Huiras Lake State Natural Area contains a seepage lake, dry-mesic forest, and an assortment of wetland natural communities in northwestern Oazaukee County. Owned by the Ozaukee-Washington County Land Trust (OWLT), Huiras Lake is open to a wide range of outdoor activities, including hiking, birding, fishing, hunting, boating (though there is no easy way to get…
Tag: Bog
Sapa Spruce Bog (328/693)
Sapa Spruce Bog State Natural Area encompasses a black spruce-tamarack bog in west-central Ozaukee County. Owned by the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents and managed by the UW-Milwaukee Field Station, the site represents the southernmost black spruce bog in Wisconsin. Though relatively small for an SNA at only 24 acres, Sapa Spruce Bog packs…
Enterprise Hemlocks (325/693)
Enterprise Hemlocks State Natural Area protects a mature mesic forest, predominantly composed of hemlocks and associated ephemeral ponds and boggy areas. The site is located south of Rhinelander in the southeast portion of Oneida County. There are 3 parcels, the northernmost of which can be accessed from Zimmer Rd, west of CTH G, and two…
Spur Lake (324/693)
*experimenting with post format; bear with me* Spur Lake State Natural Area contains the eponymous lake as well as surrounding wetlands, including open bog, alder thicket, and a mixed swamp containing black spruce, white cedar, and tamarack. Located southeast of Three Lakes, the site can be easily accessed from Stella Lake Rd, west of USH…
New Munster Bog Island (321/693)
New Munster Bog Island State Natural Area contains a small hill, or knoll, surrounded by shrub-carr and tamaracks in southern Kenosha County. I found the DNR prescribed access to be fairly straightforward. From a State Wildlife Area parking area on the north side of 75th St, a rudimentary path leads to Palmer Creek. I recall…
Silver Lake Bog (319/693)
Silver Lake Bog contains a bog and northern wet forest situated in the far southeastern corner of the state in Kenosha County. The site is owned by the Silver Lake Sportsmans Club and permission is required before visiting. The description of “open bog” refers to having <10% tree cover, per the WDNR's description of this…
Kingston Pines (318/693)
Kingston Pines features northern dry to dry-mesic forests as well as bog/fen areas situated on a rolling, sandy moraine near the Kingston Flowage. Access to the site is via Cranberry Rd to 4th St SW, the latter becoming a two-track into the forest. I recall pulling off into a clearing and then walking further into…
Suk Cerney Peatlands (311/687)
Suk Cerney Peatlands is a massive complex of meadow, bog, swamp, and pine barrens covering over 3600 acres (11th largest SNA) in Juneau County’s Meadow Valley State Wildlife Area. The site is located west of Necedah and can be reached by taking North 6th Avenue north from CTH H to Bewick Trail which runs along…
Alvin Creek Headwaters (306/687)
Alvin Creek Headwaters encompasses several natural communities centered around, appropriately enough, Alvin Creek and its headwaters in north-central Forest County. The site lies southwest of the intersection of STH 70 and STH 55. Access can be made directly from west on FR 2175 and from the east on FR 2427. Both lightly traveled (and lightly…
White River Prairie / Tamaracks (277/681)
White River Prairie/Tamaracks features sizable wet prairie and tamarack bog communities along the White River in northwestern Green County west of Berlin. Found within the White River Marsh State Wildlife Area, there are ample parking areas in the general vicinity. The two nearest this natural area are located on the south side of CTH E…
Van Vliet Hemlocks (271/679)
Van Vliet Hemlocks is a newer SNA and features an old-growth hemlock forest with a smattering of bog lakes, fen, kettle depressions, and other wetlands. The larger of two parcels is found on the east side of Van Vliet and Averill Lakes. The DNR describes a parking area at the end of East Van Vliet…
VanderBloemen Bog (254/679)
VanderBloemen Bog features an open bog and hardwood swamp in Manitowoc County. Owned by Silver Lake College, this site requires permission from the College for visitation. Its location is not described by the DNR and will not be described here, though it is not difficult to find. My lasting memories of VanderBloemen Bog are the…
Rhine Center Bog (252/679)
Rhine Center Bog includes a bog lake surrounded by a southern wet-mesic forest in north-central Sheboygan County. A large gravel parking area is located on the east side of STH 57 just northwest of Rhine Center and just south of the intersection of STH 57 and CTH EH. From the parking area, an informal trail…
Tamarack Creek Bog, SNA #60 (235/679)
Tamarack Creek Bog features bog, marsh, and forest communities with several species more often found further north. Located within the Tamarack Creek Wildlife Area in southern Trempealeau County, the natural area is composed of two parcels with parking for the southern parcel on the roadside of CTH F and a parking area adjacent to the…
Finnerud Pine Forest, SNA #31 (222/675)
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…
State Natural Areas of Wisconsin 