After concluding our tour of the SNAs of Swan Lake Wildlife Area (Swan Lake Sedge Meadow & Barrens, Swan Lake Tamaracks, and Swan Lake Wet-Mesic Prairie SNAs, we head approximately 20 minutes southeast to the Mud Lake Wildlife Area near Rio, WI. Note that Wisconsin has three designated Mud Lake Wildlife Areas, one each near Watertown, in Door County, and near Rio. Fun fact: Wisconsin has 125 “Mud Lakes” and another 14 lakes with “Mud” in the name.
Thirteen parking areas dot the outer reaches of Mud Lake Wildlife Area, with two nearly adjacent ones on Tollefson Rd providing the most direct access to the SNA. The more westerly of the two directly connects to a gated DNR access lane, which provides a great route into the SNA’s interior. Funnily enough, the SNA map depicts a single parking area at this spot and the wildlife area map depicts two. Other parking areas ring the wildlife area, but it would be arduous at best to reach the SNA from the others.
From the parking area, the access road – really more of a degraded 2-track – winds its way south and west through the forest, passing fairly close to 3 separate ponds.
The highlights of Mud Lake Forest & Ponds are, in my opinion, the ponds. Surrounded by southern dry-mesic forest composed primarily of white oak, the ponds dot the glacial landscape, providing visual distinction amidst their ecological contributions. The first pond you are likely to encounter has a gently sloping shoreline and is easily circumnavigable. The second is ringed by wetland plants and is a bit more difficult to approach closely.
My first visit occurred on a rainy and overcast spring day. Ultimately, this made for some very oddly tinted skies went I was working on the photos. I most remember this early visit for my first life sighting of a veery. I was very into birding at the time as a way to complement my SNA explorations.
More recently, I visited in mid-June, which I would classify as sub-optimal for a site like this. I would suggest a visit timed to the emergence of spring ephemerals in the woods. This site would seem to be a decent candidate for such observations, though it is noted to be recovering from buckthorn removal. Obviously, mid-June is too late for these sights. Furthermore, it was evident that the site has recently been burned, with much of the undergrowth absent. It made for easier traversing through the forest off-trail.
My main focus on the June visit was the first two ponds and I worked my way around them, taking photos along the way, looking for lovely landscapes and more documentary-style shots of individual species.
I do plan to revisit Mud Lake Forest & Ponds, aiming for an sunny day in late April / early May and I would plan to follow the 2-track all the way to the 3rd pond in the SNA’s southern reaches.
Additional photos can be found on Flickr.
| SNA # | 664 |
| County | Columbia |
| Natural Communities / Geology | Ephemeral Ponds, Southern Dry-Mesic Forest |
| Size (Acres) | 131 |
| Parking | Parking Areas |
| Trails | Yes |
| Easy to Find | Yes |
| Best Seen By | Foot |
| Recommended Footwear | Hiking boots / Rubber boots |
| Marked Boundaries | No |
| Ownership | Wisconsin DNR |
| Located Within | Mud Lake State Wildlife Area |
| # Visits (at time of posting) | 2 |
State Natural Areas of Wisconsin 