Bear Bluff Peatlands

The Bear Bluff Peatlands is a large and remote area of bogs, marshes, tamarack and spruce forests, upland oak forests and fens. The landscape is flat with scattered bluffs and mounds. Upland areas are a good place to find Black-billed Cuckoos and Scarlet Tanagers. In the marshes, look for Green-winged Teal and Hooded Mergansers. The fens and peatlands host White-throated Sparrows, and Hermit, Nashville and Connecticut Warblers. Common Raven and Goldencrowned Kinglets are found in the areas dominated with spruce trees. Golden Eagles winter here along with Sharptailed Grouse and Northern Saw-whet Owls.

Directions: Located east of Millston between the tiny towns of City Point and Mather. Access the area from Millston via Cty. O and W. Bear Bluff Road (east-west), or from Cranberry Road (north-south), a paved road along the Juneau/Jackson County line.

Gazetteer: Page 51, C-5.

Phone: 715/284-1400 (Wisconsin DNR).

Signature species: Timber Wolf, Golden-winged Warblers & Yellow-bellied Flycatcher.

Seasonality: Gravel roads are impassable in winter and at frost break-up in spring – use paved roads only at these times.

Note: This property is in private ownership; Wisconsin trespass laws apply.

Nearest food & lodging: Millston, Tomah or Black River Falls.