Development Plans
Lake Levels
Lake and Watershed Preservation
Preserving and Restoring Watersheds and Wetlands
Articles and Books
Mapping and Monitoring
Carp Barriers
Related Organizations
Friends of Cherokee Marsh
The upper Yahara River and Cherokee Marsh Watershed drains the lands north of Lake Mendota, the first in the Four Lakes chain of lakes in south central Wisconsin. Cherokee Lake, just north of Lake Mendota, is a remnant of a vast, ecologically critical wetland complex.
It's time to renew your membership
All memberships expire on December 31. If you joined the Friends after June 30, 2009, your membership is paid through December 31, 2010. For everyone else, it’s time to renew. If you’re not sure when you joined, contact us at info (at) CherokeeMarsh.org or 608-467-5207. As a member, you’ll receive our emailed newsletter six times a year and will have the latest updates on what’s happening in and around the marsh. Use this form to renew or to join the Friends.
Events Calendar
Exploring the Challenges of the Yahara Lakes
Community Environmental Forums (January - May)
Tours Sponsored by Madison Audubon and the Friends of Cherokee Marsh
More details to come.
April 23 (Friday), Evening at Cherokee Marsh
June 19 (Saturday), Butterflies of Cherokee Marsh with the Southern Wisconsin Butterfly Association
August 15 (Sunday), Canoe Cherokee Marsh Ecological Restoration
Cherokee Marsh Photo Book 
Photographer and MATC instructor Mario Quintana spent a recent sabbatical photographing Cherokee Marsh. The photo book that resulted is available now with all profits donated to the Friends of Cherokee Marsh. Thanks to Mario for this beautiful book!
About the book
The magic and the mystery of one of Wisconsin's greatest wetlands treasures comes alive in this book of photographs taken from all seasons in the Cherokee Marsh, by award winning nature photographer Mario Quintana. Also featured in the book is a signature page featuring signatures from some of Wisconsin's most influential political leaders, and a beautiful map of the Marsh.
Preview and buy Cherokee Marsh: the Magic and the Mystery.
Field Trips for Students
The Cherokee Marsh Naturalist Program provides skilled naturalists to lead field studies for students of all ages. For students from the Madison School District and elsewhere. More information.
About the Friends
The Friends of Cherokee Marsh formed in 2006 to protect, preserve, and restore the beauty, value, and health of the Cherokee Marsh and Upper Yahara river watershed.
Contact us via or by phone (608-467-5207). Our postal address is PO Box 3390, Madison WI 53704.
Join the cherokeemarsh email discussion group.
The Friends of Cherokee Marsh, Inc. is a tax-exempt charitable organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
About Cherokee Marsh
Location
Cherokee Marsh and nearby Public Lands. Map with major trailheads marked.
Map of the Upper Yahara River Watershed
Map showing the Yahara River and Lake Mendota watershed boundary and planned growth areas. From Dane County Planning and Development.
Satellite view of the marsh. The north end of Lake Mendota is in the bottom left corner. Zoom and pan to see different areas. Click Map or Hybrid to view a map.
Natural Areas
There are many designated natural areas in the marsh.
Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park (City of Madison).
Cherokee Marsh Fishery Area (WDNR). Map.
Cherokee Marsh Public Access site (WDNR).
Yahara Heights/Cherokee Marsh Natural Resource Site (Dane County). Map.
A portion of Cherokee Marsh is the Cherokee Marsh State Natural Area. Also in the Cherokee Marsh watershed is the Westport Drumlin Prairie Unit of the Empire Prairies State Natural Area.
Cherokee Park is a Madison city park adjacent to the marsh (map).
Trails and Tours
Hiking and Skiing
Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park trails
North Unit map. Hiking, snowshoeing, skiing (ungroomed).
South Unit map. Hiking when trails not snow-covered, skiing (groomed).
We don't have a map of the Mendota Unit, but you can access the trails from Westport Meadows Park on Beilfuss Dr. or from Sauthoff Rd. (hiking, snowshoeing, skiing (ungroomed).
Paddling
Cherokee Marsh is included in the new Yahara Waterways Water Trail Guide.
The Yahara Headwaters water trail travels through the marsh. From Capitol Water Trails.
Regulations
Slow, No-wake Zone
The Yahara River is slow, no-wake from Hwy 113 upstream to the mouth of Token Creek. Red-and-white, striped buoys mark the river boundary with Cherokee Lake adjacent to the Cherokee Park neighborhood. The slow, no-wake restriction was enacted by local ordinances and approved by the Department of Natural Resources in 1995. During times of high water, Dane County also declares Cherokee Lake as no wake to protect the shoreline from erosion. Informational signs are at the School Rd. boat landing and the Hwy 113 bridge.
Slow, no-wake means the speed at which a boat moves as slowly as possible while still maintaining steerage control.
Dane County's slow, no-wake page includes any current emergency slow, no-wake orders.
Dogs
Yahara Heights County Park has a dog exercise area and allows leashed dogs in the rest of the park. Cherokee Marsh Fishery Area allows dogs, but some areas require leashing during nesting season. (Check the signs where you enter.) Dogs are not allowed in Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park.
Hunting
Deer, waterfowl, and other game hunting are allowed in the Cherokee Marsh Fishery Area and the DNR Cherokee Marsh Public Access site. Waterfowl hunting is allowed in the upper Yahara River. A portion of Yahara Heights County Park is open to archery hunting for deer and turkey.
Wisconsin Hunting and Trapping Regulations
Maps and images
Satellite Images of the Area from Google Earth
The north Lake Mendota watershed.
The north end of Lake Mendota is at the bottom. I90/94 runs diagonally
north of Madison into Columbia County.
The marsh. The north end of Lake
Mendota is in the lower left corner of the image.
Subareas 1, 2, and 3 (Horning
Woods, Horning Range, and Cherokee Country Club). Sherman Ave. runs north-south
on the left side of the image. County CV curves to the east. Wheeler Road
begins at the curve and runs east-west.
Subareas 5 and 6 (5th Addition,
and High Hill). The end of Sherman Ave. runs north-south in the center
of the image.
Subarea 4 (Wheeler Triangle).
Wheeler Rd. runs east-west near the bottom of the image. Comanche Way
runs north-south on the right side of the image.
