Blackhawk Island State Natural Area

Blackhawk Island State Natural Area is a wooded island in the Wisconsin River. The terrain is varied, consisting of ridges, gorges, cliffs, rock outcrops, and some level ground. The Area features diverse upland forest types with rich flora at the Dells of the Wisconsin River. The soils are dominated by sands and sandy loams of eleven different soil series.

The island has several relatively undisturbed community types with white oak, red oak, white pine, sugar maple, basswood, hemlock, white cedar, yellow birch, river birch, cottonwood, and red maple – each dominating in specific areas. For example, white oak and white pine are the dominant species on the north shore.

The gorges provide unique habitats. Especially common are ferns with nearly one-third of the taxa of Wisconsin present! Birds are equally diverse with species present having both northern and southern affinities. Deer enclosures within the Area demonstrate the impact that overbrowsing has had on the understory.

Blackhawk Island is owned by the University of Wisconsin and was designated a State Natural Area in 1969.

Source: WDNR