Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Rock Creek Felsenmeer (No. 324)

Overview

Location

Barron County. T35N-R10W, Sections 34, 35. 70 acres.

Access

From the intersection of Highways 48 and 53 in Rice Lake, go east on 48 9.2 miles, then south on County NN 2.1 miles, then east and south on County C 1.1 miles, then south on 27 frac12; Street 0.5 mile to a parking area. The natural area can be accessed via the Felsenmeer Trail loop. The felsenmeers are treeless rock piles.

Description

Description

Rock Creek Felsenmeer features one of only three known felsenmeers in Wisconsin. Deposited during Pleistocene glaciation, the felsenmeer is an extensive accumulation, often a large slope, of large angular rock fragments transported by glacial ice and broken down from their parent material as a result of frost and ice-wedging. Rock Creek Felsenmeer contains a talus slope of quartzite, a brittle metamorphic rock that is susceptible to frost-wedging. Felsenmeer communities are characterized by all-summer upwellings of cool, moist air near or at their bases although it is not certain whether year-round ice deposits are responsible for the upwelling of cool air. The cool air drainage in and around the rock field creates a microclimate suitable for numerous mosses, lichens, and liverworts. The shaded microclimate also provides the required habitat for two rare species that are usually found further north, the state-endangered squashberry (Viburnum edule), and state threatened hawthorn-leaved gooseberry (Ribes oxyacanthoides). Rock Creek Felsenmeer is owned by Barron County and was designated a State Natural Area in 1997.

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, 130 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)