Jackson Creek Preserve

Jackson Creek Preserve

Located in Elkhorn within the headwaters of Lake Delavan, the 23-acre Jackson Creek Preserve protects a rich mosaic of wetlands including sedge meadow, wet prairie, and calcareous fen ecosystems. These increasingly rare wetland communities provide critical habitat for wildlife while helping maintain water quality throughout the watershed.  

Jackson Creek Preserve is open year-round to the public and is accessible from the south parking lot for Aurora Medical Center. There, a trailhead kiosk welcomes visitors and provides access to the preserve’s new trail system and observation deck – the ideal place to witness the magic of Wisconsin wetlands up close.  

Visitors may encounter an impressive variety of rare plants, dragonflies, butterflies, fish, and wetland-loving birds. Beavers, sandhill cranes, rainbow darters, and many other species make their homes within the preserve and its creek. KMLT established a new trail system here in 2024, opening areas of the preserve that had previously been difficult to explore. In 2025, YouthBuild-Elkhorn built an observation deck overlooking the creek, and the trail network was expanded with an eastern loop. Future plans for the preserve include continued ecological restoration and additional trail expansions. 

KMLT spearheads ongoing restoration efforts throughout the preserve. Prescribed burns and invasive species management have helped native wetland vegetation recover and improve habitat quality for wildlife. Regular monitoring indicates high water quality in the creek, while fish and plant surveys conducted by KMLT inform future restoration efforts. 

KMLT holds regular volunteer workdays and educational programs here, with links to register found on KMLT’s website.