Kickapoo River State Wildlife Area-Wauzeka Unit

The 2000 acres of the Kickapoo River State Wildlife Area are contained in two units. The Bell Center Unit is located south of Gays Mills and the Wauzeka Unit is on the southern border of Crawford County. The Wauzeka Unit is an interesting mix of grass-covered hills, river bottoms and wooded hillsides. A good trail system leads you through some excellent river bottomlands where you can view waterfowl, woodland bottom warblers like the Prothonotary, and Great Blue Herons. The variety of habitats along this 3-mile stretch of trail can also produce Gray Catbirds, Indigo Bunting and American Redstart warblers.

Notes: This part of the state is referred to as the driftless, or unglaciated part of Wisconsin. It is known for its limestone bluffs, steep hillsides covered with hardwood forests, and its dry hilltop grasslands known as “goat” prairies.

Directions: From Wauzeka turn north on Hwy. 131 one mile to the parking lot.

Gazetteer: Page 32, D-3.

Phone: 608/637-3938 (Viroqua WDNR).

Web site: WDNR Kickapoo River State Wildlife Area (#30)

Signature Species: Sandhill Cranes, Turkeys, and Savannah Sparrow.

Seasonality: Open all year.

Parking: Parking lot along Hwy. 131, one mile north of Hwy. 60.

Nearest food & lodging: In Wauzeka (south), Boscobel (east) or Prairie du Chien.