Badertscher Preserve - Muskego, WI

Badertscher Preserve is 104 acres of former farmland, featuring foot trails for hiking the wetlands, woodlands, oak savanna, hills and prairies. My first visit in spring yielded lots of bird sightings.  This is definitely a birding hotspot. There are plenty of steep hills for climbing, and a scenic, peaceful pond with benches for sitting.  

The property was purchased by the city of Muskego in 2012, and the preserve was named for the family who farmed the land for many years. The purchase was made with Muskego conservation funds, and was leveraged with a Stewardship Grant from the State of Wisconsin. The Little Muskego Lake association also donated $50,000 towards acquisition and development.

The prairies here contain over 70 native species of plants that were seeded on agricultural land in 2013/2014. Walking the prairie trails on a summer day is a colorful exploration of wildflowers and butterflies.  Just over 20 minutes from Milwaukee, Badertscher is a spot I will return to again and again, season to season.

Location: S74 W20312 Field Drive, Muskego, WI (Waukesha County) 
 For more information, click here.  View Trail Map here.