Wandering Rock State Natural Area is a 162-acre protected property along the Mississippi River in western Wisconsin, about 90 minutes southeast of Minneapolis and about an hour north of La Crosse, Wisconsin. Located in Buffalo County, near Nelson, Wisconsin, this unique property connects with neighboring lands protected by Landmark Conservancy and the Town of Nelson to form a 400-acre corridor of preserved habitat and scenic beauty along the Great River Road.

A component of the Mississippi River migratory flyway, Wandering Rock State Natural Area was chosen for protection by the Mississippi Valley Conservancy in alignment with the priorities of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 10-Year State Wildlife Action Plan due to its rare and high-quality natural communities.

This property features rare dry prairies and oak woodlands—habitats that are increasingly threatened across Wisconsin and are essential for a variety of plants and animals that rely on these communities. Oak woodlands, once an abundant natural community in Wisconsin, are now considered critically imperiled in the state due to agricultural and residential development and encroachment of other woody species due to fire suppression. Once abundant prairies are being invaded and shaded by eastern red cedar and management practices to remove the cedar and restore prescribed fire to the area will greatly help the health and diversity of the site. Other natural communities on the property include southern dry forest, southern dry-mesic forest, and dry cliff.

The property’s natural communities support a variety of wildlife, including a pair of state-endangered peregrine falcons that nest on a cliff face adjacent to the property. Other species include the ruffed grouse, ovenbird and many state species of concern including the American woodcock, the least flycatcher, the ruby-crowned kinglet and the red-headed woodpecker. The prairie remnants include small skullcap (endangered in Wisconsin), little bluestem, prairie dropseed, pasque flower, butterfly milkweed, spiderwort, and fringed puccoon. Restoration efforts at Wandering Rock aim to improve the health of these natural communities by removing invasive species, using prescribed fire, and promoting native plant growth.

• Property Cost: $409,935
• Atira Conservation Funding: $3,540