Iron Horse Prairie SNA 

About

Iron Horse Prairie is a triangular shaped site between two diverging abandon railroad spurs. For many years, the "iron horses" of the railroad served to protect this 35-acre site from cultivation or other disturbance, leaving what is now the finest and largest contiguous example of mesic tallgrass prairie remaining in this southern corner of the state. Species diversity is very high on this site and includes the rare plant species Sullivant's milkweed, Indian plantain, wild quinine, and valerian.

Descend the grade of the abandoned railroad bed into this triangle of land and find what has been called a "treasure trove of native plants." Come in spring for blooming prairie smoke, swamp saxifrage and valerian, or wander the tall grass in mid-summer, when the air is filled with the scent of bergamot and purple prairie clover. One late summer day, DNR Regional Ecologist Hannah Texler chanced to visit this SNA just as thousands of southbound monarch butterflies moved through on migration, stopping briefly to feed on the yellow flowers of stiff goldenrod, then lifting again, filling the air with the sound of their wings.

This site has no maintained trails or other recreational facilities.