New Amsterdam Grasslands

New Amsterdam Grasslands

In 1997, what is now called the New Amsterdam Grasslands was identified by Craig Thompson, a founder of Mississippi Valley Conservancy, as one of the most important areas of conservation, primarily due to the fact that it provides critical nesting habitat for rare grassland birds, like the state threatened Henslow's Sparrow and Bell's Vireo.

Northern Engraving Company saved the grasslands from the bulldozers a decade ago and later donated more than a million dollars of land value to make this protection effort possible, along with a nearly million-dollar grant from Wisconsin's Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund.

The 310-acre site in La Crosse County is significant in size to these rare birds for maintaining viable nesting grounds.

In addition to the important wildlife habitat being protected, this property provides a great outdoor recreational resource for residents and visitors to the area. 35 acres is open to the public year round; the remaining acres are not open to the public during April, May, June and July in order to allow the birds to nest undisturbed (see trail map for descriptions). Please observe list of activities allowed/not allowed on the trail map for this property.

MVC created a video entitled "Save Us A Song" about the bird habitat provided by this site. Check out our videos page.

La Crosse County

310 acres

Find Nature's Treasures:

 

Land Type
Find Nature’s Treasures
Nature Preserve
Protected
Trail Trek Challenge
Directions

W7900 Old NA, New Amsterdam, WI

From La Crosse: Follow Hwy 53 north to exit Mh. Exit right and follow to stop sign. Turn left on to Mh and follow to XX. Turn right on XX and follow in to New Amsterdam. Turn right on to Old NA and follow for approximately ½ mile to the trailhead which is on the left.