Chiwaukee-West
Venture west of the railroad from Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area to discover Chiwaukee-West: an active restoration of prairie, wetland, and savanna communities. This area serves as a critical recharge area for the crucial prairie remnant to the east.
Just north of the State Line, Chiwaukee-West was once a farmed area slated for high-density development. With efforts beginning in 2014, The Nature Conservancy in Wisconsin has acquired, protected, and restored the area to preserve the water quality of the prairie remnant to the east.
A Prairie in Restoration:
The prairies and wetlands on the restoration site were planted between 2019 and 2022 and are in various stages of recovery. Throughout the season, wildflowers including bluebells, vervain, milkweeds, goldenrods, and asters can be seen blooming.
Avian visitors include a bald eagle, greater and lesser yellowlegs, dunlins, trumpeter swans, and numerous species of sandpipers and plovers. In the summer, young killdeer and spotted sandpipers hatch out of nests on the property, and thousands of tadpoles mature into frogs that now sing from the site’s wetland swales. As the restoration matures, the land will offer more and more habitat for monarch butterflies and other pollinators through the reestablishment of native prairie cover.
Owned and Managed by:
Where It Is:
12137 Sheridan Road, Pleasant Prairie, WI 53158
Trails: A concrete road leads west from the parking area at 12137 Sheridan Rd. This is the only trail maintained year-round. Mowed burn breaks may be maintained around the perimeter of the prairie at certain times of the year. Please stay on maintained trails or burn breaks. Stay on the trails at all times and do not collect any materials from Lake Plain sites, except for photos and memories.
Ticks: Lake Plain Natural Areas have a significant tick population active from April through November. Take precautions: wear long pants tucked into socks, use insect repellent, and check yourself and pets thoroughly after visiting.
Limited Infrastructure: Many Lake Plain Natural Areas are overall purposely maintained in their natural state. Come prepared for a true natural area experience, and abide by all park rules and regulations.
Fragile Ecosystem: The globally rare plant communities here require careful stewardship. Stay on visible paths, avoid walking through wetlands, and never pick plants, dig roots, or collect seeds. Leave no trace.
What You Should Know
Chiwaukee-West is owned and Managed by the Nature Conservancy in Wisconsin.
For the information on allowed activities, rules, permits, please visit TNC Wisconsin Preserve Use Guidelines and Guidelines for Hunting.
Recreation
Hiking
Hunting
Birding
Picnics
Pets
Wildlife Viewing
Outdoor Education
Scientific Research
Cross Country Skiing
Parking Area