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…
Tag: Forest County
Haymeadow Flowage (301/686)
Haymeadow Flowage is a sprawling mix of forested landscapes, lakes, creeks, bogs, and swamps across a 5-mile swath of Forest County in the northeastern part of Wisconsin. It is accessible from a multitude of National Forest roads, campgrounds, and boat launches. My first visit to Haymeadow Flowage was a fortuitous one and I simply sought…
Franklin & Butternut Lakes, SNA #119 (140/675)
Franklin & Butternut Lakes encompasses a variety of habitats over rolling glacial topography, more or less centered around the aforementioned lakes. Found within the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, parking for this site is available at either of two parking area on FR 2181 (Butternut Lake Road). Alternatively, there are several stopping points along various forest roads….
Pat Shay Lake, SNA #446 (72/674)
Pat Shay Lake protects stands of old-growth hemlock and other mixed forests along with a bog, sedge meadow, and the eponymous lake. Access is available from several points along Butternut Lake and Knapp Roads. The easiest access to the lake is from the latter. The Hidden Lakes Trail within the CNNF skirts the southeastern edge…
Scott Lake & Shelp Lake, SNA #117 (71/674)
Scott Lake and Shelp Lake SNA contains, appropriately enough, Scott Lake and Shelp Lake. The area around the lakes is northern mesic forest consisting of mostly hemlock with a few large red and white pines. Near the lakes are areas with black spruce and tamaracks as well as open bog and shrub swamp. The site…
Argonne Experimental Forest, SNA #441 (70/674)
Argonne Experimental Forest contains a northern mesic forest and conifer swamp within the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. The SNA is located within a research forest of the same same which is administered by the US Forest Service. The larger experimental forest is one of 24 in the northern US and one of three in Wisconsin (Harshaw…
Giant White Pine Grove, SNA #118 (42/674)
Continuing in the vein of aptly named SNA’s, today’s post is on Giant White Pine Grove in Forest County. This is a relatively small site in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, located in a part of the forest known as the Headwaters Wilderness. After driving on gravel forest roads, there is a small gravel parking area…
State Natural Areas of Wisconsin 