Scuppernong Springs Nature Trail in Dousman

Activities: Birding, Hiking, Wildlife Viewing

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A footbridge across the Scuppernong River

The Scuppernong Springs Nature Trail is a 1.5-mile loop within the Southern Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest. The parking lot and trailhead are directly across Hwy ZZ from Ottawa Lake Recreation Area. The main attraction is a complex of many springs around a small dell at the headwaters of the Scuppernong River. While some of the springs seep out from the slopes surrounding the dell, others visibly bubble up from the silt in the river (which is a small creek at this point). However, the area within and around the trail also contains a remarkable and surprising number of distinct ecosystems and plant communities. These include Southern Dry Forest, Sand Prairie, Wet-mesic Prairie, Calcareous Fen, Southern Sedge Meadow, Oak Savanna and ephemeral ponds. The high quality of these communities has led to a great diversity of species thriving within a relatively small area.

The trail also has a rich human history. Remnants of various activities can be seen along the trail, including a short section of the railroad that once led into the area. A long, narrow pond marks the spot where calcium-carbonate-rich marl was extracted and some ruins remain of the marl processing plant that operated there. A DNR guidebook for the self-guided trail describes much more of the history.

There are no amenities. A Wisconsin State Parks annual sticker or day use fee is required.

Story links:

Exploring the Scuppernong Springs Nature Trail: Legacy of Land and Glacier

The Scuppernong Springs Nature Trail: A Saunter Through History