Nordic ‘right to roam’ philosophy inspires Landmark Conservancy

Land at the confluence of Elk Creek and the Chippewa River in Dunn County, Wisc., is now protected and accessible to the public. The 69-acre property, known as Elk Creek Bottoms Preserve, is under the ownership of Landmark Conservancy, ensuring its permanent protection.

Located just west of Eau Claire, the preserve features a mosaic of forest types (including rare pockets of oak and pine barrens), a wooded trail along Elk Creek and a scenic blufftop overlooking the Chippewa River valley. The creek itself is a cold-water trout stream that runs for half a mile through the property.

The property was previously owned by the Midwest Institute of Scandinavian Culture, which had considered building a Nordic cultural center on the land over half a century ago. However, in recent years, the institute shifted its vision to protecting the land.

Rick Remington, executive director at Landmark Conservancy, found inspiration in the Nordic concept of “right to roam” (‘Allemansrätten’ in Swedish), which grants every person the freedom to roam the countryside.

“I thought, ‘wow, that is perfect because that is exactly what we want to do,’” Remington told Volume One magazine last summer.

Permanent protection of Elk Creek Bottoms Preserve in December 2022 was made possible by a grant from the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, the willingness of the Midwest Institute of Scandinavian Culture members to sell below market value and the generosity of Landmark Conservancy supporters. The land is now open for low-impact outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing, fishing and hunting. Landmark Conservancy plans to improve visitor access, map existing trails and add signage.

The accredited land trust has permanently protected over 41,000 acres across 20 counties in northwest Wisconsin, including 15,000 acres in the Chippewa River watershed alone comprised of both public access properties and private conservation easements.