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Waukau's Nature Friends LbNA #58486 (ARCHIVED)

Owner:The Gamer Ruettens
Plant date:Jun 27, 2011
Location: Waukau Creek Nature Preserve
City:Waukau
County:Winnebago
State:Wisconsin
Boxes:3
Found by: Anna Banana (3)
Last found:Aug 8, 2012
Status:FFFFFFFam
Last edited:Aug 17, 2019
These are on hiatus as we ascertain their whereabouts.

Waukau Creek Nature Preserve

(Waukau is a small town west of Oshkosh on highway 91 and 116 in Winnebago County)
Take County Road K north out of Waukau. When County K turns west, continue north on Delhi Rd to the Waukau Creek Nature Preserve. Park on the west side of the road and walk across the road.

This 64-acre site includes Rush Creek which is the only flowing creek in Winnebago County. Rush Creek connects the nature preserve with an additional 28 acres of county property located ½ mile away off Highway 116. There is much to see here, but this adventure is on a small portion of the trails and only takes less than an hour. Depending on the time of year, you may wish to bring bug spray and it could be muddy, so plan on a change of shoes. The best time of year is usually fall, but any time it is dry is good.

Did you know that there are fantastic creatures hiding in these woods? Rumor has it there is a fairy among the trees here. We were able to find some directions to the fairy’s home. This is our account of the adventure…

Box #1 – A visit to Mr. Troll

---Our sources told us that the secret hiding place of the fairy was only known to a troll who kept guard over an area with three bridges.---

Past the dedication sign, take the grassy trail to the right. You can stop and look at the map. Your adventure will be within the first red marked trail. Continue past the map and you will pass an open grassy area on the right and a set of stairs on the left. Continue on the trail and you will head down a hill to a small wooden bridge. Cross the bridge and you will see a larger metal bridge on the right. Enjoy the metal bridge over the main creek, but you will not be crossing it. From the metal bridge, walk 15 paces on the small trail along the water to a big, ugly tree fitting for a troll to hide in.

Box #2 – On to visit the Fairy

---After some tea with Mr. Troll, he divulged the secret hiding place of the forest fairy. He told us to:---

Continue on the trail across a small stream. There may or may not be a very, very small “bridge”. This trail continues to follow the water and you will come to a fork. The left fork goes back to the steps that you passed while walking to Box 1. You will be continuing on the trail that goes along the water. Cross two big fallen trees pointing into the water at a bow in the creek. Walk 45 paces to see a “Bitternut Hickory” sign on your left. Follow the trail and you will spot many more signs before you find our fairy friend. First, an “Eastern Meadowlark” sign on the right and then a “Cedar-hawthorn Rust” sign on the right. On the right, the next sign will be “White Ash” and then “Red-osier Dogwood” on the left. The final sign is “Northern Prickly-Ash” on the left. This will bring you to a more open area where the trail starts to go uphill. Half way up the hill there is a large, 4-trunked tree with a “Red Oak” in front of it. Stand with your back to the sign and look at the creek. There is a large, thick tree with all the branches pointing downhill. Go to the left of that tree and look to the tree directly in front of you. There is a lovely hollow where the fairy hides. Take care not to go over the edge along here!

Box #3 –The home of the woodland Unicorn

---Miss fairy was kind enough to share the location of the home of her good friend the woodland unicorn:---

Continue on the trail to the top of the hill. There is a nice overlook of the creek to your right- again be careful of this drop-off! Turn 180 degree and follow the trail leading away from the water, along the crest of the hill. Shortly, you will come to a fork with a sign on the right that says “Forest Edge”. Looking at the sign, take 12 steps past it, off the trail to a large oak tree. On the west side, in a hole at the base, holds the fairy’s friend, unicorn.

Take right trail back to the dedication sign to complete your adventure, or turn around and head further into the woods to explore this wonderful area.


Hike length: 1 mile