Kurtz Woods
No. 169
Photo by Thomas A. Meyer/DNR
Kurtz Woods is a southern mesic forest remnant of the presettlement forest that once covered parts of all ten counties in eastern Wisconsin. The forest is dominated by sugar maple and American beech, with small numbers of basswood, white ash, and black cherry. Most canopy trees are in the 14 to a 28-inch diameter at breast height size except for some pole-sized trees along the east edge. The understory is moderately rich and contains some rare species. The woods is situated on morainal deposits of the Lake Michigan lobe of the Wisconsin Ice Age.
There are several small kettle depressions in the woods and glacial boulders are found on the forest floor. Soils are mainly of the Hockheim-Sisson-Casco complex, well-drained loamy soils formed in calcareous glacial till. Kurtz Woods is owned by The Ozaukee Washington Land Trust and was designated a State Natural Area in 1981.
Very few State Natural Areas have public facilities, but nearly all are open for a variety of recreational activities as indicated below. Generally, there are no picnic areas, restrooms, or other developments. Parking lots or designated parking areas are noted on individual SNA pages and maps. If a developed trail is present, it will normally be noted on the SNA map and/or under the Maps tab. A compass and topographic map or a GPS unit are useful tools for exploring larger, isolated SNAs.
The good majority of SNAs are isolated and have few or no facilities. Some SNAs have vehicle access lanes or parking lots, but their accessibility may vary depending on weather conditions. Parking lots and lanes are not plowed during winter. Hiking trails may be nonexistent or consist of undeveloped footpaths. A GPS unit or compass and a detailed topographic map are useful tools for exploring larger SNAs.
Non-DNR lands
Entrance fees: For non-DNR-owned SNAs, we are unaware of any vehicle or admission fees. However, please contact the landowner for more information.
Hunting and trapping
Other activities
Other allowable activities such as - but not limited to camping, geocaching and bicycling are determined by the landowner. Please contact them directly or visit their websites for details.
Location
Ozaukee County. T10N-R21E, Section 1. 45 acres.
Driving directions
From the intersection of State Highway 33 and County O in Saukville, go south on O for 1 mile, then west on Cedar-Sauk Road for 0.1 miles, then south on Knollwood Drive for 0.2 miles, then west one block on Lily Lane, then south one block on Iris Lane, then west one block on Lilac Lane, then south 1/2 block to a gravel walkway between two homes on the west side of Dahlia Lane. The access is marked with a preserve sign and kiosk.
The DNR'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. While the majority of SNAs are open to the public, access may vary according to individual ownership policies. 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 landowner 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. To create your custom map where you can zoom to a specific location, please use the DNR's Mapping Application.
Kurtz Woods is owned by: Ozaukee Washington Land Trust