Colfax Red Cedar Preserve & Recreation Area

08/04/2026

A lot of behind-the-scenes work has been happening out at the Preserve this spring!

Volunteers including Keith, Harrison, Paul, Mike, and Mark have been clearing invasive species like buckthorn and removing diseased trees along the river and entry road.

It may not look like much at first glance, but this work is what allows native plants and wildlife to come back and thrive!

New shrubs and oak trees will be planted in these areas in the coming months, continuing the effort to restore the natural habitat.

If you haven’t been out lately, it’s a great time to take a walk and see the changes for yourself!

03/04/2026

Our FREE Science Exploration Day is coming back to the Preserve!!

Join us Saturday, May 16 from 8:30 to 12:30 for a free morning of hands-on learning out in nature.

There will be guided sessions throughout the morning where kids can explore topics like fish, plants, and seasonal changes, all led by local volunteers and educators. Each session is about 50 minutes long, with options at 9:00, 10:00, and 11:00.

All ages are welcome, but activities are especially geared toward elementary-aged kids. Parents are encouraged to attend with younger children.

Lunch will be provided around noon, thanks to a generous donation from Kyles Market in Colfax!

This is a great opportunity for kids to learn outside, ask questions, and spend time exploring the preserve in a hands-on way.

Register here: https://bit.ly/4sPg3Sn
Or call/text: 715-308-9397

If you know a family that would enjoy this, feel free to share this with them.

15/09/2025

Thanks to this group of UW Stout students and their professors Dr. Gilland and Dr. Chapman, the woods near the new river launch has far fewer invasive plants. It's great to see the energy and generosity of the UW Stout students and their professors make such a difference in the habitat at the Preserve. Thank you UW Stout!!

15/09/2025

If you have wondered why the vegetation beside the pier access and picnic area looks a bit ragged, it will take a couple years before the native seeds and plugs that were planted there last year will start to take over the weeds. In the meantime, we are working on removing the weeds as we get the opportunity. Thanks to Dr. Julia Chapman and her UW Stout students who removed a batch of spotted knapweed and other undesirable plants by the pier access this past Saturday. The access to the new river launch will go through the same change from weedy looking to hopefully attractive native grasses and forbs. Watch to see if you can detect native plants start to show up in these newly planted areas.

10/09/2025

Join us this Saturday, September 13th at 1 for some invasives removal at the Preserve. We'll be working along the entrance road and the new river trail. Strange as this may sound, this is very rewarding work. You can see immediate results! If you have your own chainsaw/loppers/hand saws for working on invasives you're welcome to bring them. Don't forget sturdy gloves and shoes. There will also be paper bags available in case you would like to pick mature side oats gramma and butterfly milkweed seeds that we will broadcast later in the fall. Hope to see you Saturday afternoon!

03/09/2025

The new Preserve river launch has many uses. Just ask this 4 year river wader who knows how to cool off in the shallows.

22/08/2025

Thanks Paul Verdon for the video of the almost completed Red Cedar River access at the Colfax Preserve. In the near future there will be a boat slide by the steps to prevent erosion.

22/08/2025

DAY 2 of the creation of the Kayak/Tube launch. Follow Paul Verdon, Tyler Knutson, Keith Gilland, Mark Mosey, and Doug Aspen as they create a new river launch. Our many thanks to this great crew who made a beautiful and functional kayak, canoe, and tube launch on the Red Cedar River. Also thanks go to Sid Hoke and H&H Plumbing at Colfax for the loan of the back hoe and the support of and the equipment from the Town of Colfax.

22/08/2025

13/08/2025

Mark Mosey shared another "What's happening at the Preserve" to guide our observations at the Preserve. Thanks Mark!

13/08/2025

It's a bit early for you to plan on landing your kayak on the river at the Preserve, but the impending landing is on the way!! Paul Verdon and Tyler Knutson just cleared the landing area and pulled out a huge tree by the landing that had fallen into the river. Next week will mark further development. Thanks go to Paul Verdon for sheparding this project to completion. We will keep you posted as it develops..