Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Trempealeau Mountain (No. 356)

Overview

Location

Within Perrot State Park, Trempealeau County. T18N-R9W, Section 19. 90 acres.

Access

From the intersection of State Highway 35 and Main Street in Trempealeau, go south on Main Street about two blocks, then west into Perrot State Park on South Park Road 2.6 miles to a boat launch west of the road. Access is by boat.

Description

Description

Surrounded by the Mississippi and Trempealeau Rivers, the steep-sided Trempealeau Mountain is one of only three solid rock islands along the entire stretch of Mississippi River. Standing 425 feet high, the mountain was used as an early navigational device by steamboat captains and other river travelers. The mountain is mostly wooded with black and white oak and basswood. Red oaks are found on the southeast-facing hollow with large patches of interrupted ferns while sugar maple and basswood dominate on the cooler northeast facing slopes. On dry south-facing slopes are small patches of dry prairie with big blue-stem, needle grass, side-oats grama, hairy grama, white and purple prairie-clover, prairie larkspur, and partridge pea. The mountain is rich in archeological features with numerous Native American mounds, burial sites, and habitation sites. The name Trempealeau comes from the French, “la montagne qui trempe à l’eau” meaning “the mountain whose foot is bathed in water”. Trempealeau Mountain is owned by the DNR, as part of Perrot State Park and was designated a State Natural Area in 2002.

Maps

The WDNR's State Natural Areas Program is comprised of lands owned by the state, private conservation organizations, municipalities, other governmental agencies, educational institutions, and private individuals. Therefore, while the majority of SNAs are open to the public, access may vary accordingly. Public use restrictions may apply due to public safety, or to protect endangered or threatened species or unique natural features. Lands may be temporarily closed due to specific management activities. Users are encouraged to contact the land owner for more specific details.

The data shown on these maps have been obtained from various sources, and are of varying age, reliability, and resolution. The data may contain errors or omissions and should not be interpreted as a legal representation of legal ownership boundaries.

• Detailed Map [PDF, 140 KB]

Activities

Please come prepared for your visit. Amenities vary from site to site with most SNAs being primitive and without facilities. See Guidelines for Visitation for details.

Allowable Activities

Most DNR-owned SNAs allow:

• Hiking
• Hunting
• Fishing
• Trapping
• Skiing

Some exceptions apply. Properties closed to the public or closed to specific use, such as hunting, will be posted.

***For non-DNR-owned SNAs: Additional use guidelines may apply. Please verify any use restrictions with the landowner or contact the SNA Program. Landowners may require additional permits or restrict the number of hunters at a given SNA to provide a quality hunting experience. SNA landowners can be found at the bottom of each SNA description page.

Prohibited Activities

• Horseback riding
• Rock climbing
• Vehicles, including bicycles, ATVs, aircraft, and snowmobiles except on trails and roadways designated for their use
• Collecting of plants (including fruits, nuts, or edible plant parts), animals, fungi, rocks, minerals, fossils, archaeological artifacts, soil, downed wood, or any other natural material, alive or dead

Please note that a permit is required for scientific collection and research on State Natural Areas. For more information, contact Thomas Meyer, State Natural Areas Program Specialist.

For more information on rules governing state-owned SNAs and other state lands, please consult Wisconsin's Administrative Code Chapter NR 45 (exit DNR)