The Nature Conservancy - Preserve Visitation Guidelines

Preserve Visitation Guidelines

Pewitt's Nest Field Trip
© Lawrence A. Michael

Nature Conservancy preserves are private properties. They are managed to protect fragile resources - native species and plant communities.

You will find few trails or facilities. The trails we do maintain or create are designed to steer visitors away from the most fragile portions of the preserve and toward those areas that can handle more use. Still, we ask you to tread lightly.

Most of the state's preserves are open to visitors, but only for low-impact recreational activities (see list below). Those preserves harboring species or natural communities at risk, however, are not open to the public.

Preparation: the Key to a Safe, Enjoyable Visit
You will not find any staff on duty at the preserves. Therefore, we ask you to 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 repellant
Rain gear
Snack (fruit or trail mix)
Sunscreen

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 Wildnerness Area preserve 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 Deer Management 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)

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 (Virtual caching, in which a container is not hidden on the property, is permitted at parking lots and entry ways or along trails and fire breaks. Off-trail caching is not permitted.)
Horseback riding
Ice Skating
Pets (even on a leash with the exception of seeing-eye dogs)
Picking flowers, berries, nuts or mushrooms
Removing any part of the natural landscape (shells, rocks, etc.)
Rock or ice climbing
Snowmobiling
Trapping

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 and the Wisconsin Chapter, 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.