Why Visit?
View sweeping vistas of the broad Mississippi River Valley and Lake Pepin below from high atop the 400-foot namesake bluff of Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area in Pepin County.
The natural area features a half-mile-long cliff face of dolomitic limestone edged on top by a narrow band of dry prairie dominated by little bluestem, blazing star, mountain mint, goldenrods and asters.
Tiny ferns cling to the rock outcrops, as do gnarled red cedar trees, some aged at more than 250 years. Away from the bluff, prescribed fire and brush removal is being used to restore the oak savanna and oak woodland ecosystems. Situated along the Mississippi River flyway, the bluff top provides an excellent perch from which to watch migrating raptors and waterfowl in the fall, and neotropical songbirds in the spring. A network of trails and undesignated footpaths lead from the parking lot through a restored prairie to various overlooks along the bluff edge.
Learn more about this site, view maps and visitation guidelines.
Recent Habitat Work
Wisconsin State Natural Area crew members have been doing brush/tree removal and using prescribed fire to restore the oak savanna and oak woodland at the site. Additionally, local-ecotype prairie seed is being collected for seeding into restored areas to increase species diversity.
How To Get Involved
Volunteer workdays are set for 9-12 a.m. every second Thursday of the month at Maiden Rock Bluff State Natural Area. Landmark Conservancy, Pepin County Land Conservation Department, Lower Chippewa River Alliance, and Lower Chippewa Invasives Partnership have all done work on this site as a part of volunteer workdays to help supplement the restoration work of DNR field crews. See the webpage for more details about the Sept. 9 seed collecting session and sign up to receive work notices for this and other sites in the West Central work area.
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