Crooked Lake Wetlands State Natural Area contains two seepage lakes, northern wet forest, southern dry-mesic forest, southern sedge meadow and an assortment of wetland natural communities straddling the border of Fond du Lac and Sheboygan Counties. Owned by the Wisconsin DNR, Crooked Lake Wetlands SNA is located near several other SNA’s in the Northern Unit…
Huiras Lake (335/693)
Huiras Lake State Natural Area contains a seepage lake, dry-mesic forest, and an assortment of wetland natural communities in northwestern Oazaukee County. Owned by the Ozaukee-Washington County Land Trust (OWLT), Huiras Lake is open to a wide range of outdoor activities, including hiking, birding, fishing, hunting, boating (though there is no easy way to get…
Riveredge Creek & Ephemeral Pond (334/693)
Riveredge Creek & Ephemeral Pond State Natural Area encompasses a portion of the Riveredge Nature Center, including a stream and pond, near Newburg in Ozaukee County. Primarily recognized for its diverse aquatic/invertebrate life, this natural area eventually connects with the Milwaukee River to the northwest. I often feel that having an SNA embedded within a…
Fairy Chasm (333/693)
Fairy Chasm Natural Area features a deep chasm amidst rolling forest land surrounding a small creek leading to Lake Michigan. It is home to several more typically northern species, due to the cool microclimate in the chasm. Owned by the Ozaukee-Washington Land Trust (OWLT), the site does not currently allow for public visitation. Please contact…
Spring Lake (332/693)
Spring Lake State Natural Area contains a seepage lake ringed by a northern wet forest with areas of calcareous fen and shrubs as well. Located just west of the Mauthe Lake State Recreation Area, this 37-acre site is located within the Northern Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest, just west of the town of…
Fourmile Island Rookery (331/693)
Fourmile Island Rookery State Natural Area protects a forested isle in the of bottomland hardwoods historically used by nesting birds. Though nesting habitat availability has suffered in recent years due to a variety of factors (Dutch elm disease, a 1984 windstorm, and the effects of accumulated guano), the island remains a protected bird sanctuary that…
Baraboo River Floodplain Forest (330/693)
Baraboo River Floodplain Forest State Natural Area encompasses a millieux of lowland forest, sloughs, oxbows, streams, and the eponymous Baraboo River covering 23 acres adjacent to Interstate 90/94 in Columbia County. Owned by the Wisconsin DNR, access is only possible by water. As I had rented a kayak for the day, I planned to make…
Blackhawk Island (329/693)
Blackhawk Island State Natural Area protects an island in the Wisconsin River that is wooded with a variety of tree species and a plethora of ferns. Owned by the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents and managed by the UW Division of Extension, the site is operated as an outdoor learning center and self-described “river…
Sapa Spruce Bog (328/693)
Sapa Spruce Bog State Natural Area encompasses a black spruce-tamarack bog in west-central Ozaukee County. Owned by the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents and managed by the UW-Milwaukee Field Station, the site represents the southernmost black spruce bog in Wisconsin. Though relatively small for an SNA at only 24 acres, Sapa Spruce Bog packs…
Jackson Marsh (327/693)
Jackson Marsh State Natural Area protects a southern wet forest with silver maples and a white cedar-tamarack swamp. The site is part of the larger Jackson Marsh State Wildlife Area, a 2,600 acre tract of forested wetlands in east-central Washington County. The large size and lack of formal trails make this not a particularly easy…
Krueger Pines (326/693)
Krueger Pines State Natural Area protects a mature northern dry-mesic forest with large red and white pines. The site is located within Council Grounds State Park, just northwest of Merrill across the Wisconsin River. The single parcel is bounded on the east by the park road, along which is a convenient parking area. The Blue…
Enterprise Hemlocks (325/693)
Enterprise Hemlocks State Natural Area protects a mature mesic forest, predominantly composed of hemlocks and associated ephemeral ponds and boggy areas. The site is located south of Rhinelander in the southeast portion of Oneida County. There are 3 parcels, the northernmost of which can be accessed from Zimmer Rd, west of CTH G, and two…
Spur Lake (324/693)
*experimenting with post format; bear with me* Spur Lake State Natural Area contains the eponymous lake as well as surrounding wetlands, including open bog, alder thicket, and a mixed swamp containing black spruce, white cedar, and tamarack. Located southeast of Three Lakes, the site can be easily accessed from Stella Lake Rd, west of USH…
Rice Lake (323/693)
*experimenting with post format; bear with me* Rice Lake State Natural Area contains the eponymous lake as well as surrounding wetland, sedge meadow, poor fen, and upland islands found within Thunder Lake State Wildlife Area in northeastern Oneida County, just south of Eagle River. The site can be easily accessed from a couple of Wildlife…
Karcher Springs (322/693)
*experimenting with post format; bear with me* Karcher Springs contains wetland and upland natural communities in southern Kenosha County. Located within Karcher State Wildlife Area, the SNA can be easily accessed from a Wildlife Area parking lot on the north side of CTH JB/31st St just west of STH 83. The west side of the…
State Natural Areas of Wisconsin 