Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Brooks Bluff (No. 232)

Overview

Location

Adams County. T16N-R7E, Section 31 NW¼. 18 acres.

Access

From Brooks, go west on County Highway A 3.5 miles, then south on County Highway B 0.25 mile. The bluff lies on both sides of the road.

Description

Description

Brooks Bluff lies on the south-facing slope of an east-west tending mesa and contains oak barrens, an exceedingly rare community in Wisconsin. The bedrock is near the surface and is composed primarily of sandstone, although there is also a thin limestone cap. The bluff summit is mostly open with scattered oaks, white birch, and oldfield juniper. The oak barrens is dominated by grasses such as big and little blue-stem, Indian grass, needle grass, and grama grasses, and typical dry prairie forbs such as azure aster, four species of milkweed, prairie coreopsis, alumroot, sunflowers, rough blazing-star, wild lupine, wood betony, and goldenrods. The area also harbors four rare plants including the state-endangered Hudson Bay anemone (Anemone multifida var. hudsoniana). The remainder of the slope is forested with a relatively open oak woods. Brooks Bluff is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 1990.

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, 173 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)