Photo by Aarron Carlson
Within Dunnville Wildlife Area, Dunn County. T26N-R12W, Sections 9, 16, 17, 20. 633 acres.
Situated on a broad, sandy terrace of the Chippewa River, Dunnville Barrens supports a pine barrens community dominated by scattered jack pine with black oak. The scattered trees or groves are interspersed with openings in which shrubs such as hazelnuts are prominent, along with prairie grasses and forbs. The groundlayer often contains species characteristic of "heaths", such as blueberries, and sweet fern. Other characteristic plants include dry sand prairie species such as june grass, little bluestem, asters, fame flower, small green milkweed, purple prairie clover, and leadplant. Also present is an open area of river and swale topography with fairly extensive, very good quality dry mesic prairie with wet mesic swales which is being managed with prescribed burns. The herbaceous layer is quite diverse and includes big bluestem, Virginia panic-grass, Indian grass, white baptisia, cream baptisia, Michigan lily, downy gentian, prairie alum-root, western sage-wort, culver's-root, and stiff goldenrod. Dunnville Barrens is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 2010.
From the intersection of State Highway 25 and County C in Downsville, go east on C 2.2 miles, then south on County Y 3.5 miles, then go south on 580th Street about 0.9 miles into the site.
Dunnville Barrens 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]