This is a three leg multi with the final being about a two mile
round trip hike. When you are at GZ2 look around for the old
well.
Paradise Marsh Wildlife Area is a 1,590 acre property located in
Columbia County. Find it by going south of Randolph 1 mile on Hwy.
73 to Hwy. G. Go west on G 3 miles to wildlife area. The property
consists of approximately 1270 acres of wetland, 260 acres of
upland (grasslands), and 60 acres of wooded habitat.
Paradise Marsh has long provided excellent habitat for a variety
of wildlife and migratory waterfowl. During the early 1900’s,
cutting of marsh hay by farmers was a common practice. According to
elderly farmers of the 1910-1930’s time period, prairie
chicken were common in the marsh area. In the early 1900’s,
drainage ditches were dug throughout the marsh and large portions
of Beaver Creek were straightened. Some of the ditching efforts was
for farming the muck soils underlying the wetland vegetation.
In 1962, the Wisconsin Conservation Commission (precursor to the
DNR) purchased 425 acres of wetlands in the Paradise Marsh area.
The intent of creating the Paradise Marsh Wildlife Area was to
eventually improve habitat conditions for waterfowl and pheasant by
reducing further drainage of the marsh and providing undisturbed
upland nesting cover.
The Geocache Notification Form has been submitted to Sara Kehlri of
the Wisconsin DNR. Geocaches placed on Wisconsin Department of
Natural Resource managed lands require permission by means of a
notification form. Please print out a paper copy of the
notification form, fill in all required information, then submit it
to the land manager. The DNR Notification form and land manager
information can be obtained at:
http://www.wi-geocaching.com/hiding
This is public hunting land so you may not want to be here
during deer season and blaze orange never goes out of season
here.
