Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Great River Trail Prairies (No. 357)

Overview

Location

Along the Great River State Trail, La Crosse and Trempealeau County. T17N-R8W, Sections 14, 15, 16. T18N-R9W, Section 21. 33 acres.

Access

In La Crosse County: From the southernmost intersection of State Highway 35 and County Highway OT in Midway (north of Onalaska), go west on OT 0.6 mile to County Highway ZN, then west on ZN 1.1 miles to County Highway Z, then north on Z 3.5 miles to Lytle Road, then NE on Lytle Road 0.3 mile to its end and the Lytle's Landing Canoe Launch parking area. Walk/ride southeast along the trail into the natural area. The best prairie is located 0.7 mile southeast. In Trempealeau County: From the junction of Third Street (Highway 35) and Main Street in Trempealeau, go north on 35 0.1 mile, then northwest on Park Road 1.4 miles to the intersection of West Prairie Road (just past the cemetery). Park along W. Prairie Road and walk east or west along the recreational trail into the State Natural Area.

Description

Description

Great River Trail Prairies features two very diverse sand prairie remnants located an old railroad right-of-way. Unintentional fires started by the sparks of passing locomotives helped maintain the prairies through time. Today, management such as brushing and prescribed burning helps sustain the prairies. One of the last remnants of the Trempealeau Prairie, they feature grasses such as big and little blue-stem, and flowering plants including lead-plant, blazing-star, wild bergamot, vervain, spiderwort, hoary puccoon, prairie rose, and white sage. The prairies also harbor a healthy population of the rare clustered poppy mallow (Callirhoe triangulata). Great River Trail Prairies is owned by the DNR as part of the Great River State Trail 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, 198 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)