Wildflowers abound on threatened dunes

The hoary puccoon blooms each spring on the Kenosha Dunes.

Kenosha Dunes Trail aerial map.
Click map for larger version.

Day hikers can explore a disappearing sand dune that boasts several unique wildflowers in southeast Wisconsin.

But visit soon. The Kenosha Dunes and the 1.9-mile lollipop trail running through it may not be there for long.

To reach the trailhead, from the junction of Wis. Hwys. 32 and 50, take the former south. Go left/east onto 75th Street then right/south onto Third Avenue. When the avenue reaches the roundabout, turn right/southeast into a parking lot.

Take the paved trail south. Upon reaching the sand dunes, the trail skirts the dunes on the right/west and Lake Michigan on the left/east.

Ice age dunes
The dunes sit at the north end of Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area, the most intact coastal wetland in southeastern Wisconsin and among the state's largest prairie complexes.

The stabilized dunes were created during the last ice age. As glacial Lake Michigan receded, wave and wind pushed lake sand and glacial till into dunes. As grasses took root on the new ground, what used to be under water became a ridge and swale.

The dunes are rapidly disappearing, though. Storms that produced extreme waves and higher lake levels are quickly washing away the sand down to the clay base that is Lake Michigan's lakebed. At some spots, up to 100 feet of dunes has disappeared since 2016, and scientists predicted they could be entirely gone by the middle of this decade.

At about 0.75 miles, the trail swings right/west through the dune's southern edge. Multiple footpaths head through the area that allow to go into the dunes.

Spring wildflowers
The dunes provide habitat for a number of wildflowers. During spring and early summer, look for puccoon, wild onion, ladies tresses, white fringed orchids, bird's-foot violet, marsh marigold, and shooting star.

Hoary puccoon's yellow-orange, five-petaled flower is a half-inch wide. They form a cluster about 2-3 inches wide atop a stem that is vaguely in the shape of a question mark. Native Americans used its roots to make a red dye. Puccoon is found throughout Wisconsin.

Wild onion, also known as prairie onion, yields a miniscule pink to rose flower that's a mere quarter- to half-inch wide. They form a round cluster about 1-2 inches wide atop a single, straight stem that can reach two feet high. The flower is so named because it smells like an onion, but it actually is a member of the lily family. It grows in all but the state's northern quarter.

Shining lady's-tresses blooms from late May through early July. Its oblong white flowers bloom along a tall, grass-like stem. The plant is found in only one other Wisconsin county.

Orchids, violets
White fringed orchids bloom in early June through late July. The tiny, half-inch wide pearl white to cream flowers have a petal with fringed edges. Clusters of 10 to 20 flowers grow atop each stem. They are found mainly in southeast Wisconsin.

Also at the dunes is bird’s-foot violet. Colored pale to deep purplish blue, it is about 1.5-inches across and has five petals with the lower ones wider than the top ones. The flower’s center is orange. Unlike the wood violet, the bird’s-foot’s flower stands above its leaves. Bird’s-foot is a host plant for the Fritillary butterfly and mainly found in the southern part of the state.

Preferring marshes, fens and wet woodlands, marsh marigolds are a harbinger of spring, blooming here April through May. The round, bright yellow flower can be up to 1.5 inches wide. Each flower has five to nine petals that turn upward to form a shallow cup. The marigold plant grows 1-2 feet high and can be found all across Wisconsin.

The shooting star is another common prairie spring wildflower. Growing between 10-20 inches tall, up to five flowers can appear per stalk. Each flower has fived backward-curved purple petals rising out of a yellow center. Euro-American settlers called them “prairie pointers.” They mainly are found in the southeastern part of the state.

Summer, fall flowers
In mid- to late-summer, a whole new array of flowers bloom on the dunes. Among them are rattlesnake master, tall prairie blazing-star, black-eyed Susan, and coneflowers in mid-late summer.

Rattlesnake master yields a tiny, white to purplish, five-part flower. They form branched clusters of quarter-inch to inch-wide round balls. They are found in southern Wisconsin and a couple of northern counties.

The tall prairie blazing-star, also known as gayfeather, also blooms in summer. Growing 2-5 feet tall, it offers a spiky purple cluster of flowers. The spike can grow up to 18 inches tall and is loved by deer and butterflies. It grows in the southern third of the state.

Black-eyed Susan blooms in summer and fall. Its large 2-3 inch wide flowerhead consists of 10-20 brilliant yellow daisy-like petals and a brown, button-like center. It grows 1-3 feet high. Goldfinches and house finches love the plant. It’s also a host for the caterpillar of the black and orange silvery checkerspot butterfly. Black-eyed Susans thrive all across Wisconsin.

Yet another set of flowers bloom in fall. Among them are gentians, goldenrods and asters.

Erosion solution?
In around 0.95 miles, the sand trail curls right/north. The dunes are now on the right/east with a swale on the left/west.

With intervention, the dunes may yet survive. One proposal calls for building an artificial reef structure offshore. That would slow the waves before they hit the dunes, greatly reducing erosion.

At about 1.61 miles, the sand trail arrives back at the sidewalk. Go left/northeast onto it and return to your vehicle.

Due to the erosion, be aware that access to the trail and dunes can be limited at times.

Wildflowers abound on old pine forest trail

Declined trillium grows along the Hemlock Trail.

Hemlock Trail topo map.
Click map for larger version.

Day hikers can see what Wisconsin once looked like – towering white pines with wildflowers galore below them – at Mt. Pisgah Hemlock-Hardwoods State Natural Area.

The 1.4-mile Hemlock Trail runs through an area that escaped the lumberjack’s ax when much of the state’s great pineries were clearcut during the late 1800s. The state natural area is located within Wildcat Mountain State Park.

The trail consists of a dirt surface with leaves or pine needles often covering it. Best of all, the route is shaded most of the way.

To reach the trailhead, from Ontario take Wis. Hwy. 33 south. In 2.5 miles, turn right/southwest onto a park road heading to the Lower Picnic Area. In 0.6 miles, the road comes to the picnic area; park there. The trailhead is near the picnic area’s bulletin board.

The trail follows the Kickapoo River. It’s a popular section of the river to float down and for good reason – a number of interesting sandstone cliffs line the river canyon.

Towering pines
If the rock formations don’t wow you, the 400-year-old white pine certainly will. They are truly enormous, with some of the tree trunks measuring six feet as they soar 15 to 20 stories high. White pine like these once covered the state, and this is one of the few spots left where they remain.

Along the trail, several wildflowers usually are in bloom during the first two weeks of May. Among them are wild ginger, showy orchids, declined trillium, Virginia bluebells, bloodroot, Jack-in-the-pulpit, and skunk cabbage.

Wild ginger dots the hillsides. The flower is a brown to green, though sometimes red, tube about one- to two-inches long. It usually blooms between two leafstalks on the ground, as it relies on ground-dwelling insects, like beetles, to pollinate it. Though the leaves smell like ginger when crushed, this is not the plant that bears the spice used in cooking. The plant is found throughout Wisconsin.

Showy orchids offers beautiful flowers. Its purplish-pink two petals and three sepals form a hood that sits above two white petals, all about an inch long. Several flowers grow on a single stem. The plant mainly thrives in the state’s southern half.

Other wildflowers
Declined trillium usually blooms April-May on the forest floor. Its white flowers are three-parted and about 1.5-inches wide. The flower typically grows on a stem just above the leaves at an angle. The plant can be found in the Driftless Area and southern Wisconsin.

Virginia bluebells, also known as Virginia cowslip and longwort, sport a flower that starts pink but changes to light blue or purple. Each flower consists of five petals that fuse to form an inch-long bell-shaped tube known as a corolla. Bluebells are found in the southern half of the state, but a related species grows along Lake Superior.

Among the first of the wildflowers to bloom on the hillsides in spring is bloodroot. Sometimes it pops up from soil that has just thawed. It sports a large white flower, about 1.5 inches wide, with 8-10 petals and a yellow center. The red orange juice in its stem has been used over the centuries as a dye and an insect repellent. It grows all across Wisconsin.

Skunk cabbage is another of the earliest wildflowers to bloom in spring, and can actually melt the surrounding snow and ice. It prefers wet areas, so look for it in depressions. Its flower is shaped like a shell and usually brown to purple, though it also can be a quite attractive yellow, that grows three- to six-inches tall. Unfortunately, it has gives off a strong odor of carrion, which attracts insects who then unwittingly pollinate flowers. Skunk cabbage is found in the southern half of the state.

Jack-in-the-pulpit’s erect two- to three-inch long flower sits inside a green or purple hood at the top of a single stalk. American Indians cooked its below ground stem as food, so it’s sometimes referred to as Indian turnip. The plant contains calcium oxalate crystals, however, so no part of it above ground is edible, as it causes a burning sensation in the mouth.

Mt. Pisgah
After the river bottoms, the trail climbs to the summit of Mt. Pisgah, which tops out at 1152 feet above sea level. The last several feet to the summit are switchbacks.

Near the top, during early June look for broomrape, also known as cancer root, poking through oak leaves on the forest floor. A threatened plant, its blooms in June. Its purplish flowers are cup-shaped and half-inch to a full-inch long. Several flowers will bloom in a cluster on a spike rising out of the ground. Broomrape is a parasite that attaches itself to other plants’ roots.

An observation post sits atop Mt. Pisgah, some 450 feet above the river. While there are some good views of the river valley below, high trees block some of the sightlines. Be sure to look up – eagles nest in the area and often fly near the bluff.

East loop
Heading down the east side of the loop are a couple of interesting plants.

Partridge berry is a trailing vine that in late spring sports a fuzzy four-petaled white flower. It produces red berries with two spots on them. The plant can be found throughout Wisconsin and is quite common in eastern North America forests.

Chicken of the Woods fungi also is abundant here. The bright orange fungi grow in shelves. Look for them on oaks.

Be sure to wear hiking boots and carrying a trekking pole, as sometime parts of the trail wash out after a good rainstorm. In May 2019, the eastern side of the loop was closed after a storm.

Saguaro NP trails offer wildflower viewing

The saguaro bloom makes for a showy display.

Several Saguaro
National Park trails deliver on wildflower displays during spring and following a summer rain. The west district’s flowers bloom sooner than the east side’s due to warmer temps and lower elevations.

Among the trails to explore are…

Cactus Wren Trail
At 1.5 miles, the trail crosses crosses rolling plains and dry washes near the Tucson Mountain (West) district’s western edge, offering visitors a picturesque landscape of towering saguaros, prickly chollas, vibrant palo verde trees, and mesquite. The trailhead is at the Signal Hill picnic area. You can complete a 4-mile loop be going on the Manville Trail, which circles back around to reconnect with the Cactus Wren.

Desert Discovery Nature Trail
Nestled within the west district, the 0.4-mile long lollipop trail is conveniently located just north of the Red Hills Visitor Center on N. Kinney Road. The trail is paved and flat, making it perfect for hikers of all abilities. In addition to wildflowers, take in the breathtaking views of the Tucson Mountain on the horizon as you amble along this trail with your furry friend in tow (as long as they’re leashed, of course). Along the way, keep your eyes peeled for informative signs that detail the desert ecology around you.

Desert Ecology Trail
A number of flowering plants can be found on the 0.3-mile lollipop trail in the park’s eastern Rincon Mountain district just off of popular Cactus Forest Drive. The wide, paved trail loops through the desert, following the Javelina Wash part of the way. Barrel cactus, chain fruit cactus, creosote, mesquite, palo verde, prickly pear cactus, teddy bear cholla, and of course saguaro line the route. It’s an excellent walk for young children to experience and learn about desert ecology.

Douglas Spring Trail to Ernie’s Falls
The 6.6-mile round trip starts on the Douglas Spring Trail, heading through the bushy grassland of the higher desert elevations in the east district. At the four-way junction, go right/north on the Ernie’s Falls Trail. Saguaros, prickly pear, mesquite, agave, pin cushion cacti and cholla are common the trail. During the rainy season, expect an abundance of flowers. The area around the waterfalls will be particularly verdant.

Freeman Homestead Trail
Located in the park’s eastern Rincon Mountain district, the Freeman Homestead Trail traverses a beautiful yet also inhospitable desert. The 1.1-mile trail is a walk through a classic Sonoran desert landscape of cholla, prickly pear and barrel cactus with barren mountain ranges lining the horizon. The best season to hike the trail is March through May when temperatures are pleasant. Summer will be unbearably hot and winter potentially cool. Many desert plants bloom in April and May, making for a colorful view. The trail is off of Cactus Forest Drive; park at the Freeman Homestead Trail parking lot on the road to the Javelina Picnic Area.

Ridge View Trail
The Ridge View Trail in the Rincon Mountain (East) district is a great choice for a short and rewarding hike. Just 1.1 miles long with an elevation gain of 330 feet, it offers a scenic route that climbs gently up through a bushy valley before veering slightly steeper over rocky terrain up to a ridgetop viewpoint where hikers can admire the sweeping south face of Tanque Verde Ridge. The wildflower season usually peaks in mid to late spring, making this trail gorgeous at that time of year, but it’s suitable for any season. A variety of cacti and aged saguaros can be found along the route. With convenient access from the Loma Alta trailhead on the park’s southern edge, far away from the main entrance off Old Spanish Trail, this quiet area makes an excellent location to experience nature at its best.

Spot spring’s first flowers on trail segment

Marsh marigolds line the Plover River bottoms on the Green Circle Trail.

Green Circle Trail map. Click map for larger version.

Day hikers can check to see if spring truly has arrived via Wisconsin’s Plover River Trail.

The hike is a segment of the Green Circle Trail, which runs 27 miles around the city of Stevens Point. Offering multiple access points, the Green Circle Trail consists of several segments that carry their own names. The Plover River Trail runs 6.2-miles round trip and is the segment between Wis. Hwy. 66 and Maria Drive.

To reach the trailhead, take Wis. Hwy. 66 northeast out of Stevens Point. Once past the airport, turn right/southeast into the old farmhouse, which is now used a warming house. Between the parking lot and the warming house, take the wide connector trail heading northeast. Once at the Green Circle Trail, turn right/southeast onto the crushed granite trail.

The trail initially heads through an open area. Here you’ll find nest boxes. Though designed for bluebirds, a number of other birds – chickadees, swallows, wrens – use the boxes, making this a great spot for birdwatching. During spring and summer, keep an eye out for various sparrows, including chipping, field, and vesper; during winter, juncos can be spotted. Circling this open area are red-tailed hawks.

Mixed forest
At 0.25 miles, the trail enters a mixed deciduous forest and reaches a loop coming from the north. Continue south. Jack pines dominate the forest. This is another superb spot for birdwatching with cardinals, towhees, and a variety of woodpeckers – downy, hairy, red-bellied, and even a pileated – flitting about.

The trail next skirts Stevens Point Municipal Airport’s east side. Horned larks nest here, and during winter sometimes snow buntings can be seen.

At about a mile, you’ll enter another open area. If you’ve been on this trail many years ago, you’ll probably wonder what happened to the trees. Hundreds of them had to be removed here due to oak wilt.

The trail then enters a red pine plantation and comes to the north side of the City of Stevens Point well field.

Wildflowers
Next the trail arrives at the meandering Plover River. Among the most scenic parts of the entire Green Circle Trail – which is saying a lot, given that almost the entire route is beautiful – here is where wildflowers, especially marsh marigolds, galore can be found.

Preferring marshes, fens and wet woodlands, marsh marigolds are a harbinger of spring, blooming here April through May. The round, bright yellow flower can be up to 1.5 inches wide. Each flower has five to nine petals that turn upward to form a shallow cup. The marigold plant grows 1-2 feet high and can be found all across Wisconsin, though you may be surprised by the incredible number of them on this segment of the trail.

Another early blooming plant you’ll find in the river bottoms – though it’s hardly sweet like the marsh marigold – is skunk cabbage. One of the earliest wildflowers to bloom in spring, it can actually melt the surrounding snow and ice.

Its flower is shaped like a shell and usually brown to purple, though it also can be a quite attractive yellow, that grows 3-6 inches tall. Unfortunately, it gives off a strong odor of carrion, which attracts insects who then unwittingly pollinate its flowers.

Skunk cabbage prefers wet areas, so look for it in depressions. It mainly is found in the state’s southern half.

Hardwood forest
The trail leaves the river bottom after about a half mile and passes through a mature hardwood forest. Watch for beaver stumps along the river. Birds that can be seen in the area during spring and summer include barred and great-horned owls, red-shouldered hawk, and even sandhill cranes.

Next the trail arrives at a connector to a Green Circle trailhead parking lot off of East Maria Drive. Vireos, warblers, and other songbirds hang out in this cutback area during April and May.

The connector marks a good spot to turn back. You can add a half-mile one-way (1-mile round trip) by continuing on the Circle Trail to Hofmeister Drive. Be aware that you’re closing on Interstate 39, however, so the noise level rises.

In winter, the Plover River segment becomes a cross-country ski trail.

Other segments
Other exceptional segments of the Green Circle Trail include:
• Moses Creek segment – Running 2.4 miles, the trail heads through stands of mature hardwoods and white pine and offers an excellent opportunity to see pine warblers, red-eyed vireos and scarlet tanagers. It offers crushed granite surface and the Green Circle Trail’s longest boardwalk, at 0.5 miles long, which passes through wetlands.
• Riverfront segment – The 1.2 miles paved section follows the Wisconsin River from Bukolt Park south through Pfiffner Pioneer Park to the Hwy. 66 bridge. With its location near downtown and the UW-Stevens Point college campus, it’s among the trail’s most popular segments.

Leashed dogs are allowed on all segments of the Green Circle Trail except for the one heading through the Schmeekle Reserve.

Southern Minnesota’s Top Wildflower Trails

Home to more than 500 wildflower species, Minnesota stands out as one of the best states to see these beautiful wonders. From the Northwoods where forest floors come alive with color each spring to the prairies where yellow and purple flowers rise above the swaying grasses…from winter’s end when tiny pasqueflowers mark the coming warmth to autumn when sunflowers and goldenrod herald the harvest season…Minnesota offers a variety of great wildflower experiences.

Here are some great wildflower trails to hike in southern Minnesota.

Amador Prairie Loops
Wild River State Park
Minnesota’s Northwoods is far more diverse than fragrant pine trees and picturesque lakes. At Wild River State Park, hikers can enjoy some of that variety by taking the shorter of the Amador Prairie Loops through a restored prairie with plenty of wildflowers. In mid-September on the 2.1-mile trail, asters and goldenrods usually peak, a pretty sight against the tall grasses’ reds. From Amelund, take Minn. Hwy. 12 (aka Park Road) east into the park. Past the service road, turn at the first left to the trail center. Trail map:

Lilydale Park Trail
Lilydale Regional Park
Hikers can see wildflowers of a forest floodplain right in the middle of the state’s largest metro area at Lilydale Regional Park. The 1.6-mile round trip Lilydale Park Trail runs through the 380-acre public area in Saint Paul. Wild ginger, Canadian honewort , pointed-leaf tick-trefoil, and spotted touch-me-not flower are just some of the flowers that can be seen. American lotus dot Pickerel Lake from July to September. From downtown St. Paul take Interstate 35E south. Upon crossing the Mississippi River, exit onto Minn. Hwy. 13/Sibley Memorial Highway. Go left/northeast. Turn right/south onto County Road 45/Lilydale Road. After going under the railroad overpass, look for an entry road on the left/northwest that heads to a parking lot. At the lot’s north side, take the trail northeast. Trail map:

Lower and Upper Cliffline Trails
Blue Mounds State Park
Hikers can experience a bit of the American Southwest at Minnesota’s Blue Mounds State Park. The 4.1-mile Mound Trail loops past prickly pear cactus and across rock formations that look like they would be more at home in Arizona than in Bullwinkle the Moose’s home state. From Luverne take U.S. Hwy. 75 north. Turn right/east onto County Road 20. Park in the lot where the road ends. The trail begins at the lot’s northeast corner. Trail map:

Nature Trail
Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary
Day hikers can explore the United States’ oldest public wildflower garden near Minneapolis. A 0.72-mile round trip trail runs through a woodland, wetland and prairie at Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary in Theodore Wirth Park. Among the highlights in April and May are large-flowered trillium, bloodroot, wild ginger, bluebell and trout lily in the woodlands. From the junction of Interstate 35 and Minn. Hwy. 100, take the latter north. Exit onto Glenwood Avenue/County Road 40 and go east. Next, turn right/south onto Theodore Wirth Parkway then left/east onto Butler Garden. A parking lot is on the left across from the entrance. Trail map:

River Terrace Prairie Trail
River Terrace Prairie State Natural Area
Day hikers can explore wildflowers of a gravel prairie at River Terrace Prairie State Natural Area. The 1.54-mile round trip River Terrace Prairie Trail runs along the edges of the state natural area and includes a segment of the Cannon Valley Trail. The natural area is known for its spectacular displays of pasqueflower in April. From Cannon Falls, take Minn. Hwy. 19 east. Turn left/north onto Sunset Trail. After the road and Cannon River make a 90 degree turn east, watch for a dirt jeep trail heading right. Park on the road shoulder near it. Trail map:

South and North Overlooks Trail
Williams Nature Center
Native wildflowers can be enjoyed at Williams Nature Center outside of Mankato. The 1.8-mile round trip South and North Overlooks Trail heads through the 65-acre county park. Three stacked loops wind across the park’s woodlands. Among the flowers you’re likely to see are showy orchid, purple coneflower, and the cup plant. From Mankato take U.S. Hwy. 169 west. Turn right/northwest onto Minn. Hwy. 68. The park entry is on the right/north and ends at a parking lot. Trail map:

Wildflower Trail
Carley State Park
Hikers can revel in the thousands of bluebells and false rue anemone that cover an oxbow in the North Branch of the Whitewater River every May at Carley State Park. The 2.42-miles looping Wildflower Trail follows the river branch through a white pine-lined sunken bowl in the middle of farmland. It’s best done in late April through early May and will be busy when the park holds its annual Bluebell Festival each May. From Plainview, take County Road 4 south. The park entrance road is on the right/west. Once in the park, take the first left/west; this is a loop offering access to the park’s group camps. The parking lot is on the south side of the loop. From the lot, follow the road north then go left/west onto the loop. Trail map:

Northern Minnesota’s Top Wildflower Trails

Home to more than 500 wildflower species, Minnesota stands out as one of the best states to see these beautiful wonders. From the Northwoods where forest floors come alive with color each spring to the prairies where yellow and purple flowers rise above the swaying grasses…from winter’s end when tiny pasqueflowers mark the coming warmth to autumn when sunflowers and goldenrod herald the harvest season…Minnesota offers a variety of great wildflower experiences.

Here are some great wildflower trails to hike in northern Minnesota.

Agassiz Self-Guided Trail
Old Mill State Park
Prairie wildflowers can be enjoyed through the summer at Old Mill State Park. The 1.3-mile looping Agassiz Self-Guided Trail runs alongside and through a prairie surrounded by miles of farm fields. Among the great number of wildflowers you can see here during the summer are prairie clover, purple coneflower, and bottle gentian. From Argyle take County Road 4 east. Turn left/north onto County Road 39. The park entrance is on the left/west in a half-mile. After entering the park, upon reaching a road junction, turn left/south. This leads to a parking area. The trailhead is at the parking lot’s southwest end. Trail map:

Avon Hills Trail
Avon Hills Forest State Natural Area
Wildflowers common to a classic Central Minnesota oak woods abound at Avon Hills Forest State Natural Area. The 0.6-mile round trip Avon Hills Trail crosses the northern part of the state natural area, which is mainly grassland, hardwood hills, and wetlands. Red oak and basswood dominate the woods. This create the perfect environment for a variety of spring ephemerals. From Avon take County Road 54 west. Turn right/north onto Tower Road then left/west onto Quaker Road. Immediately after passing Peach Drive, turn left/south into a small parking area at the state natural area’s northeast corner. The degraded footpath heads straight south across the open grassland. Trail map:

Buffalo River Loop
Buffalo River State Park
Day hikers can see both prairie and woodland wildflowers at Buffalo River State Park. The 1.8-mile round trip Buffalo River Loop consists of several short trails that when done together circle through the park’s highlights. The prairie wildflowers are most impressive, blooming from spring through summer. They include blanketflower, blue-eyed grass, Canada anemone, goldenrod, Nuttall's evening primrose, pasqueflower, prairie ragwort, purple coneflower, yellow coneflower, and yellow lady’s slipper. From Moorhead, take U.S. Hwy 10 east. In 14 miles, turn right/south onto County Road 44 and enter the park. Leave your vehicle at the picnic area parking lot. Walk back up the road to the west and pick up the Old Grande Trail heading right/north. Trail map:

Dr. Roberts Nature Trail

Itasca State Park

Day hikers can see Minnesota’s state flower – the showy lady’s slipper – on a short trail at Itasca State Park. A 2.3-mile loop, the Dr. Roberts Nature Trail includes a number of interpretive signs. Also known as the pink and white lady’s slipper or queen’s lady slipper, the orchid thrives in open fens, bogs and wet woods where it can receive plenty of light. From Bemidji take U.S. Hwy 71 south. Turn tight/northwest onto Minn. Hwy. 200 then left/west onto County Road 48. Next, go right/north onto County Road 1/Park Drive. Take the next left/south onto Park Road then right/west onto Douglas Lodge Drive. Park at the Douglas Lodge/Forest Inn lot. A guide to flora along the trail also is available at the trailhead or for purchase at the visitor center gift shop.

High Peak Trail
Glacial Lakes State Park
Hikers can see wetlands wildflowers on a trail at Glacial Lakes State Park. The 3.2-mile round trip trail described here consists of a stem leading to the High Peak Trail’s two connected loops. The trail is mostly flat with some small hills. It sits in the Leaf Hills area, a 19-mile stretch of hills between Detroit Lakes and Willmar. The portion of the trail nearest the lake heads through a woods of American basswood and burr oak. Two boardwalks cross a wetlands. Along the first boardwalk, look for several wildflowers, including swamp milkweed, Joe-pye weed and arrowhead. From Starbuck, take Minn. Hwy. 29 south. Turn left-straight/south onto County Road 41. The park entrance is on the left/east. Once in the park, take the third left and go east to the park road’s end, where there’s a parking lot. The trailhead is on the lot’s east side. Trail map:

Moose Mountain Trail
Moose Mountain State Natural Area
Day hikers can see a variety of wildflowers as climbing to the summit of Moose Mountain Scientific and Natural Area. The 1.5-mile round trip Moose Mountain Trail isn’t an established route. Visitors have tamped down a footpath, though, that aims for the grassy, open area cut around the powerlines, which in turn heads to Moose Mountain's summit. Among some of the interesting wildflowers you’ll find on Moose Mountain are red and white baneberry, common yarrow, red columbine, field pussytoes, and spotted touch-me-not. In Duluth, take Minn. Hwy. 61 north. Turn right/north on County Road 12/Lester River Road. Drive for 3.4 miles and park the lot on the right/east. Trail map:

Nelsens Creek Trail
Gooseberry Falls State Park
Day hikers can enjoy a variety of wildflowers as walking alongside a pleasant stream flowing into Lake Superior at Gooseberry Falls State Park. The Nelsens Creek Trail is a 3.6-mile round-trip consisting of segments of other trails, including cross-country ski routes. During spring and summer, a variety of wildflowers bloom on this section, including Canadian mayflower, Virginia bluebells, trilliums, and wood anemone. From Two Harbors take Minn. Hwy 61 north. Upon entering Gooseberry, park in the first set of lots for the visitor center. Head past the center, but rather than take the trail to Middle and Lower Falls, go left toward Upper Falls. Cross the Gooseberry River via the suspended walkway. An asphalt pathway then passes the park’s original visitor center. The path in short order joins the Superior Hiking Trail. Go straight/northeast onto the SHT. Trail map:

Silver Creek Trail
Jay Cooke State Park
Day hikers can spot the yellow lady’s slipper as walking alongside the scenic St. Louis River and a stream in Jay Cooke State Park. The 3.25-miles round trip Silver Creek Trail, when combined with a segment of the East Ridge Trail, loops through ideal terrain for the lady’s slipper, which blooms about mid-June. From Duluth, head south on Interstate 35. Exit onto Minn. Hwy. 210 and drive east through Carlton. The park is about five miles from the freeway. Turn right/south at the River Inn Visitor Center and park in the lot nearest the river. The trail crosses a swinging bridge spanning the St. Louis. Trail map:

Wildflower hikes abound in Abbotsford area

Spring beauty

There are plenty of great hiking trails around Abbotsford, Wisconsin, to see wildflowers from spring through autumn. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.

Cherokee County Park (Abbotsford)
Riverine wildflowers can be seen Cherokee County Park southeast of Abbotsford. The 1.3-mile round trip Indian Trail follows the Big Eau Pleine River shoreline through the 66-acre park. From Abbotsford, take Wis. Hwy. 13 south. Turn left/east onto County Road N. The park entrance is on the road’s left/north.

Campus Trail Park (Medford)
Woodland wildflowers are impressive during spring at Campus Trail Park next to the Taylor County/USDA Agricultural Center. The 1.2-mile Campus Woods Trail consists of two loops that run through the woods. In Medford, from the intersection of Wis. Hwys. 64 and 13, take the latter south. Turn right/west onto East Conrad Street then left/south onto Donald Street. Park in the lot at 925 Donald Street.

Council Grounds State Park (Merrill)
A number of wildflowers carpet the floor of an old-growth forest with a large stand of white pines that escaped the logger’s ax await at Council Grounds State Park. The 0.9-mile Blue Trail runs through the Krueger Pines State Natural Area in the park. Among the wildflowers are large-leaved aster, Canada mayflower, American starflower, shin-leaf, and wild sarsaparilla. From Wis. Hwy. 64 in Merrill, take Wis. Hwy. 107 north. Turn tight/south onto Council Grounds Drive. Follow the road as it loops through the park. Park in the lot on the loops’ southeast side and walk north alongside the road; the trailhead is on the road’s left/west side.

Dells of the Eau Claire County Park (Wausau)
A number of spring ephemerals thrive on the deep, loamy soils of Dells of the Eau Claire County Park. The 6-mile round trip Ice Age National Scenic Trail passes spring beauty, trout-lily, hepatica, and many other common wildflowers. From Wausau, take County Road Z east. Turn left/north onto County Road Y then left/northwest into the park. Follow the trail from the Dells west to County Road Z.

Big Eau Pleine Woods State Natural Area (Stratford)
Hikers can enjoy woodland wildflowers in the Big Eau Pleine Woods State Natural Area. The 3.4-mile round trip Big Eau Pleine Woods Trail runs alongside the Big Eau Pleine River. Bloodroot, hepatica, trillium, violet all bloom in May. From Stratford, take Wis. Hwy. 153 east then turn right/south onto Eau Pleine Park Road. Next, go right/west onto Moon Road; when it curves south, it becomes Eau Pleine Park Road. When the road splits, go left/southeast; at the next split, go right/southwest. The trail begins at the road’s end.

Powers Bluff Maple Woods State Natural Area (Marshfield)
Hikers can explore the edge of a forested bluff rich with wildflowers at Powers Bluff Maple Woods State Natural Area. The 1.05-miles Potawatomi Nature Trail loops through the state natural area and part of the adjacent Powers Bluff County Park & Winter Recreation Area. Both public areas protect 1472-foot tall Powers Bluff, Wood County’s highest point. Among the spring flowers are wild oats, bloodroot, Dutchman’s breeches, white trout lilies, spring beauties, wood anemone, red columbine, blue cohosh, and violets. From Marshfield, take U.S. Hwy 10 east. Turn right/south onto Wis. Hwy. 186. In Arpin, go right/west onto Pine Road then left/south onto County Road E. Next, turn right/west onto Bluff Drive then right/north onto Park Road. Take the next right/east and park in the lot. Head north on the trail.

Schmidt Maple Woods State Natural Area (Stanley)
Showy wildflowers common to Wisconsin’s maple-basswood forests can be seen at Schmidt Maple Woods State Natural Area. The southern half of the natural area boasts hepatica, yellow trout lily, large flowered trillium, Jacob's ladder, wild geranium, large-leaved aster, squirrel corn, and violets. From Stanley, take County Road X east. Turn right/south on Carpenter Avenue. The natural area is about 3 miles south of Wis. Hwy. 29. Park alongside the road and use deer trails or degraded footpaths to cross the area.

McGilvra Woods home to rare wildflowers

Cuckoo-flower is very rare in Wisconsin but grows in the McGilvra Woods.

McGilvra Woods topo map.
Click map for larger version.

Day hikers can enjoy a number of wildflowers – including a couple of rare ones – at Wisconsin’s McGilvra Woods State Natural Area.

There are no real trails there – the one leaving from the parking lot peters out about 20 yards into the woods – so this definitely is a bushwhacking hike. Fortunately, the forest floor is open, making that easy. To avoid damaging any plants, try to locate and stay on deer trails running through the 72-acre site.

To reach the natural area, from Baraboo take County Road W west. Turn right/north onto Fairview Road. Drive until the woods ends then turn right/east into a small parking lot.

Sugar maple and basswood dominate the forest, and make an impressive sight in autumn. The tree bases show many above-ground roots, as the topsoil here is shallow. This makes for little underbrush, an ideal condition for several spring flowers.

First flowers
In early spring, the forest floor bears a good display of trout lily. Also known as yellow dog-tooth violet, the trout lily is a striking albeit common flower. On each stalk is a hanging yellow flower, about an inch wide, with three petals and three petal-like sepals that curve backward. If you spot this plant but no flower in spring, don’t be surprised if you still see no flower the next year; it sometimes needs up to seven years to mature enough to bloom. It is found in a majority of Wisconsin counties but more commonly in the southern half of the state.

Another early wildflower bloom each spring is the sharp-lobed hepatica. It keeps its leaves through the winter and when spring arrives quickly blooms before the trees above it have a chance to grow leaves that shade it out. Its flowers consist of five to nine petal-like sepals that range from pale blue to lavender, pink or white. Each flower is just a half-inch to an inch wide. Sharp-lobed hepatica grows across Wisconsin but is more common in the southern half; its cousin, the round-lobed hepatica, is more common in the northern half.

Cut-leaved toothwort blooms early in spring before the leaves in the tree canopy can grow large enough to block sunlight. Each white or pale lavender flower has four petals and is a mere half-inch across. The flowers grow in groups of three to 15 per stem. The plant hosts the Checkered White butterfly caterpillar.

Mid-May blooms
By mid-May, several other wildflowers have bloomed. Among them are hairy Solomon’s-seal, wood phlox, nodding trillium, Jack-in-the-pulpit, red baneberry, mayapple, wild geranium, spring-beauty, Virginia waterleaf, bellwort, and several orchids.

Hairy Solomon’s-seal is an impressive-looking plant, its leaves alternating on a long, usually upright stems. Its hanging, greenish-cream bell-shaped flowers grow in rows, typically on arching stems. The flowers last for more than a month and once pollinated yield small, blue to black grapes that are a favorite meal of birds. Able to clone itself, Solomon’s-seal often grows in clumps.

Wild blue phlox, also known as wood phlox, usually blooms around Mother’s Day. Quite fragrant, it prefers dappled sunlight. Each five-petaled purple flower is about an inch across; sometimes their color can be white or dark blue. Phlox grows across the southern Wisconsin.

Trilliums, mayapples
Blooming from spring into summer is the nodding trillium. The flower is a whorl of three wavy white petals that droops beneath the plant’s leaves. Don’t pick any part of this plant, as the leaves then may not be able to produce enough sugar and starch for a bloom to appear the following year. It’s one of seven trillium species that grows throughout Wisconsin.

Jack-in-the-pulpit blooms in spring. Its erect 2- to 3-inch long flower sits inside a green or purple hood at the top of a single stalk. American Indians cooked its below ground stem as food, so it’s sometimes referred to as Indian turnip. The plant contains calcium oxalate crystals, however, so no part of it above-ground is edible, as it causes a burning sensation in the mouth.

Red baneberry blooms in spring. Its teensy white flowers, each a mere quarter-inch wide, form a dense round cluster that can be up to three-inches wide. The flowers produce red berries that cause extreme illness if eaten. The plant grows 8-24 inches high and is common throughout Wisconsin.

Another spring wildflower in the woods is the mayapple. Its waxy white flowers consists of six to nine petals. It’s sometimes called the umbrella plant because the leaves form an umbrella shape that shades the flower. The mayapple grows in the southern half of the state.

Geraniums, merrybells
Another pretty spring wildflower here is wild geranium. Lavender to purple in color, it has heavily veined five petals about 1-2 inches wide. Colonies in natural woodland openings are formed from long-lived clones of an individual plant. Wild geranium grows all across the state.

Carolina spring-beauty blooms from April to June. Each of its half-inch wide flowers
consists of five white petals with pink-purple veins. It’s very common in New England, the Appalachians, and the Upper Peninsula. In Wisconsin, it grows mostly in the northeast, on the north side of a line from Bayfield to Door counties. McGilvra Woods definitely is south of where the flower usually is found.

Each white to light blue flower of the Virginia water-leaf blooms is tiny, a miniscule quarter- to a half-inch long, and consists of five petals fused in a bell shape. The flowers blossom in clusters. The forb grows in large mats across the woodland floor, as their underground roots shoot up through the ground and form new plants. It is found throughout Wisconsin except the state’s northern boundaries.

Large-leaved bellwort, also called merrybells, yields a drooping bell-shaped yellow flower is about 1-2 inches long with up to six petals. The long-leaved is one of two bellworts that grow in Wisconsin; four other species grow in eastern North America. Its found throughout the state.

Rare wildflowers
Two rare species thrive in McGilvra Woods as well – the cuckoo-flower and the putty-root orchid.

The cuckoo-flower blooms April through July. Its pretty white flower consists of four parts and ranges from a half-inch to an a full inch wide. The flowers usually grow in clusters on the stalk. The plant mostly grows in eastern Wisconsin but can be found in isolated spots in northern and southern parts of the state.

Putty-root orchid, also known as Adam and Eve flower, spreads underground by growing tubers that then form large colonies. Its leaves appear in late November and remain until March. By late May or early June, a flower stalk emerges. A single stalk yields several white-purplish flowers, each only a fraction of an inch across. The plant gets its name from a sticky sap that comes from its crushed tubers.

Wildflowers carpet old forest floor in Wisc.

The trout-lily blooms all across Waupun Park Maple Forest in spring.

Waupun Park Maple Forest Trail aerial map.
Click map for larger version.

Day hikers can see spring wildflowers galore as walking through an old growth forest in southeast Wisconsin.

The 1.6-mile round trip Waupun Park Maple Forest Trail heads first through the Waupun County Park then then enters the northernmost section of the Waupun Park Maple Forest State Natural Area, which is where you'll find the wildflowers and giant trees.

To reach the trailhead, from Waupun take County Road MMM north. After crossing the South Branch Rock River, the road enters Waupun County Park. Park in the second/northernmost of the two lots.

A trail heads northwest through the county park on a concrete sidewalk. In the woods, it veers right and arches northeast through the county park near the campground's north side. Once past the campground, it enters the state natural area, cutting across its northern side.

Old-growth forest
The state natural area is a remnant of an old sugar maple-oak forest that once covered about 3.4 million acres of southern Wisconsin. As the trees here missed the lumberjack's ax, many are more than a 150 years old and so quite large, often well over two feet in diameter.

Sugar maple dominates, but several other mature trees can be spotted here, including basswood, black walnut, red oak, white ash, and white oak. All fill the canopy. As the northwestern portion of the state natural area is drier, more oaks, including black oak, can be found there than in the rest of the site.

The mid-canopy trees are fairly small. They include bitternut hickory, black cherry, eastern hop-hornbeam, and slippery elm.

Thanks to the mature sugar maple, the understory is absent of shrubs. This creates prime real estate for several wildflowers to flourish.

Trout-lily, Jack-in-the-pulpit
Most impressively, in late-April, there are areas where white trout-lily practically covers the forest floor. On each stalk is a hanging yellow flower, about an inch wide, with three petals and three petal-like sepals that curve backward. It can be found across Wisconsin but typically only grows in the southern two-thirds of the state.

Beyond that, the forest is also home to plenty of other beautiful wildflowers, including Jack-in-the-pulpit, meadow-rue, toothwort, Virginia water-leaf, red and white baneberry, wild-blue phlox, bloodroot, blue cohosh, may-apple, sharp-lobed hepatica, spring-beauty, violets and wood anemone.

Jack-in-the-pulpit blooms in spring. Its erect 2- to 3-inch long flower sits inside a green or purple hood at the top of a single stalk. American Indians cooked its below ground stem as food, so it's sometimes referred to as Indian turnip. The plant contains calcium oxalate crystals, however, so no part of it above ground is edible, as it causes a burning sensation in the mouth.

Meadow-rue is ephemeral, flowering in late April to early May before the tree canopy's leaves grow large enough to block out the sunlight. The flowers are pendant shaped. Each flower has either only male parts (stamens) or female parts (pistils), and each plant bears only male or female flowers. The flowers have five to seven green sepals but no petals since they rely on wind, instead of attracting insects, to pollinate. Meadow-rue is found in all but eight Wisconsin counties, with most of those in the state's Northwoods.

Otherworldly baneberry
Cut-leaved toothwort blooms early in spring before the leaves in the tree canopy can grow large enough to block sunlight. Each white or pale lavender flower has four petals and is a mere half-inch across. The flowers grow in groups of three to 15 per stem. The plant hosts the Checkered White butterfly caterpillar.

Virginia water-leaf blooms in spring. Each white to light blue flower is tiny, a miniscule quarter- to a half-inch long, and consists of five petals fused in a bell shape. The flowers blossom in clusters. The forb grows in large mats across the woodland floor, as their underground roots shoot up through the ground and form new plants. It is found across Wisconsin except the state's northern boundaries.

Red baneberry blooms in spring. Its teensy white flowers, each a mere quarter-inch wide, form a dense round cluster that can be up to three-inches wide. The flowers produce red berries that cause extreme illness if eaten. The plant grows 8-24 inches high and is common throughout Wisconsin.

White baneberry is nearly identical to red baneberry - blooms in spring and has small white flowers that form a dense ball. After the flower produces its fruit is when the plant gets interesting. The white berries, each with a black spot that creepily looks like doll eyes, sit at the end of red stems, appearing truly alien in the green woods. Its berries are poisonous as well. The forb is found throughout the state.

Phlox, mayapples
Wild blue phlox, also known as wood phlox, usually blooms around Mother's Day. Quite fragrant, it prefers dappled sunlight. Each five-petaled purple flower is about an inch across; sometimes their color can be white or dark blue. Phlox grows throughout southern Wisconsin.

Among the first of the wildflowers to bloom here in spring is bloodroot. Sometimes it pops up from soil that has just thawed. It sports a large white flower, about 1.5 inches wide, with 8-10 petals and a yellow center. The red orange juice in its stem has been used over the centuries as a dye and an insect repellent. It grows all across Wisconsin.

Often blooming near the white trout-lily is the blue cohosh, a one- to three-foot high bush. A cluster of yellow-green flowers with six petals sits atop the plant, which grows throughout Wisconsin. Don’t eat its blue berries, which are poisonous.

Another spring wildflower in the woods is the mayapple. Its waxy white flowers consists of six to nine petals. It’s sometimes called the umbrella plant because the leaves form an umbrella shape that shades the flower. The mayapple grows in the state's southern half.

Mayflowers, violets
Among the first wildflowers to bloom is the sharp-lobed hepatica. It keeps its leaves through the winter and when spring arrives in spring arrives quickly blooms before the trees above it have a chance to grow leaves that shade it out. Its flowers consist of five to nine petal-like sepals that range from pale blue to lavender, pink or white. Each flower is just a half-inch to an inch wide. Sharp-lobed hepatica grows across Wisconsin but is more common in the southern half; its cousin, the round-lobed hepatica, is more common in the northern half.

Carolina spring-beauty blooms from April to June. Each of its half-inch wide flowers consists of five white petals with pink-purple veins. It’s very common in New England, the Appalachians, and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. In Wisconsin, it grows mostly in the northeast, on the north side of a line from Bayfield to Door counties.

Another wildflower found here is wood violet, also known as a common blue violet, which is Wisconsin’s state flower. Ranging in color from deep violet to lavender, the flower consists of five distinct petals with three veined lower petals, and measures about an inch wide. The flowers usually grow on their own stalk and stay beneath the plant’s heart-shaped leaves. The latter is high in vitamins A and C, and should you ever be lost in the woods with no food, know that they can be eaten raw.

The wood anemone, also called the mayflower, also blooms in spring here. It bears a single white flower, about an inch wide, with five petal-like sepals rising above the leaves. Wood anemones with flowers are older than those without; sometimes the plant doesn’t flower until it reaches five years old. It grows throughout Wisconsin.

Late spring flowers
As the weather warms, blooms of large-flowered trillium and wild geranium pop up.

Among the state’s prettiest wildflowers, the large-flowered trillium's blossom consists of three white, wavy petals that are two to four inches wide. The flower turns pink with age. Ants carry their seeds to underground homes but strangely enough don’t eat them, allowing the wildflower to spread. The large-flowered trillium is found all across the state and is a protected species.

Wild geranium is lavender to purple in color and has heavily veined five petals about 1-2 inches wide. Colonies in natural woodland openings are formed from long-lived clones of an individual plant. Wild geranium grows all across the state.

As enjoying the wildflowers and majestic trees, you may hear some strange sounds above. If it sounds like yodeling and is spring or summer, it's probably sandhill cranes flying to the nearby Horicon National Wildlife Refuge.

The trail doesn't quite reach County Road MMM but ends in the woods. Once the dirt path peters out, retrace your steps back to the parking lot.

Avoid walking off the trail across the forest floor, as this can trample delicate plants. Be sure to carry insect repellent.

Northwoods trail passes bog wildflowers

Bog rosemary grows on moss mats along the Raven Nature Trail.

Raven Nature Trail map. Click map for larger version.

Day hikers can enjoy wildflowers and other interesting plants on the Raven Nature Trail in northern Wisconsin.

The 1.43-mile loop heads up and down small hills as passing a lake and crossing a wetlands in Northern Highland American Legion State Forest. It is one of several paths that are part of the Raven Trail System.

To reach the trailhead, from Minocqua/Woodruff take Wis. Hwy. 47 south. Turn left/east onto Woodruff Road. In about 0.85 miles, turn right/east into he parking lot for the Raven Trail System.

The trailhead is at the lot’s northwest corner. On state forest maps for the trail system, it’s marked in yellow. The Red Trail runs concurrently with it for about half of the hike.

After heading through a maple-basswood forest for a third of a mile, the trail reaches the shore of Hemlock Lake. A variety of forest wildflowers can be seen along the way from spring to fall. White pine and hemlock line a good portion of the shoreline.

Upon leaving the lake, the Red Trail separates by heading straight-left/northeast. Stay on the Nature Trail by going right.

Bog wildflowers
The loop soon reaches a bog covered in sphagnum moss. A boardwalk crosses the bog, as the moss, though solid to the eyes, actually floats atop water and can’t support your weight.

During spring, several flowers bloom on the sphagnum moss. Among them is bog rosemary, leatherleaf, bog laurel, and Labrador tea. There are even two carnivorous plants – sundew and pitcher plant.

Bog rosemary blooms May-June. Its pink, urn-shaped are but a quarter-inch wide and sit on a backward-curving stalk. The leaf’s underside is white while the topside is a blue-green that stands out starkly against the other plants. The plant mainly grows in northern Wisconsin, but a few have been spotted in the state’s southeastern counties.

From late April to May, look for leatherleaf. The nodding, tubular white flowers are about a quarter-inch long and hang in a row beneath a stem. The mound-shaped shrub can grow up to three feet high and sometimes forms dense thickets. It grows in most of Wisconsin but is largely absent in the Driftless Area.

Bog laurel, also known as swamp laurel, blooms in spring as well. Its cup-shaped, rosy red flower measures from a quarter inch to a full inch wide. The plant’s leaves and twigs are poisonous. It thrives in wet areas that receive sun across the state’s northern half.

Labrador tea blooms from spring through summer. The white flower is a mere third of an inch to half an inch wide. The blooms usually form a tight, round cluster. Each individual flower has five petals. The plant’s fragrant resin makes a good tea. The plant typically is found in northern bogs and also is known as Hudson Bay’s tea.

Carnivorous plants
The carnivorous linear-leaved sundew blooms early June through early August, though what you’ll notice most about it are its leaves. Extremely long, the leaves are pinkish. The flower, of which up to four can sit atop a stalk, also are pink, though sometimes they can be white. Sticky glands on the leaves trap insects then digest them. Sundew is found in the central part of the Northwoods and southeast Wisconsin, though generally not along Lake Michigan.

Another carnivorous wildflower on the trail is the pitcher plant. Downward-pointing hairs guide insects into a pool of rainwater kept in its cupped stalk. There the trapped insect drowns. The plant releases enzymes into the rainwater to digest the bug. Its maroon, bell-shaped flowers, which bloom in summer, are large at 2-3-inches wide and droop from a tall stalk. The pitcher plant usually grows only in northeast Wisconsin.

While not a flower, cotton grass is one interesting-looking plant found in the bog. It’s white, fluffy head sometimes is mistaken as a funny-looking flower. Cotton grass actually is a sedge, a grass-like plant that prefers wet areas. It can be found on very wet bog and fen mats as well as the higher points of embankments. The plant grows in the northern part of the state.

Near the loop’s end, the Red Trail rejoins the nature route by coming in from the left/northeast. Continue heading southwest back to the parking lot.

No pets are allowed on the trail. Hiking is permitted only after the snowmelt in spring and during summer, as the trail is groomed for skiing in winter. The trail can be buggy, so be sure to bring insect repellent.

See ‘desert’ plants on Wisconsin trail

Prickly pear cactus blooms in Wisconsin around mid-June.

Spring Green Preserve Trail topo map.
Click map for larger version.

Day hikers can see cactus and lizards in the “Wisconsin Desert,” a rolling sand prairie at the Spring Green Preserve.

The 3.2-mile round trip heads through the prairie and to a blufftop vista. The 480-acre preserve is owned by The Nature Conservancy and was designated a state natural area in 1972.

To reach the trailhead, from Spring Green take Wis. Hwy. 23 north. Turn right/east onto Jones Road then left/north onto Angelo Lane. A parking lot is on the lane’s left/west side.

The first portion of trail heads across the sand prairie, a former Wisconsin River terrace that at one time was part of the original floodplain. Thanks to the dry sandy soils left behind, moisture seeps quickly into the ground, and with a southern exposure gets a lot of sun so dries out quickly.

The result is almost desert-like conditions with open sand and shifting dunes. A unique environment for Wisconsin, plants and animals rare in other parts of the state have adapted to it.

Wildflowers
Most noticeable on the sand prairie is prickly pear cactus. Common in the American Southwest, the cactus grows about 10 inches high with a spread of around three feet. Mid-June is the best time to spot its satin yellow blossoms with their orange to red centers. Flowers can reach up to three inches in width. Though each individual flower lasts but a day, a number of other buds will bloom over the course of a month.

False heather, more of a dry prairie plant than a denizen of the desert, also thrives here. Its yellow, five-parted flower measures a quarter to a third of an inch wide and blooms May-July. The narrow leaves can be scale-like with dense hairs. The shrub grows up to two feet high and is found in sandy areas of the state’s western half.

Venus’ looking-glass blossoms from May to August. Its wheel-shaped, blue-violet flowers are but a third to half of an inch wide. Though found in southwestern Wisconsin, it also grows in Mexico.

The plains snake-cotton, also known as common cotton-weed, blooms from July to September. Its white (and sometimes pink-white) flowers are tiny, growing on a woolly, branched spike with flowers in five-rowed spirals. Snake-cotton prefers dry, sun-exposed prairies and roadsides in sandy soil across much of the western half of state.

Dwarf dandelion blooms a bit earlier, from April to June. The yellow ray flower is about three-eighths of an inch wide and sits at the end of a long stalk. The plant can grow up to 16 inches tall and has a milky juice. In the state, it is found mostly in counties along the southern portion of the Wisconsin River.

While not a flower, watch for three-awn grass. It s common in dry, sandy prairies and dominates here.

Lizards, bugs and birds
Running amid these flowers, which appear more at home in the western prairie and Southwest deserts, is a lizard, the six-lined racerunner. Usually dark green, black or brown in color, it has six yellow or green-yellow stripes running from head to tail.

One of many species of whiptail lizards, the racerunner is active during the day and dines on insects. It’ll dart for cover if you approach and can reach speeds of up to 18 mph.

Several creepy-crawlies that look like they belong in the desert also reside in the sand prairie. Most of them can’t be found anywhere else in Wisconsin. Among them are the black widow, various wolf spiders, five cicada species, and eight tiger beetle species.

More akin to the prairie are the many pocket gophers. If you see a patch of open ground, blame the gopher. A few open country birds also reside here, including the dickcissel and the lark sparrow.

At about a mile, the trail ascends the bluff. This can be steep at times, as you leave the “desert” for the “mountain” forest. Once at the top, the trail curls through a woods to a vista about 24 stories above Wisconsin River Valley, which sits to the south.

After taking in the views, retrace your steps back to the parking lot. Be sure to not go off the path chasing mirages!