Finnerud Pine Forest encompasses an old-growth red pine forest, bog, and lake shoreline. The site is owned by the University of Wisconsin System via the Board of Regents and is managed by the UW Arboretum. Visits require advanced permission.
I am grateful to the UW Arboretum for allowing me to visit the several natural areas that they own. On this day, I visited Finnerud Pine Forest, one of the few remaining places in the state to contain a large stand of old-growth red pine. Located on rolling topography, the trees seemed to ebb and flow above the undulations. Cheerful squirrels played on the branches above while I kept a watchful eye for bears below (though none were seen on this day). The groundlayer is fairly sparse as you would expect for a pine-heavy forest. I would not mind another visit to the site and am thinking that winter would be particularly beautiful here. Additionally, a sphagnum bog is found on the site, the siren call of which still sounds.
More of my photos (and full-res) from Finnerud Pine Forest can be viewed here.
Additional Information
| SNA # | 31 |
| County | Oneida |
| Natural Communities / Geology | Pine Forest, Bog, Lake |
| Size (Acres) | 115 |
| Parking | Roadside |
| Trails | Yes |
| Easy to Find | Yes |
| Best Seen By | Foot |
| Marked Boundaries | No |
| Ownership | UW Board of Regents; More info: Wisconsin DNR |
| Located Within |
n/a |
| Dates Visited | 7.3.11 |
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Location not disclosed |
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State Natural Areas of Wisconsin 
I am the grandson of Clark and Gertrude Finnerud who donated this property to the University of Wisconsin.
My grandfather made a promise to the original owner of the property that it would never be split up or developed and aside from a huge chalet which burned down in the 1950s, my grandfather kept his word.
It is truly an outstanding property and I; my brothers and sister have many fond memories of Pine Acres which is what the property was called.
I remember the township was furious and tried to block the donation in court, but they failed to do so. The property was worth millions in both timber and development potentials.
My brothers, myself, and my sister are very grateful that the University of Wisconsin has been such a great steward for the legacy of my grandparents and an incredible old growth forest.
Kind Regards,
Alex Sprague
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I enjoyed a lovely day there, today. It is the antidote to the chaos that IS the Minocqua Chain, on a summer’s day! So grateful for the stewardship that realized that value is more than economic. Let’s all promise, to leave it alone, and be thankful for it’s very existence.
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