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: Lake
Spring Lake (332/693)
Spring Lake State Natural Area contains a seepage lake ringed by a northern wet forest with areas of calcareous fen and shrubs as well. Located just west of the Mauthe Lake State Recreation Area, this 37-acre site is located within the Northern Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest, just west of the town of…
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…
Rice Lake (323/693)
*experimenting with post format; bear with me* Rice Lake State Natural Area contains the eponymous lake as well as surrounding wetland, sedge meadow, poor fen, and upland islands found within Thunder Lake State Wildlife Area in northeastern Oneida County, just south of Eagle River. The site can be easily accessed from a couple of Wildlife…
Peat Lake (320/693)
Peat Lake State Natural Area is headlined by its 42-acre namesake lake. Haboring mainly non-native carp, the lake is not known for it fishery and is not particularly accessible for those purposes. Such access is somewhat precluded by the extensive surrounding wetlands, composed of sedge meadow and cattail marsh. Located on the WI-IL border and…
Sister Islands (307/687)
Sister Islands comprises two small, rocky islands approximately 1 1/2 miles off the Door County coast in the Green Bay waters of Lake Michigan. A rudimentary kayak launch is found at the terminus of Waters End Road, just east of STH 42 north of Sister Bay. My brother and I rented kayaks from an outfitter…
Lauterman Lake (304/687)
Lauterman Lake encompasses rolling terrain, a mesic hardwood forest, lakes, creeks, and a braided esker system in northern Florence County. The site can be reached via parking areas on Brule River Road (FR 2154) to the east of the namesake lake and FR 2553 to the west; both are just south of STH 70. Note…
Lost Canoe (280/681)
Lost Canoe includes a nice array of natural communities including northern mesic and dry-mesic forests, fen, and several lakes southwest of Boulder Junction in central Vilas County. A parking area and trailhead are found on the north side of Nebish Lake Road west of Starrett Road. A total of 11 miles of trails loop around…
Bohn Lake (274/681)
Bohn Lake features the fluctuating water levels of its namesake lake, a remnant of a glacial tunnel channel formed millenia ago. Found in west-central Waushara County, this site is easily accessed via the Ice Age Trail. A parking area is located on the east side of CTH B, approximately 1 mile south of CTH V….
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…
Rush Lake (266/679)
Rush Lake features three wetland parcels scattered about the south and east sides of Rush Lake in southwestern Winnebago County. Sedge meadow, wet prairie, shrubb-carr, and cattails provide a wetland habitat millieux for a variety of birds and waterfowl. The northeastern parcel is accessible from Mountain Road, east of CTH M and the central parcel…
Karner Blue Meadow (264/679)
Karner Blue Meadow comprises a block of prime habitat for the federally endangered Karner Blue butterfly (Lycaeides melissa samuelis). The site is easily reached by parking on the side of the road on 22nd Avenue midway between CTH A and CTH H. A DNR gate and sign mark the site. There are no official trails,…
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…
Bass Lake Fen (248/679)
Bass Lake Fen encompasses an area that is much as it sounds, a fen along the shore of Bass Lake. A parking area is located on the south side of CTH YY east of STH 22. From there, walk approximately 3/4 mile due south to the north shore of the lake. The fen is primarily…
Upper Fox Headwaters (245/679)
Upper Fox Headwaters is comprised of a wide array of natural communities in 5 parcels of land divided amongst 3 units spanning 9 miles, 2 counties, and a total of 195 acres. The Upper Chaffee Creek Meadow unit (formerly known as the Chaffee Creek unit) is accessible from a wayside off of southbound I-39/USH 51…
State Natural Areas of Wisconsin 