Battle Bluff Prairie

State Natural Area (No. 177)

Location: Vernon County. T11N-R7W, Section 2, 3, 4, 10. 348 acres.

Access: To access the northern bluff prairie, from the junction of Highways 82 and 35 in DeSoto, go north on 35 2.7 miles, then east on Battle Hollow Road 0.25 mile. Park along the road and walk north. To access the southern bluff prairie, continue another 0.3 mile on Battle Hollow Road. Park 50 feet west of the trailer home and garage. Walk southeast up the slope. Please remain on the signed DNR land.

Description: Battle Bluff Prairie, the site of one of the Black Hawk War battles contains southern dry forest and a south-facing dry prairie on a steep slope. The diverse prairie flora is interspersed with limestone boulders, sandstone outcrops, and a few stunted trees. More than 80 species of native prairie plants have been identified. Grasses include big and little blue-stem, side-oats grama, hairy grama, Canada wild-rye, and needle grass. Forbs include lyre-leaved rock-cress, butterfly milkweed, Illinois tick-trefoil, northern bedstraw, yellow-star grass, wild bergamot, rough blazing-star, prairie phlox, and bird's-foot violet. On the top and at the bottom the prairie gives way to forest dominated by oaks, birch, and basswood. The wind-eroded sandstone outcrops and limestone boulders contain a number of unusual plants such as cliff brake and Canada yew. The bluff rises some 480 feet to the top where one has a clear view for many miles to the south across the Mississippi River. The rapid warming of the steep, south-facing slope forms convective thermals that are well known and used by migrating diurnal raptors. Battle Bluff Prairie is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 1983.