Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Baraboo River Floodplain Forest (No. 212)

Overview

Location

Columbia County. T12N-R8E, Section 24, SE¼NE¼, NE¼SE¼. 22 acres.

Access

From the intersection of Highways 33 and 78, west of Portage, go east on Highway 33 about 0.2 mile to County Highway U. Then go south on U 1.75 mile to the Baraboo River. Canoe upstream 0.5 mile to the site, just west of Highway 78. Access is also available from the Fish and Wildlife Service parking area on Cascade Mountain Road.

Description

Description

The Baraboo River Floodplain Forest is a relatively undisturbed lowland forest that lies on nearly level terrain. Occasional sloughs are formed by the gradual filling of old stream meanders (oxbows). Large diameter trees dominate the forest--silver maple (to 30 inches diameter), hackberry, basswood (to 36 inches diameter), green ash, white ash, American elm, and cottonwood (to 60 inches diameter). The understory is quite open with only a few shrubs and saplings. The ground layer contains more than fifty species including green dragon, swamp milkweed, Virginia water-leaf, cardinal flower, wood nettle, sensitive fern, greenbriars, poison ivy, and several sedges. This area is an important breeding site for many waterfowl species. The property was originally purchased by The Nature Conservancy and later donated to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the Baraboo River Waterfowl Production Area. The site was designated a State Natural Area in 1988.

Maps

The WDNR'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. Therefore, while the majority of SNAs are open to the public, access may vary accordingly. 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 land owner 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.

• Detailed Map [PDF, 96 KB]
• Line Map [PDF, 38 KB]

Activities

Please come prepared for your visit. Amenities vary from site to site with most SNAs being primitive and without facilities. See Guidelines for Visitation for details.

Allowable Activities

Most DNR-owned SNAs allow:

• Hiking
• Hunting
• Fishing
• Trapping
• Skiing

Some exceptions apply. Properties closed to the public or closed to specific use, such as hunting, will be posted.

***For non-DNR-owned SNAs: Additional use guidelines may apply. Please verify any use restrictions with the landowner or contact the SNA Program. Landowners may require additional permits or restrict the number of hunters at a given SNA to provide a quality hunting experience. SNA landowners can be found at the bottom of each SNA description page.

Prohibited Activities

• Horseback riding
• Rock climbing
• Vehicles, including bicycles, ATVs, aircraft, and snowmobiles except on trails and roadways designated for their use
• Collecting of plants (including fruits, nuts, or edible plant parts), animals, fungi, rocks, minerals, fossils, archaeological artifacts, soil, downed wood, or any other natural material, alive or dead

Please note that a permit is required for scientific collection and research on State Natural Areas. For more information, contact Thomas Meyer, State Natural Areas Program Specialist.

For more information on rules governing state-owned SNAs and other state lands, please consult Wisconsin's Administrative Code Chapter NR 45 (exit DNR)