Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Midway Railroad Prairie (No. 18)

Overview

Location

La Crosse County. T17N-R7W, Sections 29, 30. 3 acres.

Access

From the southernmost intersection of State Highway 35 and County Highway OT in Midway (north of Onalaska), go west on OT less than 0.1 mile, then south on County Highway ZM 0.1 mile. Park along the road near the Midway Prairie sign on the right. Walk down slope into the prairie. Also accessible from the Great River State Trail.

Description

Description

Midway Prairie is a small dry-mesic sand prairie remnant on a western-facing slope of a Mississippi River terrace. Soils are Sparta and Plainfield sands and loamy sands. Although the site was originally established to preserve the early spring show of pasque flower, the prairie is diverse and contains more than 70 species of prairie plants. The prairie contains two rare plants - clustered poppy mallow (Callirhoe triangulata) and small-flowered wild bean (Strophostyles leiosperma). Representative forb species include lead-plant, puccoons, poppy mallow, silky aster, and purple prairie-clover; the dominant grasses are porcupine grass, switch grass, June grass, big blue-stem, and little blue-stem. Common animals are brown snake, field sparrow, red-winged blackbird, and American goldfinch. Midway Railroad Prairie is owned by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and was designated a State Natural Area in 1955.

Maps

The WDNR's State Natural Areas Program is comprised of lands owned by the state, private conservation organizations, municipalities, other governmental agencies, educational institutions, and private individuals. Therefore, while the majority of SNAs are open to the public, access may vary accordingly. Public use restrictions may apply due to public safety, or to protect endangered or threatened species or unique natural features. Lands may be temporarily closed due to specific management activities. Users are encouraged to contact the land owner for more specific details.

The data shown on these maps have been obtained from various sources, and are of varying age, reliability, and resolution. The data may contain errors or omissions and should not be interpreted as a legal representation of legal ownership boundaries.

• Detailed Map [PDF, 210 KB]
• Line Map [PDF, 26 KB]

Activities

Please come prepared for your visit. Amenities vary from site to site with most SNAs being primitive and without facilities. See Guidelines for Visitation for details.

Allowable Activities

Most DNR-owned SNAs allow:

• Hiking
• Hunting
• Fishing
• Trapping
• Skiing

Some exceptions apply. Properties closed to the public or closed to specific use, such as hunting, will be posted.

***For non-DNR-owned SNAs: Additional use guidelines may apply. Please verify any use restrictions with the landowner or contact the SNA Program. Landowners may require additional permits or restrict the number of hunters at a given SNA to provide a quality hunting experience. SNA landowners can be found at the bottom of each SNA description page.

Prohibited Activities

• Horseback riding
• Rock climbing
• Vehicles, including bicycles, ATVs, aircraft, and snowmobiles except on trails and roadways designated for their use
• Collecting of plants (including fruits, nuts, or edible plant parts), animals, fungi, rocks, minerals, fossils, archaeological artifacts, soil, downed wood, or any other natural material, alive or dead

Please note that a permit is required for scientific collection and research on State Natural Areas. For more information, contact Thomas Meyer, State Natural Areas Program Specialist.

For more information on rules governing state-owned SNAs and other state lands, please consult Wisconsin's Administrative Code Chapter NR 45 (exit DNR)