The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

From the towering pines and wild lakes of the Northwoods to the sun-kissed prairies of southern Wisconsin, The Nature Conservancy and its members have protected some of the most beautiful places in Wisconsin, places that literally jump, fly, swim and hop with an amazing diversity of life.

Most of the places we have protected in Wisconsin are open to the public for visitation and many types of outdoor recreation including hiking, canoeing, hunting, wildlife watching and nature photography.

Preparation: The Key to a Safe, Enjoyable Visit

We have walking trails at most, though not all, preserves, but few other visitor facilities. So please prepare for your visit and take proper precautions while on site.

• Wear comfortable footwear suitable for hiking, but please do not wear heavy, cleated boots — these damage the trails.
• To protect yourself from ticks, poison ivy or poison sumac, wear long pants — and tuck them into your socks.
• No matter which season of the year it is, each person in your party should bring a full water bottle. Dehydration is a serious risk at any time of the year.
• Remember to wear blaze orange clothing if you will be visiting one of our preserves where we allow hunting during DNR posted seasons.

Preparation: What to Bring

To get the most from your visit, and to protect yourself from the elements, you may want to include the following items in your backpack: 

• Binoculars
• Camera
• Compass
• Field guides (to wildflowers, birds, butterflies and other natural features)
• Insect repellent
• Rain gear
• Snack (fruit or trail mix)
• Sunscreen

Preparation: ADA Accessibility

In accordance with the Department of Justice’s amended regulation implementing Title III of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regarding "Other Power‐Driven Mobility Devices,” The Nature Conservancy is completing an assessment of its nature preserves in Wisconsin. Please visit our nature preserve accessibility assessment page for more information.

Hours

All of The Nature Conservancy preserves on this Web site are open year-round, from dawn to dusk.

What You Can Do

The following activities are permitted on Conservancy preserves:

• Birdwatching
• Cross-country skiing
• Fishing - Fishing is allowed at most sites that can be publicly accessed
  • At the Conservancy's Catherine Wolter Wilderness Area, catch-and-release fishing with artificial bait is allowed at Lower Aimer, Knife and Bug lakes.
• Hiking
• Hunting – We allow hunting at many Conservancy preserves.  For more information on hunting opportunities please see our Hunting Program web page.
• Nature study
• Photography
• Snowshoeing
• Videotaping for personal use (if for commercial use, must obtain permission from Chapter office in Madison-see below)
• EarthCaching, aka Virtual Caching, in which a container is not hidden on the property, is permitted at parking lots and entry ways or along trails with approval from Conservancy staff. Off-trail caching is not permitted.

What You Cannot Do

The following activities are not permitted on Conservancy preserves:

• Biking and mountain biking
• Camping
• Caving
• Driving an ATV or off-road vehicle
• Cooking or camp fires
• Geocaching (however Virtual or EarthCaching, is allowed. See above)
• Horseback riding
• Ice skating
• Pets (even on a leash with the exception of seeing-eye dogs. There are some exceptions for dogs during hunting season. See the Wisconsin hunting program page for details.)
• Picking flowers, berries, nuts or mushrooms
• Removing any part of the natural landscape (shells, rocks, etc.)
• Rock or ice climbing
• Snowmobiling

Respect Our Neighbors' Property

Please do not trespass on private property adjacent to Conservancy preserves. Property lines are clearly marked with small yellow signs featuring the Conservancy's logo.

Contact Us

We hope that you will enjoy a safe, interesting visit.

If you experience any vandalism or other problems, please contact our office.

For more information about The Nature Conservancy in Wisconsin, contact our office, or stop by — we are located on the isthmus in downtown Madison, six blocks west of the capitol.

The Nature Conservancy
Wisconsin Chapter
633 West Main Street
Madison, WI 53703

Tel: (608) 251-8140
Fax: (608) 251-8535
E-mail: wisconsin@tnc.org

Office hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
During the summer our office hours on Friday are 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon.