Oshkosh-Larsen Trail Prairies

State Natural Area (No. 155)

Location: Along the Wiowash State Trail, Winnebago County. T19N-R16E, Sections 7, 8, 17. T20N-R16E, Sections 31, 32. 7 acres.

Access: From the Wiowash State Trail crossing at County Highway G in Allenville, hike/bike the trail north or south. Segments can also be accessed at town and county road crossings.

Description: Oshkosh-Larsen Trail Prairies features a series of three low prairie remnants along a 4-mile segment of a former railroad right-of-way. The prairie contains a diversity of native prairie species. Grasses include little blue-stem, Indian grass, prairie drop-seed, and prairie cord grass. Forbs include heath aster, shooting-star, sunflowers, blazing-star, downy phlox, rattlesnake root, mountain mint, compass plant, prairie dock, Riddell's goldenrod, downy gentian, stiff gentian, and valerian. The wet-mesic prairie remnants are especially noteworthy because of their location at the northeastern edge of the prairie-oak savanna region in Wisconsin. Oshkosh-Larsen Trail Prairies are owned by Winnebago County and designated a State Natural Area in 1980.