Photo by My Wisconsin Space
Within Roche-A-Cri State Park, Adams County. T18N-R6E, Sections 29, 30. 442 acres.
Roche-A- Cri Woods features an old-growth pine-oak forest on the sandy terrain that surrounds Roche-A-Cri mound. Canopy dominants are large white pine, white oak, black oak, red pine, and red oak. Associated species include black cherry, red maple, and big-toothed aspen. Saplings of red maple, white pine, and white oak with ironwood and yellowbud hickory are also present. The varied shrub layer contains American hazelnut, nannyberry, and prickly ash with huckleberry and early low blueberry common throughout. The diverse groundlayer contains at least 220 species including bracken fern, elliptic shin-leaf, interrupted fern, wild sarsaparilla, calico aster, Pennsylvania sedge, and spinulose wood fern. Carter Creek, a class III trout stream, meanders through the site. As the terrain drops towards the creek, the vegetation becomes more mesic with species such as ironwood, maidenhair fern, lady fern, hepatica, early meadow rue, and marsh marigold. Bordering the creek is a wet-mesic floodplain forest of silver maple, green ash, and basswood. Numerous birds use the forest including the uncommonly found Louisiana waterthrush. Other migratory bird species are eastern wood-pewee, ovenbird, scarlet tanager, indigo bunting, and rose-breasted grosbeak. Minor natural communities include dry sand prairie, northern dry forest, and oak barrens. Roche-A-Cri Woods is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 2002.
From the intersection of County Highway J and State Highway 13 in Friendship, go north on 13 2 miles to the Roche-A-Cri State Park entrance. Or continue north on 13 another 0.5 mile, then go east 0.3 mile on Cypress Avenue to a parking area south of the road.
Roche-A-Cri Woods is owned by:
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 own custom map where you can zoom to a specific location, please use the DNR's mapping application.
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. Trails, if present, are typically undesignated footpaths. If a developed trail is present, it will normally be noted on the SNA map and/or under the "Access" 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 detailed topographic map are useful tools for exploring larger SNAs.
Entrance fees: Excepting Parfrey's Glen, the Cambrian Outlook in the Dells of the Wisconsin River, SNAs within State Parks and some within State Forests, all other DNR-owned SNAs do not have any admission fee. For more information, see Wis. Admin. Code NR 45. For non-DNR-owned SNAs, we are unaware of any vehicle or admission fees. However, please contact the landowner for more information.
In general, the activities listed below are allowed on all DNR-owned SNA lands. Exceptions to this list of public uses, such as SNAs closed to hunting, are noted under the "Access" tab above and posted with signs on site.
Although a handful of sites allow activities like primitive camping (e.g. Lower Chippewa River on sand bars) or horseback riding (e.g. S. Kettle Moraine), the activities listed below are generally prohibited on DNR-owned SNAs.
For rules governing state-owned SNAs and other state lands, please consult Chapter NR 45 Wis. Admin. Code [exit DNR]