• Home
  • How We Work
  • Where We Work
  • News Room
  • About Us
  • My Nature Page

The Nature Conservancy in Africa - Conservation in Africa

The Nature Conservancy in Asia Pacific - Conservation in Asia-Pacific

The Nature Conservancy in the Caribbean - Conservation in the Caribbean

The Nature Conservancy in Central America - Conservation in Central America

The Nature Conservancy in North America - Conservation in North America

The Nature Conservancy in the United States - Conservation in the United States

The Nature Conservancy in South America - Conservation in South America

The Hogback

The Hogback

The Hogback
© Gerald H. Emmerich, Jr.
Why You Should Visit
Known to locals as "the Hogsback," this spectacular geologic formation rises several hundred feet above the Citron Valley. The narrow, steep-sided north/south running ridge harbors one of the best examples of dry prairie remaining in Wisconsin.

Hiking to the ridge's top offers a rich reward: a breathtaking rural landscape of high, forested ridges separated by rolling valleys that are dotted with farms and agricultural fields.

Summer is a great time to enjoy colorful wildflowers and butterflies.

Location
Southwestern Wisconsin: Crawford County near Steuben

Hours
Open year-round, dawn to dusk

Conditions
The primitive, unmarked trail traverses steep terrain. (A primitive trail is cleared of brush and plants, but is none of the following: wide, paved, graded or covered with wood chips.)

How to Prepare for Your Visit
Given the steep terrain, it's especially important to wear good hiking shoes.

Shade is scarce during the summer, so please pack a sun hat and plenty of water.

Please see "Preserve Visitation Guidelines"

Directions
From Boscobel (about 14 miles):

  • Travel north on Hwy 61 to junction with Hwy 60.
  • Turn left (west) on Hwy 60 and travel approx. 0.25 mile to Cty Hwy E.
  • Turn right on E and travel approx. 7.1 miles to junction with Hwy 131.
  • Turn left (west) on 131 and go approx. 1 mile to Steuben. 
  •  At the park, go straight, then bear right to cross the Kickapoo River. 
  • At the "T" intersection, go left on Citron Valley Road approx. 0.6 mile to Hughes Road, then bear right (north). 
  •  Go approx. 2.5 miles to Citron Valley Road and turn left (west).
  • Travel approx. 1 mile and park along the side of the road. 
  • Look for the sign and kiosk at the preserve entrance.

What to See: Plants
The preserve is a diverse mix of dry prairie, oak savanna, forests and wetlands. 

Plants: prairie grasses such as Indian grass, prairie dropseed, side-oats grama, and big and little bluestem

Wildflowers: bird's foot violets, shooting stars, butterfly weed, wild rose, purple prairie clover, western sunflower and wild columbine (As is generally true with prairie habitat, summer is the most colorful season.)

What to See: Birds

The Hogback in Fall

The Hogback in Fall
© Gerald H. Emmerich, Jr.

Birds that favor grasslands, such as the Eastern meadowlark, savanna sparrow and field sparrow, gravitate here. 

This is a great place to see butterflies.

Why the Conservancy Chose This Site
 

  • It is one of the state's best remaining examples of dry prairie
  • Home to several rare plants and butterflies, and
  • Located within the Kickapoo River Watershed, an important area for conservation.

What the Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing
Since its initial 42-acre acquisition in 1997, the Conservancy has protected an additional 919 acres - for a total protected area of 961 acres.  These figures are accurate as of September 20, 2006. 

Conservancy staff and volunteers have begun to restore the prairie by:

  • Conducting controlled burns to remove shrubs that have invaded in the absence of fire. (Once this was a natural process, as fires frequently burned through this prairie.)
  • Collecting native grass and wildflower seeds to use in future prairie restoration efforts
  • Taking an inventory of the native plants and animals on the site.