Johnson Lake Barrens & Springs features a large expanse of barrens, lakes, springs, creeks, and sedge meadows in north-central Vilas County.  The site can be reached via several access roads south of CTH B.  I do not recall my route back in 2012, but last year I took High Lake Road south from CTH B and then headed east on Jute Lake Road before turning south for a short distance to reach Garland Creek.

Forewarning, all of the roads that actually pass through the natural area are quite terrible. High Lake Road is paved, but Jute Lake Road becomes progressively worse as one heads east.  The roads are gravel, barely wide enough for one car in spots, and riddled with bone-crunching potholes.  This is a site that I would definitely like to see more of, but it will require some research into the best route and probably a chiropractor afterwards.  For Johnson Lake itself, continuing south from High Lake Road to Little Gibson Lake Road will get you fairly close, but will leave you separated by water from the creeks and barrens. Lines that appear to represent roads online or in your GPS are not necessarily so. Therefore, be careful if you head out to this natural area.

Stream

Stream

Barrens

Road

Barrens

.More of my photos (and full-res) from Johnson Lake Barrens & Springs can be viewed here

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