Fischer Creek a conservation success story
It’s a common conservation story: Land is threatened by development, citizens band together to protect it. But that doesn’t make it any less notable when it happens, including in the case of the small Fischer Creek Conservation Area, a natural area south of Manitowoc with towering sandy bluffs along Lake Michigan.
In the ’90s, a Chicago developer considered the land as a spot for condominiums. But the site, notable for its sweeping views of the lake from 40- to 80foot bluffs and a steelhead trout stream, was a favorite spot for locals, who created the Friends of Fischer Creek and worked to stop the development.
The group not only succeeded in lobbying the Village Board to deny the developer’s request to annex the land, but also raised $1.3 million to purchase the land and protect it permanently as a park. Most of that money came from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ Stewardship Fund, while Manitowoc County also threw in $200,000 and agreed to manage the land.
Twenty years later, the 160-acre site protects nearly a mile of Lake Michigan shoreline and more than 600 feet of Fischer Creek, and is a prime spot for hiking, picnicking and birdwatching during spring and fall migrations. As lakeshore property is developed and public access becomes more scarce, the area is a small slice of nature along Lake Michigan that is accessible to everyone.
A less-than-mile-long trail stretches through the park, passing through woodlands and patches of prairie and providing access to terrific views of the lake. For more travel ideas, see wisconsintrails.com.
Spring is a great time for hiking the bluff-top trails, with leafless trees allowing for maximum views and migrating birds adding to the experience.
Park at the southernmost lot to access the trail and a large picnic area. The views there are some of the best in the park, and a few benches along the bluff provide spots for resting and taking them in. Be careful, though — the only thing separating the benches from the steep slope is a few dozen yards of grass.
From the northern end of the picnic area, follow the wide hiking trail as it slopes down to an old truss bridge that crosses Fischer Creek. The bridge dates back to the late 1800s and was used as part of a road connecting Milwaukee and Green Bay.
The creek dumps into the tempestuous lake just to the east, where waves beat against a small rock-andsand beach.
Past the bridge, the trail climbs the bluff to another parking area and lookout point. From there, it continues to follow the bluffs to a final scenic spot near the park’s northern boundary.
Before you reach the northern end of the park, find an old concrete farm silo and the crumbling remains of another building on one of the trail spurs.
In the spring, look for for a variety of waterfowl, songbirds and hawks including mergansers, red-throated loons, great egrets, canvasbacks, red-shouldered hawks and longtailed ducks.