Imagine the impact of a melting ice-cube about one mile thick and 250 miles wide! That’s exactly the kind of force that shaped Tiffany Wildlife Area about 10,000 years ago, only the ice cube was called the Wisconsin Glacier.

While the glacier’s advance stopped northeast of the Tiffany, the rushing meltwaters created massive rivers that formed the fertile Chippewa River valley and delta located at the site of the Tiffany Wildlife Area. The glacier-created delta also plugged drainage into the Mississippi River and formed Lake Pepin just west of Tiffany. The lush, bottomland hardwood forest and varied topography found today at Tiffany, resulted from this glacial legacy.

Periodic mowing and controlled burning maintain meadow and grassland habitat at Tiffany for waterfowl nesting cover and a number of other upland birds. Burning also maintains native prairie and savannah plants that existed before settlement. In addition, hand-made wood duck houses dot wetland habitat to help maintain these birds.

Timber harvests help maintain aspen and oak in a diverse pattern of size classes that provides food and cover for deer, ruffed grouse and beaver, as well as many non-game animals. Obvious den, dead, and superior acorn producing trees are preserved to provide wildlife cover and food. Beaver dams on sloughs and old river meanders create a maze of ponds and wetlands. Together, these activities maintain the diversity and abundance of habitat present on Tiffany’s more than 13,000 acres.

The Chippewa Valley Motor Car Association of Durand maintains the rail line which was built in 1881-1882 by the Chippewa Valley & Superior Railroad.  This rail line was later sold in 1883 to the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad; which was used for freight and passenger service out of Wabasha, MN over a pontoon bridge on the Mississippi River at Reads Landing until 1957 when passenger service was discontinued.  Freight service continued until January 17, 1977 when a derailment caused the line to be shut down permanently. The railroad was in bankruptcy since 1975 and could not afford to rebuild the damaged area. The 14 miles of railbed was purchased in June of 1979 by Northern States Power (Xcel Energy) for a possible right-of-way for a steam generating power plant north at Tyrone to transport coal off the BNSF which was never built. In 1995, the CVMC Association was able to get a license agreement with Xcel Energy for running motorcars on this section of rail. Approximately 36 families are involved in this project and currently do all maintenance such as mowing grass and clear cutting all trees and brush which had grown up around and through the rails from 1977 to 1995. Members also have replaced ballast and cribbing due to washouts caused by an ice jam of the Chippewa River in 1988. New members are welcome as help in the rehabilitation and preservation of the 14 mile rail. Rides to the Tiffany Wildlife Area are offered in May and September each year to many environmental and birding groups who have donated funds to the cause.

The Tiffany Wildlife Area Train Ride Schedule can be found on this link.
Please remember to contact the person listed for the date to sign up for the train ride!

Watch the “Tiffany Train” video below which travels to the Tiffany Wildlife Area.

The Pine Creek valley is widely regarded as one of the region’s best birding spots, thanks to its relatively undisturbed wooded valley and the cool, clear water. This Class 1 Trout Stream is also home to a surprising number of native brook trout. West Wisconsin Land Trust owns 230 acres along Pine Creek and has helped private landowners conserve an additional 190 acres in the watershed. While public access is restricted to the land owned by West Wisconsin Land Trust, the benefits of these protected properties may be seen throughout the area. Visit Pine Creek and enjoy the region’s variety of wildlife! Directions: Turn east on Hwy AA (south of the Village of Maiden Rock). Follow 1/2 mile over the bridge and park along roadside. Enter West Wisconsin Land Trust property from Hwy AA. For more information please visit: www.wwlt.org