Best State Area

Crex Sand Prairie State Natural Area is a protected ecosystem in Burnett County, Wisconsin, encompassing jack pine barrens and sand prairie habitats. The area is part of the larger Crex Meadows complex, named after the Crex Carpet Company that operated in the region in the early 20th century. The si...

Brady's Bluff Prairie State Natural Area is a protected ecological zone located within Perrot State Park in Wisconsin. It preserves a dry limestone prairie, often referred to as a "goat prairie," situated on a rugged bluff overlooking the Mississippi River. The environment is characterized by shallo...

Scuppernong Prairie State Natural Area is a preserved wet-mesic prairie located within the Kettle Moraine State Forest in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. The landscape features wetlands and sedge meadows that actively protect the headwaters of the Scuppernong River. It is managed by the Wisconsin Depart...

Avoca Prairie and Savanna State Natural Area is a protected ecological site in Iowa County, Wisconsin. It preserves one of the largest remaining tracts of intact dry-mesic prairie and oak savanna in the Midwestern United States, representing ecosystems once widespread across the region but now large...

Faville Prairie State Natural Area is a protected wet-mesic prairie in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, established in 1952 as one of the state's first prairie restoration sites.

Empire Prairies State Natural Area protects a collection of remnant prairies in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin. Its scattered sites preserve dry and dry-mesic grassland communities that survived despite the conversion of much of the surrounding region to agriculture and development. The protected hab...

Battle Bluff Prairie State Natural Area is a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources preserve located in Vernon County, overlooking the Mississippi River in southwestern Wisconsin. It protects a steep south-facing bluff prairie remnant that supports plant species more typical of the Great Plains,...

Trenton Bluff Prairie State Natural Area is a dry limestone bluff prairie in Pierce County, Wisconsin, noted for its steep topography and rare sun-loving flora.

Morgan Coulee Prairie State Natural Area in Wisconsin protects one of the largest dry prairie remnants in the state's driftless region.

Fults Hill Prairie State Natural Area is a protected site in Monroe County, Illinois, overlooking the Mississippi River floodplain. It preserves the state's largest remaining complex of largely undisturbed loess hill prairie, a dry grassland community formed on wind-deposited silt along steep bluffs...

Five-Mile Bluff Prairie State Natural Area is a protected natural area in Pierce County, Wisconsin, associated with a dry prairie community on a dolomite bluff. Its exposed slopes support plants adapted to shallow soil, strong sunlight, and limited moisture, while the bluff environment also provides...

Kettle Moraine Low Prairie State Natural Area is a protected conservation site situated within the Southern Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest in Wisconsin. The area preserves a globally rare wet-mesic prairie and sedge meadow ecosystem, which thrives on the unique glacial topography of the reg...

La Crosse River Trail Prairies is a State Natural Area located along a recreational rail trail in western Wisconsin. The site protects a series of fragmented dry sand and alluvial prairies that survived the region's agricultural development. It is distinguished by its linear configuration, preservin...

Dewey Heights Prairie State Natural Area is a dry prairie ecosystem overlooking the Mississippi River in Crawford County, Wisconsin, notable for its rare plant species.

Eagle Centre Prairie State Natural Area is a Wisconsin reserve that safeguards a restored wet-mesic prairie ecosystem in the state's southeast.

Belmont Prairie State Natural Area in Wisconsin preserves a high-quality remnant of dry-mesic prairie that was never converted to agriculture.

Revis Hill Prairie State Natural Area in Mason County, Illinois, preserves over 400 acres of unique loess hill prairies along the Illinois River bluffs, supporting rare native plants.

Oshkosh-Larsen Trail Prairies State Natural Area is a remnant tallgrass prairie along a rail trail in Winnebago County, Wisconsin, protecting vital native insect and plant life.

Ripon Prairie State Natural Area is a remnant wet-mesic tallgrass prairie in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, preserved for its population of rare prairie phlox.

Springvale Wet Prairie State Natural Area is a Wisconsin conservation site protecting groundwater-influenced wet prairies and unique native flora.

Germania Wet Prairie State Natural Area is a Wisconsin ecological area protecting groundwater-fed wet prairie habitats and rare sedge meadows.

Midway Railroad Prairie State Natural Area is a preserved wet-mesic tallgrass prairie along an abandoned railroad corridor in Marathon County, Wisconsin.

Young Prairie State Natural Area is a dedicated wet-mesic prairie preserve in Walworth County, Wisconsin, recognized for its high concentration of rare native plant species.

Waterloo Prairie State Natural Area is a protected wet prairie in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, serving as a vital habitat for migratory birds and native sedges.

Canoe Landing Prairie State Natural Area is a Wisconsin reserve conserving expansive, high-quality sand prairie along the lower Wisconsin River.

Kessler Railroad Prairie State Natural Area in Wisconsin preserves remnant tallgrass prairie that survived along an unmaintained railroad right-of-way.

Oliver Prairie State Natural Area is a small, untouched dry-mesic prairie remnant located in Iowa County, Wisconsin, notable for its high diversity of native flora.

North Bend Wet Prairie State Natural Area in Wisconsin safeguards a vital wet prairie remnant alongside the Black River floodplain ecosystem.

Newark Road Prairie State Natural Area is a high-quality wet-mesic prairie remnant in Rock County, Wisconsin, known for supporting diverse native orchids and sedges.