Eureka Maple Woods

State Natural Area (No. 222)

Location: Monroe County. T15N-R4W, Section 32, 33. 36 acres.

Access: From the intersection of Highways 27 and 33 just west of Cashton, go south on Highway 27 0.2 mile, then west on Odessa Avenue 1.2 miles, then south on CTH PC 0.15 mile, then west on Oboe (Eureka) Avenue 2.7 miles to a pull-off east of the road at the bridge crossing. To avoid trespassing on private land, walk due west along the northern boundary of the agriculture field (on DNR Fishery Area land) 0.15 mile to Rullands Coulee Creek, then due south and up the slope to the natural area, crossing Timber Coulee Creek along the way.

Description: Eureka Maple Woods lies on a steep, north-facing slope above Timber Coulee Creek, a tributary of Coon Creek. The forest is dominated by small to medium sized sugar maple and basswood, along with red oak, yellow birch, white ash and red elm. Large trees are uncommon. However, the herbaceous flora is exceptionally rich, containing such uncommon plants as squirrel corn, twinleaf, Goldie's fern, narrow-leaved spleenwort, walking fern, leafcup, and adam and eve orchid. Common mesic ground layer species are abundant, providing a tremendous springtime floral display. The shrub layer is also diverse with witch hazel, leatherwood, hazelnut, bladdernut, viburnums, and dogwoods. Bird species include several species sensitive to forest fragmentation such as cerulean warbler (Dendroica cerulea), Acadian flycatcher (Empidonax virescens), ovenbird, yellow-throated vireo, American redstart, blue-gray gnatcatcher, and wood thrush. Soils are Norden loams thinly covering the steep slopes. Eureka Maple Woods is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 1989.