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. 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.
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, and yellow water crowfoot. In early summer tufted loosestrife, northern bog violet, blue flag iris, and indigo bush will start blooming. By midsummer, meadow phlox, wood lily, and marsh bellflower will appear. 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.
Four of the eleven butterflies found at the preserve are rare species including the broad-winged skipper, black dash, dion skipper, and the Acadian hairstreak.
Hunting is not permitted.
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