Bass Hollow County Reserve

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Wisconsin State Natural Area (No. 270)
Location: Juneau County. T14N-R4E, Sections 16, 21. 212 acres.

Access: From the intersection of U.S. Highway 12 and State Highway 58 in Mauston, go southeast on 12 1.9 miles, then south on County Highway K 7.1 miles, then east on Cowan Road about 0.7 miles. The natural area lies northwest and southeast of the road. Or continue on K 0.5 mile past Cowan Road to a parking area for Bass Hollow Recreational Area.

Description: Located in a deep, cliff-lined coulee, Bass Hollow contains an undisturbed forested gorge of mesic hardwoods with sugar maple, basswood, and red oak. Other trees include yellow birch and black ash found in springy areas. Hemlock occupies north-facing cliffs. This site features one of the largest blocks of undisturbed southern mesic forest in the state. The topography is very steep with sandstone cliffs rising over 100 feet high in some places. The upper slopes and ridge tops support a dry to dry-mesic forest of red and white oaks, big-tooth aspen, and black cherry. The ground layer is diverse and contains the rare plant species - nodding pogonia (Triphora trianthophera), and autumn coral-root (Corallorhiza odontorrhiza). Other herbaceous plants include doll's eyes, blue cohosh, wild geranium, hepaticas, early meadow rue, mayapple, sweet cicely, lady fern, fragile fern, and silvery spleenwort. Bass Hollow is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 1999.

www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/er/sna/sna270.htm