Waterloo Quartzite Outcrops State Natural Area

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Waterloo Quartzite Outcrops consists of two separate geological features of Precambrian red quartzite and Paleozoic conglomerate rock. The southernmost outcrop, Stony Island, is a 23-acre quartzite island in the Crawfish and Maunesha River floodplain. Rock is abundant on the surface. The elevation from the floodplain to the top of the island is 40 feet with 5-30% slopes. A variety of hardwood species grow here with white oak, red oak, shagbark hickory, and hackberry common. Some of these are open grown and over two feet in diameter. Other species include bur oak, black cherry, ash, and basswood. Spring ephemerals are abundant and pale corydalis, a plant of cliff and savanna habitats, grows on the rocks.