Hog Island Tamaracks is much as it sounds, islands of tamaracks within a sea of wetlands, minus the hogs, of course.  This Wood County-owned natural area consists of three parcels arranged in a loose N-S line in southwestern Wood and northwestern Juneau Counties.  Though the DNR website does not note this, the western portion of the central parcel does extend into eastern Jackson County.

The northern parcel lies north/south of Ball Road and can be easily accessed from there.  The central parcel lies east of CTH Z/Cranberry Road.  Here, a substantial dike separates the road from the natural area.  Dry access could be had via land just to the north of the SNA boundary (at its northwest corner), which is also owned by Wood County.  The southern parcel likes north of 3rd Street in Juneau County.  From 3rd street, another dike impedes access.  Dry(er) access may be possible from Cranberry Road to the west, but it would be an other than easy journey of just over a mile to reach the natural area parcel.

My visit involved the northern and central parcels.  There is always something inherently intoxicating about a tamarack forest in the distance.  It beckons you to come closer.  I would venture here again just for that reason, but also to see this area in a different botanically interesting season such as late spring/early summer.

Wetlands

Wetlands & Tamaracks

Wetlands & Tamaracks

Arrowhead

Wetlands & Tamaracks

Wetlands

More of my photos (and full-res) from Hog Island Tamaracks can be viewed here.

Just under 400 more blog posts to go!  Well, actually a few more than that remain; counting SNA’s delisted since I started and a few SNA’s to be designated, the current total is 693, though hopefully, that will increase!

If you would like to help support this project, please consider a donation.  There are many SNA’s yet to visit and even more to revisit and I ultimately plan to write a book about my adventures.  Thank you!

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