Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Adiantum Woods (No. 245)

Overview

Location

Grant County. T7N-R5W, Sections 24 SE¼, 25 N½NE¼. 30 acres.

Access

From Woodman, go west and south on 133 3.7 miles, then west on County Highway C 3.2 miles. At the crest of the hill, go north on an access road to small parking area. The site can be accessed via an old logging road.

Description

Description

Adiantum Woods features a rich, dry-mesic forest situated on a steep north-facing slope that rises from the south bank of the Wisconsin River. The canopy is composed of white and red oak, basswood, yellowbud hickory, black cherry, sugar maple, and big tooth aspen. Eastern hop-hornbean and ironwood are present in the subcanopy. The shrub layer consists of witchhazel, gray dogwood, ninebark, hazelnut, and poison ivy. The understory is rich in herbaceous species with lopseed, tick-trefoil, bloodroot, sweet cicely, maidenhair, interrupted, and rattlesnake ferns, yellow lady's slipper, showy orchis, wild sarsaparilla, red and white baneberry, and poke milkweed. Limestone outcrops near the top of the slope harbor populations of smooth cliff brake, bulblet bladder fern, and slender lip fern. Moving upslope, a transition or continuum of vegetation is evident as the forest community shifts from mesic to dry-mesic and finally to dry forest. Adiantum Woods is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 1991.

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, 110 KB]

Objectives

Site Objectives

Manage the site as a southern mesic forest reserve, as well as an ecological reference area. Natural processes will determine the structure of the forest.

Management Approach

Native species are managed passively on the north-facing slope, allowing nature to determine the ecological characteristics. Other management systems that may be applied in all areas include control of invasive plants and animals, and maintenance of existing facilities. Salvage of trees after a major wind event is not considered compatible with management objectives.

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)