Kickapoo Valley Reserve Addition
Meandering through Vernon County by kayak or canoe, surrounded by the rock carved long ago by the Kickapoo River, you may have passed through this special property near the Kickapoo Valley Reserve. Now acquired and protected forever by Mississippi Valley Conservancy, this 17-acre parcel is now available for recreational activities such as hiking, bird watching, nature photography, fishing, cross country skiing and more.
Funding and support from multiple partners and members made it possible for the Conservancy to purchase this extraordinary property with its wetlands, waterways, and diverse natural communities. Major support was provided by the Wisconsin Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund, Trout Unlimited Watershed Access Fund and by the local Coulee Region Chapter of Trout Unlimited as well as a several smaller grants including the Wisconsin Land Fund, the John C. Bock Foundation, and a gift from an anonymous donor.
While the property is relatively small, it adds to a contiguous protected corridor of more than 12,000 acres that includes both Wildcat Mountain State Park and the Kickapoo Valley Reserve. From a conservation perspective, wildlife corridors are critical for maintaining water quality and biodiversity. Native birds, beneficial insects, aquatic plants and insects, and wildlife will all be able to rely on the protected habitat, including several of special concern. Additionally, this property adds even more space for the community to enjoy outdoor activities, such as hiking, fishing, bird watching and photography.
Hay Valley Creek is designated as a Class I trout stream, and the stretch of the Kickapoo River on this property is a Class II trout stream. This partnership began with a conservation-minded property owner’s willingness to protect a special piece of land. The property owner, who wishes to remain anonymous, stated, “I’m happy to do my small part. It’s been great to work with the Kickapoo Valley Reserve and the Conservancy – they are good people who have a common interest in preserving wild things. It just made sense that my land along the river be used as a preserve. We need more of those areas.”
This property will soon officially become a part of the Kickapoo Valley Reserve (KVR) when the Conservancy transfers ownership of the land to KVR. The Kickapoo Valley Reserve is owned by the State of Wisconsin and the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Trust for the Ho-Chunk Nation and managed by the Kickapoo Reserve Management Board (KRMB). To learn more about the Kickapoo Valley Reserve visit: http://kvr.state.wi.us/Home.
(Photo by Connor Kotte)
17 acres
Directions to Property: From Ontario, Wisconsin (in Vernon County), from the intersection of Wisconsin Highway 131 and Highway 33, travel south on WI Hwy 131 for 3.6 miles. Turn right/west onto Hay Valley Road and continue for 0.6 miles until the bridge over the Kickapoo River to arrive at the property.
Access to Property: Parking and hike-in access is available at Campsite U of the Kickapoo Valley Reserve, the entrance of which is located 100 feet to the west of the property. Access is also available from Hay Valley Road, which forms the northern property boundary west of the bridge and provides access both north and south of the road east of the bridge. Access is also available from the Kickapoo Valley Reserve along the eastern, southern, and western boundaries and from the Kickapoo River along the western boundary.
Other: The property is located within the Kickapoo River floodplain. The time of year, water levels, and flood status may all impact accessibility; waterproof boots are usually necessary depending on site conditions.
Allowed recreational activities: hunting, trapping, fishing, hiking, kayaking, canoeing, bird watching, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and enjoying scenic views from Hay Valley Road and the Kickapoo River.
Not allowed: biking, use of motorized vehicles, camping, campfires, horseback riding, dogs