SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN FIELD TRIP
Gays Mills Prairie Walk at Iris Drive Prairie
Saturday, July 19 – 10:00 a.m.
Location: Iris Drive Prairie in Gays Mills, WI
Summer means our prairies are in full bloom! Join Melinda Knutson, a Prairie Enthusiast expert, to see and learn about some of the native plants in a restored remnant prairie. The Southwest Wisconsin Chapter of The Prairie Enthusiasts invites everyone to participate in a walking tour of Iris Drive Prairie on July 19, 2025 at 10 am. This ten acre remnant prairie has been managed by volunteers since 2012. With new species blooming every day, it’s a beautiful and colorful time to walk the trail and learn about our plants!
This tour is free, family-friendly, and open to the public. No registration required.
Note: There are no restroom facilities at the prairie.
DIFFICULTY: Easy/Medium. There is some incline but not extremely steep.
WHAT TO BRING:
You may learn a few tricks for identifying prairie (native) plants in your back yard. We recommend you load a free plant identification app onto your phone such as Seek by iNaturalist prior to the walk. This will enhance your experience and give you a record of plants of interest for future reference.
We recommend bringing sunscreen, bug spray, hat/sunglasses, tall socks, binoculars and a water bottle.
CONTACT:
If you have any questions about this event, contact Info@ThePrairieEnthusiasts.org or call (608) 676-0985. Check out the Southwest Facebook page for event updates in case of inclement weather.
LOCATION AND PARKING:
The Iris Drive address is 18663 West River Road, Gays Mills, WI 54631. Hwy 131 is under construction. We recommend Hwy 61 to the east or Hwy 27 to the east as alternate access to the area. The Iris Drive address on West River Road is a few hundred feet south of the intersection with Iris Drive. The prairie is about 1000 feet west down onto Iris Drive. Watch for “Event” signs. Please park off the road.