Hiking

From State Parks to nature preserves, the Spring Green area offers hikes through the woods, prairies and wetlands where you’ll witness all types of flora and fauna. The following are a few places to begin:

Avoca Prairie
For wildflower and native plan enthusiasts, and for those who like their recreation on the wild side, an outing to this 970-acre wet-mesic prairie is highly recommended. Located in the Avoca Unit of the Riverway, seven miles west of the Lone Rock bridge on Hwy 133, Avoca Prairie is the largest tallgrass prairie east of the Mississippi. It is probably the only place in the eastern U.S. where, no matter where you stand, you only see natural prairie-savanna features. We recommend that you check in with the Ranger Station at Tower Hill State Park before heading out to the prairie. (See daytrip #7, page 30)

Ferry Bluff
Located off of Highway 60, four miles southwest of Sauk City, Ferry Bluff has a spectacular and historical view of the river and surrounding topography. To the north and east you can see the Baraboo Hills, containing some of the oldest rock in North America. On a clear day you can spot the highest point in southern Wisconsin – Blue Mound, thirteen miles to the south.

Ferry Bluff is a spring nesting site for Cooper’s Hawks. Winter visits are not allowed, however good winter viewing of Ferry Bluff is possible from Conservation Road, just outside of Mazomanie. See daytrip #1, page 30)

Spring Green Preserve
Located off Jones Road, two miles from Spring Green, the Spring Green Preserve has been called the “Wisconsin Desert,” with a variety of cacti, sand dunes and dry grasses. It is an area where forest meets bluff and bluff levels off into plains and dunes. The preserve’s self-guided trail allows you to learn as you go. At the trailhead, you will find a pamphlet containing blocks of information corresponding to each of a series of numbered markers along the trail.