A.F. Miller State Preserve

A. F. Miller State Preserve is a 10-acre area containing a peaty, oxbow wetland with several rare plants. It is located in North Woods County Park in the northeastern corner of Bremer County. 

About the Land

The area comprising the park was purchased by the Bremer County Conservation Board in 1961. The oxbow in the park was dedicated as a biological state preserve in 1984. The name of the preserve commemorates A. F. Miller, a former Bremer County Conservation Board member who was instrumental in the acquisition of North Woods Park.

Directions

1. In Sumner, take Highway 93 to Pleasant Street. 
2. Go north and then east (right) 1.5 miles to North Woods County Park. 
3. Follow the park road to the preserve in the east side of the park (sign: A. F. Miller State Preserve).

Plants

Located in the Iowan Surface landform region, the preserve contains an old oxbow in the floodplain of the Little Wapsipinicon River. It contains a peaty wetland with approximately 140 plant species. 

In the spring, you will find:

• Marsh marigold
• Heart-leaved golden alexanders
• Southern yellow wood sorrel
• Yellow water crowfoot

In early summer, blooms include: 

• Tufted loosestrife
• Northern bog violet
• Blue flag iris
• Indigo bush

By midsummer, you will find:

• Meadow phlox
• Wood lily
• Marsh bellflower

By the end of summer, grass-of-Parnassus is flowering and nodding ladies’- tresses and swamp lousewort will begin blooming. Along with flowering plants, many bulrushes and sedges occur at this preserve. 

Species

Four of the eleven butterflies found at the preserve are rare species including the:

• Broad-winged skipper
• Black dash
• Dion skipper
• Acadian hairstreak

Hunting is not permitted.