Seminary Woods - St. Francis, WI
Seminary Woods is one of those "secret" bits of wilderness within Milwaukee that I had heard about, but had never ventured into.
Honestly, I wasn't quite sure exactly where the entrance was located. I tried once to find it, but was a bit off in my search, so I set the idea aside. Fortunately, for me, this spring I had the good fortune to meet Eddee Daniel (Urban Wilderness Blog), and he was kind enough to introduce me properly to Seminary Woods. Once on the trails inside this lush wilderness of enormous, ancient trees, and wild plants, it's easy to see why it is so revered, and why it is so important to keep it wild, and undeveloped. Inside the woods is an old, gated grotto, and a cemetery that belongs to the local seminary. What a glorious spot to rest in peace! The day we were there we spotted, from a distance, a doe enjoying a snack of greens. The sounds of birds singing echoed overhead. This is a popular spot for birding during spring and fall migration, as it is not far from Lake Michigan. Here's hoping this site will be preserved for generations to come.
Location: Start at 3257 S. Lake Drive, St. Francis. Follow the road towards the seminary, then veer right, to the far right, northern parking lot. From the lot, walk south towards the woods (past the print shop building), and you will see an entrance to the woods.
For more information, click here. For more history on the seminary itself, click here.
Honestly, I wasn't quite sure exactly where the entrance was located. I tried once to find it, but was a bit off in my search, so I set the idea aside. Fortunately, for me, this spring I had the good fortune to meet Eddee Daniel (Urban Wilderness Blog), and he was kind enough to introduce me properly to Seminary Woods. Once on the trails inside this lush wilderness of enormous, ancient trees, and wild plants, it's easy to see why it is so revered, and why it is so important to keep it wild, and undeveloped. Inside the woods is an old, gated grotto, and a cemetery that belongs to the local seminary. What a glorious spot to rest in peace! The day we were there we spotted, from a distance, a doe enjoying a snack of greens. The sounds of birds singing echoed overhead. This is a popular spot for birding during spring and fall migration, as it is not far from Lake Michigan. Here's hoping this site will be preserved for generations to come.
Location: Start at 3257 S. Lake Drive, St. Francis. Follow the road towards the seminary, then veer right, to the far right, northern parking lot. From the lot, walk south towards the woods (past the print shop building), and you will see an entrance to the woods.
For more information, click here. For more history on the seminary itself, click here.
