Martin’s Woods, Wisconsin | Where’s Wildlife

A woodland worth protecting

Rich forest beside the river

The Wisconsin DNR describes a 32-acre natural area with maple-basswood forest and wetter hardwood woods on a terrace beside the Fox River. Kentucky Coffeetree is among its noteworthy trees.

Owned by the Waukesha Land Conservancy, Martin’s Woods became a State Natural Area in 2002. Its value lies in the variety of plants and wildlife protected within a relatively small woodland.

Look low—and look up

The photo collection moves from early Skunk Cabbage to Dutchman’s Breeches, Wild Ginger, trilliums, ferns and leafy summer woods. Look closely at the Skunk Cabbage pictures: its tiny flowers are clustered on a rounded spadix inside the hoodlike spathe.

Above the forest floor, Brian photographed Pileated Woodpeckers, Wood Thrush and Wood Ducks. These are discoveries from past visits; seasonal conditions and wildlife sightings vary.

Plan your visit

Two different ways to explore

The parking area & river route

Access is from Edgewood Avenue near Big Bend. A 2026 field report describes a shared county parking area in the first driveway west of the Martin’s Woods sign, on the south side of the road. A gated service lane leads south past the woods into Fox Bend Park, with paths continuing to the Fox River.

Inside the woods

There is no established woodland trail network. Walking into Martin’s Woods means navigating off trail, not following a marked loop. Watch every step around spring flowers, seedlings, fallen branches and soft ground. Leave plants and other natural objects in place; no foraging.

Wet ground & navigation

The river route can flood, and low woodland areas may hold water. Turn back when conditions make access unsuitable. Carry a map or GPS and stay aware of property boundaries. The DNR specifically notes abundant poison ivy here.

Check current access

The DNR page still describes roadside access, while the more recent field report describes the shared lot. Follow current signs and landowner guidance. The map linked below shows the natural-area property; it is not a map of established trails through the woods.

Photographs by Brian Woolman

Explore the visits

50 selected photographs from Martin’s Woods and the adjoining Fox River route, organized by subject. Open a photo for the slideshow or load additional photos into the same gallery.

Inside Martin’s Woods

Sunlight across the green woodland floor in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — Sunlight across the green woodland floor

Tall trees above fresh spring greenery in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — Tall trees above fresh spring greenery

Blue flowers scattered through the woods in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — Blue flowers scattered through the woods

A fallen log among woodland plants in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — A fallen log among woodland plants

Martin’s Woods preserve sign in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — Martin’s Woods preserve sign

Skunk Cabbage leaves along a woodland stream in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — Skunk Cabbage leaves along a woodland stream

Mayapple leaves carpeting the woodland floor in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — Mayapple leaves carpeting the woodland floor

Bare trees reflected in woodland water in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — Bare trees reflected in woodland water

The route to the Fox River

The service lane beside Martin’s Woods in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — The service lane beside Martin’s Woods

A grassy path on the route toward the Fox River in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — A grassy path on the route toward the Fox River

A narrow path framed by leafy shrubs in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — A narrow path framed by leafy shrubs

An open grassy route beneath blue sky in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — An open grassy route beneath blue sky

The Fox River beneath a cloudy sky in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — The Fox River beneath a cloudy sky

An open wetland beside the river route in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — An open wetland beside the river route

Tall wetland grasses beneath scattered clouds in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — Tall wetland grasses beneath scattered clouds

Birds in the woods & wetlands

Male Wood Duck perched in a tree in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — Male Wood Duck perched in a tree

Wood Duck on a branch among budding twigs in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — Wood Duck on a branch among budding twigs

Pileated Woodpecker clinging to a tree trunk in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — Pileated Woodpecker clinging to a tree trunk

Pileated Woodpecker looking upward in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — Pileated Woodpecker looking upward

Song Sparrow perched on a bare branch in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — Song Sparrow perched on a bare branch

Male Red-winged Blackbird among dry reeds in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — Male Red-winged Blackbird among dry reeds

Green-winged Teal among wetland grasses in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — Green-winged Teal among wetland grasses

Wood Thrush partly hidden by spring leaves in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — Wood Thrush partly hidden by spring leaves

Woodland flowers & Skunk Cabbage

Blue Cohosh flowers and unfolding leaves in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — Blue Cohosh flowers and unfolding leaves

Blue wood aster flowers at the woodland edge in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — Blue wood aster flowers at the woodland edge

Wild Ginger flower nestled in leaf litter in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — Wild Ginger flower nestled in leaf litter

Dutchman’s Breeches flowers above divided leaves in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — Dutchman’s Breeches flowers above divided leaves

Yellow Marsh Marigold flowers in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — Yellow Marsh Marigold flowers

A white trillium flower among spring greenery in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — A white trillium flower among spring greenery

A nodding white trillium beneath three leaves in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — A nodding white trillium beneath three leaves

Close view of a white trillium flower in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — Close view of a white trillium flower

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Skunk Cabbage spathe emerging from wet ground in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — Skunk Cabbage spathe emerging from wet ground

Skunk Cabbage emerging through shallow water in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — Skunk Cabbage emerging through shallow water

Tiny flowers on a Skunk Cabbage spadix in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — Tiny flowers on a Skunk Cabbage spadix

White Spring Cress flowers in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — White Spring Cress flowers

Pink-striped Spring Beauty flowers in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — Pink-striped Spring Beauty flowers

Virginia Waterleaf blossoms in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — Virginia Waterleaf blossoms

Wild Geranium flower with delicate veins in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — Wild Geranium flower with delicate veins

White Wood Anemone flower above lobed leaves in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — White Wood Anemone flower above lobed leaves

Lavender Woodland Phlox flower in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — Lavender Woodland Phlox flower

Ferns, trees & small discoveries

Maidenhair Fern fronds on the woodland floor in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — Maidenhair Fern fronds on the woodland floor

A green fern frond above leaf litter in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — A green fern frond above leaf litter

Moonseed leaves in dappled light in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — Moonseed leaves in dappled light

Kentucky Coffeetree seed pods against blue sky in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — Kentucky Coffeetree seed pods against blue sky

Smooth fluted bark of American Hornbeam in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — Smooth fluted bark of American Hornbeam

White flower clusters on Pagoda Dogwood in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — White flower clusters on Pagoda Dogwood

Pussy willow catkins on branching stems in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — Pussy willow catkins on branching stems

Layered bracket fungi on a fallen log in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — Layered bracket fungi on a fallen log

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A crane fly resting on a green leaf in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — A crane fly resting on a green leaf

A pair of dragonflies attached to a grass stem in the Martin’s Woods and Fox Bend Park area near Big Bend, Wisconsin — A pair of dragonflies attached to a grass stem

Official information & property map

Natural-area information: Wisconsin DNR. Parking and route context: A Wealth of Nature’s May 2026 field report, alongside Brian’s firsthand observations. Contact the Waukesha Land Conservancy for current property guidance.

Official Visitor Information Official Property Map ← Back to Places to Explore

Martin’s Woods State Natural Area

Rich forest beside the river

Look low—and look up