Kinnickinnic River Gorge And Delta

State Natural Area (No. 162)

Location: Within Kinnickinnic State Park, Pierce County. T27N-R20W, Sections 13, 14. 100 acres.

Access: From the intersection of State Hwy. 29 and County Hwy. FF just south of River Falls, go west on County Hwy. FF 5.5 miles, then north on County Hwy. F slightly less than 1 mile, then west on Cedar View Road 1 mile to the park entrance. Get a park map. Hike south into the area. A STATE PARK STICKER IS REQUIRED.

Description: Kinnickinnic River Gorge and Delta contains an undisturbed river gorge with a diversity of plant communities and features one of the finest examples of river delta in Wisconsin. The deep river valley, cut into glacial drift, sandstone, and limestone, contains dry-mesic forest on the sheltered north-facing slope and xeric oak-cedar woods and small prairie openings on the exposed south-facing slope. The steep south bank contains large beds of Canada yew and walking fern under a forest of sugar maple, ironwood, and white pine. The steep, thin-soiled slope contains hepatica, common polypody fern, walking fern and other mesic woodland plants. Dripping to dry cliffs are found intermittently throughout the valley. On the south side of the river is the Devil's Mixing Bowl - a series of cascades originating in a deep box canyon and emptying into a small pool. A spectacular example of dripping cliffs is found within this canyon. At the head of the canyon the sheer walls support a ribbon of bulblet ferns growing along a high shelf. From this shelf, water falls 10 feet to the canyon floor and down the cascades. The lower waterfall is dry except in wet seasons. Numerous mosses and lichens blanket the canyon floor. Of special geomorphologic interest is the large semi-open delta deposited by the Kinnickinnic River as it flows into the St. Croix River. The delta and river lowlands are used by waterfowl and nesting turtles. Kinnickinnic River Gorge and Delta is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 1980.