Conservation. Care. Connection.

Experience More, Experience Driftless.

Tucked in Wisconsin’s untouched southwest corner, the Driftless Area is nature’s masterpiece. In a place where glaciers never tread, a landscape of rugged wild beauty and charm remains. With dramatic bluffs, spring-fed streams, and rare ecosystems, this land isn’t just scenic, it’s sacred. 

This land boasts high biodiversity, sustains clean water, anchors our cultural heritage, and stands tall as a resilient climate champion. But this gift is not guaranteed. Without action now, we risk losing the very landscapes that bring our communities together.

For over 25 years, Driftless Area Land Conservancy has lovingly protected, preserved, and celebrated the Driftless so its wonders endure for generations to come. We believe connecting people to nature, and each other, is a gift worth passing on. 

Properties Protected

Years of Land Protection & Outreach

Acres Protected

Driftless Area Land Conservancy’s purpose is to maintain and enhance the health, diversity, and beauty of Southwest Wisconsin’s natural and agricultural landscape through permanent land protection and restoration, and to improve people’s lives by connecting them to the land and each other.

Conservation

Land Protection

At Driftless Area Land Conservancy, we protect the land that defines this region–healthy habitats, clean water, working farms, and open spaces. Through voluntary conservation easements, we partner with landowners to permanently safeguard these places from development. Each easement is a lasting commitment to conservation. Opportunities to protect land are time-sensitive, and thoughtful action today helps ensure the Driftless remains vibrant and resilient for generations to come.

A mowed path cuts through a flowering prairie. A line of trees and blue sky are in the background.
A large oak tree against a blue sky.

CARE

Nature Preserves

Step into the Driftless and explore places we care for together. From quiet pollinator-filled prairies and spring-fed wetlands to bluff-top forests and river-side cliffs, each preserve offers space to walk, reflect, and reconnect with nature, history, and what matters most. Visit sites regularly to see how our ecologival restoration projects are progessing, and to experience best practices in managing land for biodiversity and long-term resilience.

connection

Driftless Trail

The Driftless Trail invites you to a landscape shaped by nature, where every turn offers a moment of wonder and stillness. This is living history. Each view tells a story of a land that endures, offering space to reflect, connect, and explore. The Trail is here for you, and for those who will follow in your footsteps.

A trail marker on a wooded section of the Driftless Trail.
A small group of people look out over a hilly landscape at sunset.

community

Join Us in the Field

Make a difference with your hands and your heart. Join us for public events, guided hikes, and volunteer workdays that welcome everyone. Help us care for restored habitats, connect with others who share your love of the land, and experience what stewardship looks like in action.

Volunteer with DALC!

Join us for monthly workdays to steward our beautiful nature preserves and trail systems.
New volunteers are always welcome – no experience necessary!

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