Pleasant Valley Conservancy is a natural area rather than a public park. It is open for limited hiking and bird watching only.

Directions: The Conservancy is about 4 miles southwest of the Village of Black Earth. Go west from Black Earth on County Highway F and continue south on F until Pleasant Valley Road. Turn left on Pleasant Valley Road. The preserve will be on your left. Continue past the steep hillside until you reach an open area and walking trail entrance (about ¾ mile east on Pleasant Valley Road from the junction with County F). Cars should be parked off the road facing the entrance.

The trail shown on the map below permits an excellent view of the whole conservancy. The complete round trip takes about 2 hours of leisurely hiking. The hike uses in part mowed trails and the rest uses the ridge-top service road.

1. Park off the road just south of the Pocket Prairie and walk through this prairie on the marked trail.
2. Enter the White Oak Savanna on the marked trail and climb to the top of the hill.
3. The trail joins the service road (authorized vehicles only!) at the west end of Toby's Prairie. Follow the service road to the top of the hill.
4. Enter the Bur Oak Savanna and continue west.
5. The trail enters a large open area where red-headed woodpeckers are often seen (look especially at the dead birch trees in the middle of the savanna).
6. Continue on the service road to its end and rejoin the hiking trail. Continue further to reach the overlook (Aldo Lepold Bench) with a view of the wetlands and Blue Mounds State Park.
7. Follow the ridge trail down the hill and along the upper end of a quarry. Enter the quarry and continue downhill on an old stone-haul road (switchbacks) to County Highway F.
8. Walk west on County F and a short way on Pleasant Valley Road to a mowed trail that leads to the edge of the wetland.
9. Walk along the edge of the wetland past the Crane Prairie, Barn Prairie, and Valley Prairie and return to your vehicle.

Please stay on the marked trail. Do not remove plants or seeds. No motors allowed.

<return to top