News & Updates
A Fresh Start on the Land: Where to Hike This New Year’s Day
Get outside and explore the Driftless Area this winter! From scenic overlooks to forested trails and prairie remnants, our preserves and Driftless Trail segments offer easy-to-moderate hikes with stunning views and abundant wildlife.
A New Chapter for Wintergreen
Wintergreen is entering a new chapter rooted in conservation, care, and community connection. With long-term stewardship in mind, this Driftless property will be restored, protected, and thoughtfully shared for generations to come.
Hike Safely in the Driftless This Season
Enjoy the beauty of the Driftless this fall while staying safe during hunting season. Explore Driftless Area Land Conservancy’s open trail segments, including Phoebe Point and Welsh Hills, and learn key tips for hiking safely in the Driftless.
DALC’s New Look
We are thrilled to welcome you to Driftless Area Land Conservancy’s new online home. Explore our refreshed website, deigned to reflect the beauty, care, and connection that guide our work across the Driftless.
No Houses Here – this Land is for the Birds!
The meadowlark lifts from the grass as we tread across its territory on our walk toward the ominous sign proclaiming “5 Acre Lots for Sale.” Perched on high open ground with distant views of Blue Mound and just a short commute from Madison, this site must have seemed perfect for residential development, just as it was a perfect spot for this bird...
Celebrating a Legacy of Stewardship: Honoring the Cates Family
Presented by Richard (Dick) Cates, August 12th, 2025 On August 12th, 2025, Driftless Area Land Conservancy welcomed all to the Legacy Society Picnic. During this gathering, Gathering Waters had the honor to present the Land Legacy Award to Richard (Dick) Cates and his family for their outstanding commitment to conservation. After the Cates family...
Weaving a Legacy – Patrick Michaels
Patrick Michaels may not have grown up in the Driftless Area, but he's weaving a legacy into its landscape that will endure for generations. It all started when Patrick met his great-uncle Gary Zimmer. Inspired by Gary's innovative agricultural practices, Patrick decided to leave the bustling city of Los Angeles and move to the serene Hoyer Farm...
Chuck’s Send Off
This farm boy from southeast Wisconsin grew up surrounded by the gently rolling hills of the Kettle Moraine landscape. That viewshed, along with the ubiquitous rounded fieldstones and smooth, “polished” gravel, is unmistakable evidence of the tremendous power of the glaciers that shaped that land. To me, this was the Wisconsin countryside. But...