Bean Lake is a seepage lake found with Lake Mills Wildlife Area in Jefferson County. A large gravel parking area is located at the terminus of Bean Lake Road. From there a trail leads almost to the shore of the lake.
As one approaches the lake, a sunken piece of boardwalk is visible but further progress will leave you very wet and/or into the muck up to your knee or beyond. Additionally, poison sumac is quite abundant in the bog-like areas which makes exploration of any kind tedious to say the least. This site may be worth a further visit in May-June but it must be a careful one.
Trail to Bean Lake
Poison Sumac
Bean Lake
Swamp Aster
Tamaracks
Soggy Shoreline
Bean Lake
Poison Sumac on the Trail
More of my photos (and full-res) from Bean Lake can be viewed here.
Additional Information
| SNA # | 111 |
| County | Jefferson |
| Natural Communities / Geology |
Tamarack Swamp, Lake, Shrub-Carr |
| Size (Acres) | 195 |
| Parking | Parking area (gravel) |
| Trails | Yes |
| Easy to Find | Yes |
| Best Seen By | Foot |
| Marked Boundaries | No |
| Ownership | Wisconsin DNR |
| Located Within | Lake Mills Wildlife Area |
| Dates Visited | 9.26.09 / 8.22.15 |
|
|
|---|
State Natural Areas of Wisconsin 