Home » POI category » outdoor

Wisconsin State Natural Areas

 
CraigW's picture
Submitted by CraigW on Sun, 07/05/2020 - 10:17pm.

Login or register to download files

Last updated 05/11/2024

Raw file: Wisconsin State Natural Areas.csv (102.06 KB)

Includes 783 locations in the following areas:

  • United States: WI
  • some may be in: IA, IL, MI, MN (near a border)

Wisconsin State Natural Areas (SNAs)

The State of Wisconsin describes State Natural Areas as "areas that protect outstanding examples of Wisconsin's native landscape of natural communities, significant geological formations and archeological sites." There are currently 693 sites. The state website is:

https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/StateNaturalAreas

and visitation guidelines can be found at:

https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/StateNaturalAreas/Visitor_Gu...

The POI locations in this file are the recommended parking areas for each SNA in most cases which may a parking lot. Some SNAs have several parking areas and I've chosen what may be the primary or central parking area and occasionally alternative areas. For large SNAs, you should check the SNA web page for the area you plan to visit and possibly choose one of the other locations to park. It is strongly advised that before planning a trip to any SNA, that you find the appropriate web page for that SNA and read its description so that you know what to expect. The POI locations may require your GPS to not have unpaved roads listed as a route Avoidance, especially for sites in National Forests. Each SNA can be found through a search by county or by name:

County: https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Lands/NaturalAreas/county.html

Name search: https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Lands/NaturalAreas/alpha.html

This POI file includes a few not generally suited for visitation which are asterisked in the County and Name web search and the POI file will not include a parking area. Always park safely, especially for side-of-road parking where the POI location is just approximate. Do not trespass on private land. The POI file will identify each in the following fashion:

County - SNA name - additional information

This file includes additional information, mostly walking directions from the parking area. Garmin automotive devices offer this information for each location but may involve scrolling or other action on the GPS to see these notes. Some notes offer important parking or other information e.g.:

On Reich Drive by gate, park along shoulder of road south of the mailbox. Do not block Reich Drive as farmer uses it to move large equipment

or

Park on Cty W by cabin at Fire #13124. To reach Hagar Mountain, go north on foot trail that runs along property line from east side of cabin. Do not trespass on private land

although most are along the lines of:

Park on side of road, walk west to lake

If errors are found in this file, please contact me directly or report them here:

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/50720

Counties with no SNA, special instructions, or works-in-progress:

Kewaunee (has no SNAs)
Menominee (has no SNAs)
Milwaukee *
Rock**

*Excludes Warnimont Bluff Fens. Public access is limited to research and education. See Chapter 47-Parks and Parkways in Milwaukee County's Municipal Code Ch. 47 for more details.
**Excludes private Fair Meadows and Koshkonong Corners SNAs. Contact the State Natural Areas Program for more information.

Change History

  • CraigW - May 11, 2024
    Revised Lodi Marsh locations with added North and South

  • CraigW - May 11, 2024
    Revised Lodi Marsh SNA with added parking areas

  • CraigW - Jul 18, 2023
    Additional parking areas for Ableman's Gorge SNA

  • CraigW - Jul 7, 2023
    Major rewrite of Ridgeway Pine Relict, SNA #326

  • CraigW - Jun 30, 2023
    Links in description changed due to revised DNR website

  • CraigW - May 31, 2023
    Revised Sauk County - Pine Hollow SNA

  • CraigW - May 18, 2022
    Revised Pine Cliff SNA text and added another parking area

  • CraigW - May 7, 2022
    Revised text and location for Castle Mound Pine Forest SNA

  • CraigW - Apr 23, 2022
    Revised Quincy Bluff & Wetlands SNA text and added four more parking areas

  • CraigW - Nov 30, 2021
    Revised Waushara - Upper Fox Headwaters (Chaffee Creek Meadow)

  • CraigW - Oct 3, 2021
    Fixed a typo in a line's description

  • CraigW - Sep 8, 2021
    Revised Fern Dell Gorge SNA locations and description

  • CraigW - Aug 30, 2021
    Revised Baxter's Hollow SNA with additional parking areas

  • CraigW - Aug 16, 2021
    Revised parking location and description for Honey Creek SNA

  • CraigW - May 12, 2021
    Updated and added two more Mill Bluff SNA parking areas

  • CraigW - Dec 9, 2020
    Added SNA #693: Savage Lake in Florence County - designated in 2020

  • CraigW - Oct 3, 2020
    Added more text info to Sauk County - South Bluff/Devil's Nose SNA

  • CraigW - Sep 7, 2020
    Refine and add additional parking site for Hemlock Draw POI in Sauk County

  • CraigW - Aug 31, 2020
    Improved info for Sauk County, Hemlock Draw SNA, both north and south POIs

  • CraigW - Aug 26, 2020
    Finally found a lat/long for Priest Rock in Oconto County!