WI - moderate to difficult

A literal  prairie "string of pearls," on this hike take you to numerous goat prairies (and spectacular views) in various stages of restoration thanks to TPE, Friends of the Blufflands and the city. You can reach the closest three prairies by doing a 2.3 mile loop or extend the hike to reach Vista and Stry prairies to the east. The hiking to the first three prairies has some ups and downs but is relatively moderate.

"String of Pearls"prairies in yellow
City of La Crosse Park and Recreation map

Great River Bluff State Park, Nodine MN - moderately easy

The King's Bluff trail is notable for its fine hill prairies along its route. From pasque flowers in the early spring all the way through the asters of fall, the prairies here never disappoint. Restoration work is ongoing at this state park and SNA. And, of course, the views of the Mississippi River and Queen's bluff at the end of the out-and-back trail are worth the price of your MN annual park sticker. This has some hilly sections but is considered moderately easy.

Norwegian Ridge Nature Trail, Spring Grove MN - moderate

A great spot for birding and and woods walk, there is also a large prairie that you can walk through with abundant flowers and grasses. There are a few climbs along the trails but they are broken up by gorgeous scenery and many birdsongs. 

Appleblossom Overlook Park, Winona MN - moderately easy

This county park just 2 miles north of La Crescent is a former apple orchard. While it has forested areas and views, it also features a large swath of restored prairie pollinator plantings on the southwestern half of the trails. Butterflies and dragonflies abound on this slightly hilly trail along with prairie forbs and grasses. 

Perrot State Park - Trempealeau WI - difficult

Brady's bluff trail takes you through a large steep goat prairie south of the shelter at the top. Flowering spurge is quite prominent but sharp-eyed hikers will spot other prairie stalwarts on the steep slope. 

Dry Sand Prairies

Holland Sand Prairie

Holland Sand Prairie, Holmen WI  - easy

This Mississippi Valley Conservancy property near the edge of a subdivision is a riot of prairie plants. Regular prescribed burns make this tract one of the best destinations for frequent return trips to see the constant carpets of ever-changing, blooming prairie plants. Easy.

Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge, Trempealeau WI - easy

While best known for it's migratory birds and wetlands, the refuge has a spectacular trail that hugs a series of old sand dunes and is a riot of dry sand prairie forbs and grasses. The hills in late May to early June are carpeted in blue wild lupines but any time in the summer you can find colorful prairie plants on this flat trail suitable for any ability. 

Upper Mississippi River National Fish & Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, Onalaska WI - easy

Located at N5727 County Rd Z, Onalaska, WI on Brice Prairie, the "trails begin at the visitor center and wind through a restored sand prairie. Paved pathways lead from the visitor center to the Lake Onalaska Overlook, connecting to longer packed gravel loops along the way. Plenty of native prairie plants provide year round color and are a-buzz with wildlife from late spring through fall. Outdoor restrooms are available year round." This is always a beautiful and well-maintained prairie.

Borah Creek Prairie SNA, Fennimore WI - moderate to challenging.

This sand prairie in southwest WI stretches over acres. There are few trails but walking right into the prairie itself reveals an ever-changing variety of forbs, grasses, birds and insects.  

Bluff-top Mini-Remnant Prairies

These lovely little jewels are a reward at or near the top of bluff hikes. While small, they are stunning in their variety, full of rare and familiar native plants. They are seldom burned or maintained so can be overgrown but are rewarding for the welcome pops of color when coming out from forest trails. These hikes are usually difficult due to steep elevation changes

South Park's goat prairie, Houston

• Vetsch Park's Stoney Point, La Crescent MN - moderately difficult

• South Park, Houston MN - difficult

• Maglessen Bluff - Rushford MN - easy from park top

• Beaver Creek Valley State Park , Hole-in-the-Rock Trail- Caledonia MN - moderately difficult

• Yellow River State Forest, Luster Heights Unit - Harper's Ferry, IA - easy

• Yellow River  State Forest, Paint Rock Unit - Harper's Ferry, IA - difficult

• Greens Coulee/Savannah Oaks, Onalaska WI - difficult

• Wildwood Trail, Holzinger Trails - Winona MN - easy

• Reno Quarry Trail - Reno, MN - moderate

• Whitewater State Park (especially Dakota Trail and Eagle Point trails), Altura MN - difficult

Bluff-top Flat Prairies

These prairies are fairly large and found at the top of bluffs.

• Easter Road Hass Conservancy, La Crosse WI - moderate to difficult

• Upper Hixon Forest Thompson Prairie Loop - County FA, La Crosse WI - easy

Pollinator Gardens

I am including some planted "pollinator gardens" because they boast a stunning variety of prairie forbs, grasses and pollinating insects - and a few provide more accessible hikes for all abilities.

Eastern tiger swallowtail

Vetsch Park, La Crescent MN - easy

A huge swath of pollinator plants (and insects) greet you at the parking lot of this park. You can follow the easy, sunny, mowed trails suitable for anyone of any ability. If you want to see a small remnant hill prairie, head up the spiderweb of trails to the top at Stoney Point for delicate wildflowers and prairie plants clinging to the hillside.

Mathy Quarry, La Crosse WI -easy

This Mississippi Valley Conservancy and City of La Crosse property has some great restored pollinator prairies full of insect and bird life. Trails can be hilly but one or two are flatter and bring you up to great views on your way to and from the pollinator prairies.

Shelby Butterfly Gardens, Shelby WI - moderate to difficult

These scout-project gardens sit atop a bluff. While not continuously maintained and so are a bit rough with some invasives, there are still abundant flowers and insect life that await you at the end of your bluff climb.

Lake Park pollinator gardens

Lake Park Walk Pollinator Gardens, Winona MN - easy

Along the north shore of East Lake, there are a number of shoreline pollinator gardens with a variety of native prairie flower blooms from spring to fall. The paved asphalt makes this path accessible for any ability.

Whitewater State Park, Altura MN - easy

The Meadow Trail (first parking lot on your left if coming in from the south) has a robust sand prairie combined with stream views and rock wall views as you cross footbridges and wander this area. Very easy and flat.

Identifying prairie flowers- Hass Conservancy
Image - Kris Lawson

I hope you can head out and enjoy some prairie beauty this summer and fall. Be sure to let me know in comments what other prairies you know about. I'd love to hike them and tell everyone. To read more about remnant prairies, please stop here.

See you on the trails!

All images, unless noted - Marge Loch-Wouters

I Spy on the Trails - August 1-15, 2024

A riot of native flowers in the wetlands
of Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge

This has been the nicest two weeks in August that I think I have ever lived through. Relatively low humidity; a bit of rain here and there; temps in the 70s and 80s and fine cool nights. Combine that with some great Perseid meteor showers and a glimpse or two of faint northern lights and it felt perfect.

Prairies have been my main jam again over these two weeks. The current theme is overwhelmingly yellow on the prairies with goldenrods, partridge peas, cup plants, compass plants, coneflowers and various sunflowers. Blazing stars, though, are just beginning their big splash; in the coming weeks, they will add their bright pinky-purple to the mix. 

As always, older and earlier bloomers are going to seed and seed collection is underway in earnest from the early summer natives. I had a chance on August 6 to gambol around on Mound Prairie SNA gathering a couple of different seed types with Sara Holger (aka the Driftless Naturalist) who was gathering for the DNR. It was easy and fun. These are great stewardship opportunities especially on prairies. Check this DNR site for upcoming seed collection opportunities coming in fall or the Sept edition of Let's Get Hiking and Learning in this blog (published the last week of August)..

Found one!
Holland Sand Prairie

While on the seed collecting trip, I ran into a summer staffer for the Nature Conservancy who was doing a butterfly survey at Mound Prairie SNA. We both noted, "Where are the butterflies?" On her two-day survey she counted very few. In my trips to the prairie throughout the summer that has been my experience as well. In acres of native plants favored by butterflies, they are a rare sight. Bees on the other hand are out in force. The buzz along the trails is audible and they are pollen gathering in a frenzy. I take some comfort in the fact that I am seeing lots of butterflies in native plantings around my community - and in my yard!

We will be seeing fewer butterflies from now through the fall because they are beginning their fall southward migration.  If you read this in time, the Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge is hosting a program about their migration tonight, August 16 at 6pm. Stop here to read about it and register! 

Plants Observed

Appleblossom Overlook Park - prairie/ hardwood forest

• Culver’s root

  

  A dewy morning flower
  Appleblossom Overlook Park

• Cup plant
• Compass plant
• Rattlesnake master
• Blackcaps
• Dense blazing star
• False sunflower
• Anise hyssop
• Grey-headed coneflower
• Wild bergamot
• Showy tickseed trefoil
• Round leaf bushclover
• Wild white indigo
• Stiff goldenrod
• Tall goldenrod
• Canada goldenrod
• Virginia mountain mint
• Spiderwort
• White panicled aster, pre-bloom
• Brown-eyed Susan
• Big bluestem
• Smooth brome

Mound Prairie SNA - hill prairie 

• Grooved flax

  

  Cylindrical blazing star
  Mound Prairie SNA

  
  
• Cylindrical blazing star
• Rough blazing star
• Wood betony
• Tall thimbleweed, past bloom
• Purple prairie clover, past bloom
• Wild bergamot
• Round leaf bush clover
• Hoary vervain
• Harebell
• Stiff goldenrod
• Tall goldenrod
• Spotted bee balm
• False sunflower
• Fewleaf sunflower
• Grey-headed coneflower
• Starry false Solomon’s seal
• Canada goldenrod
• Grey goldenrod
• Prairie goldenrod
• Downy painted cup
• Flowering spurge
• Partridge pea
• Big bluestem

Holland Sand Prairie-dry sand prairie 

• Hoary vervain

  

  A surprise in August - a hoary puccoon
  Holland Sand Prairie

  
  
• Spotted bee balm
• Poppy mallow
• Hoary puccoon
• False sunflower
• Fewleaf sunflower
• False boneset
• Wild bergamot 
• Rough blazing star
• Common milkweed
• Roundhead bush clover
• Hairy aster, pre-bloom
• Yarrow
• Evening primrose
• Hoary puccoon
• Blue grama grass
• Big bluestem grass
• Yellow Indiangrass
• Purple love grass
• Hairy hawkweed
• Side oats grama
• Early goldenrod
• Stiff goldenrod 
• Narrow leaf four-o’clock
• Partridge pea
• Yellow salsify
• White sagebrush

Whitewater State Park -hardwood forest, wetlands, hill prairie

• Slender lip fern

  

  White and purple deceiver mushroom
  Whitewater State Park

• Maidenhair fern
• Lady fern
• Interrupted fern
• Bulblet bladderfern
• Evening primrose
• False sunflower
• Fewleaf sunflower
• Wild bergamot
• Rough blazing star
• Tall goldenrod
• Narrowleaf hawkweed
• White rattlesnakeroot
• Sideways grama grass
• Big bluestem grass
• Canada wildrye grass
• Jewelweed
• Grooved flax
• Cutleaf coneflower 
• Grey-headed coneflower

  

  Zig-zag goldenrod
  Whitewater State Park

  
  
• Small-flowered leafcup
• Sweet Joe-Pye weed
• Yellow giant hyssop
• Tall thimbleweed
• Purple prairie clover
• False Solomon’s Seal, post-bloom
• Bloodroot, post-bloom
• Coral fungi
• White and purple deceiver mushroom
• Ghost pipe
• Golden oyster mushroom
• Pinewood gingertail mushroom
• Chicken of the woods mushroom
• Downy yellow violet, past-bloom
• Zigzag goldenrod
• Elmleaf goldenrod
• Early goldenrod
• Stiff tickseed
• Tickseed trefoil
• Tall cinquefoil, past-bloom
• Devil’s darning needles
• Harebell
• Flowering spurge
• Whorled milkweed
• Smooth blue aster
• Roundhead bushclover
• Late boneset
• Leadplant

Raymond Bice County Forest - coniferous and hardwood forest

• Spotted bee balm

  

  A bee on spotted bee balm
  Raymond Brice County Forest

  
  
• False sunflower
• Self-heal
• Rough blazing star
• Hoary verbena
• Leadplant
• Old field balsam
• Gray goldenrod
• Butterfly weed
• Black-eyed Susan
• False Solomon’s seal
• Braken fern
• Lady fern
• Roundhead bushclover
• Purple lovegrass
• Yarrow
• Flowering spurge
• White snakeroot
• Grooved flax
• Meadow hawkweed
• Harebell
• Sweet Joe-Pye weed
• Ghost pipe

Trempealeau Wildlife Refuge - hardwood forest/wetland/dry sand prairie

• Spotted bee balm

  

  Common mullein's beautiful flower - 
  Who knew?!?!
  Trempealeau Wildlife Refuge

  
  
• Poppy mallow
• Bergamot
• Hoary Verbena
• Partridge Pea
• Swamp milkweed
• Common milkweed
• False sunflower
• Black-eyed Susan
• Brown-eyed Susan
• Cup plant
• Sensitive fern
• Marsh fern
• Eggs-and-butter (yellow toadflax)
• Prairie cordgrass
• White sagebrush
• Purple prairie clover
• Stiff sunflower
• American white water lily
• Common evening primrose
• Common prickly ash

  

  American water lily
  Trempealeau Wildlife Refuge

• Guelder-rose bush
• Gray dogwood
• Arrowhead viburnum
• Great blue lobelia
• Tall thimbleweed, past bloom
• Roundleaf bittersweet
• Canada goldenrod
• Purple loosestrife
• Swamp loosestrife
• Flowering spurge
• Leafy spurge
• White meadowsweet
• Tall boneset
• Water smartweed
• Giant chickweed
• Prairie ironweed
• American wild mint
• Mullein
• Calico aster, pre-bloom
• Jumpseed
• Jewelweed

Wildlife (seen, hear, detected)

• Green heron

  

  Great blue heron
  Wagon Wheel Trail

• Great blue heron
• Sandhill crane
• Barred owl
• Pileated woodpecker
• Downy woodpecker
• Hairy woodpecker
• Red-bellied woodpecker
• Bell's vireo
• Eastern kingbird
• Baltimore oriole
• Brown thrasher
• Indigo bunting
• Common yellowthroat
• Cedar waxwing
• American robin
• American goldfinch
• Gray catbird
• Rose-breasted grosbeak
• Great breasted flycatcher 
• Red-winged blackbird
• Song sparrow
• House sparrow
• Field sparrow
• House wren
• Hummingbird
• Bluejay
• Eastern wood pewee

  

  Pearl Crescent butterfly
  Trempealeau Wildlife Refuge

• Northern Cardinal
• White-breasted nuthatch
• Brown thrasher 
• American toad
• Painted turtle
• Tiger swallowtail
• Twelve-spotted skipper
• Eastern forktail damselfly
• Black digger wasp
• Black blister beetle
• Monarch butterfly
• Pearl Crescent butterfly
• Black swallowtail butterfly

What are YOU noticing on your hikes?

Two weeks of hikes:

Hikes below in bold color or underlined have links to previous posts with descriptions/location of the trails

Appleblossom Overlook Park, La Crescent MN (2); Holland Sand Prairie, Holmen WI (2); Mound Prairie SNA, Hokah, MN; Whitewater State Park*, Altura MN; Raymond Bice County Forest, Mindoro WI; Upper Hixon Forest Prairies trail, La Crosse WI;, Wagon Wheel Trail, La Crescent MN; Riverside Park and International Gardens, La Crosse WI; Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge, Trempealeau WI.

Getting all the pix
Image -Nola Larson

* Enjoy this marvelous description of ALL the trails at Whitewater State Park from the Nature Impacts Us blog and website

The "I Spy on the Trails" column is a phenology (the study of seasonal changes in plants and animals) journal to chronicle year-round the weather, plant life and wildlife I observe while hiking. It is very useful in helping me compare observations from year-to-year. The column is published monthly from September through April and then twice-a-month from May through August when warm weather brings the natural world back to vibrant life.   

Images, unless noted - Marge Loch-Wouters