Page Creek Marsh features a variety of wetland natural communities surrounding Page Creek in central Marquette County. A parking area for the largest of three parcels is located off of CTH K, southwest of Montello. From there, a trail leads through the forest and to the creek. The remaining two parcels involve roadside parking. Page…
Tag: Lake
Muir Park, SNA #96 (153/675)
Muir Park features a variety of natural communities within the boundaries of Muir County Park in Marquette County. A parking area and boat ramp are available off of Fox River Road. The Ice Age Trail forms a loop around Ennis Lake. The prairie was in full force during my mid-June visit. Butterfly milkweed, spiderwort, prairie…
Chub & Mud Lake Riverine Marsh, SNA #606 (142/675)
Chub & Mud Lake Riverine Marsh is a nearly 2000 acre site situated just south of the northern unit of Waterloo Quartzite Outcrops and adjacent to Chub Lake Oak Savanna (see tomorrow’s post). There are several parking areas and boat launches around the site, particularly on the south and west sides, from which to begin…
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….
Frog Lake & Pines, SNA #187 (139/675)
Frog Lake & Pines features a northern dry-mesic forest and wetlands surrounding a wilderness lake. A small pull-off is located on the west side of STH 47 just south of Manitowish. From there, a walkable access lane leads to a short trail to the lake. I made a stop at Frog Lake & Pines after…
Plainfield Tunnel Channel Lakes, SNA #226 (137/675)
Plainfield Tunnel Channel Lakes encompasses two glacial lakes, but the focus here is on the large population of Fassett’s locoweed. There are 3 separate parcels, but all are separated by just a few yards. A parking area is accessible from STH 73 southeat of Plainfield. Fassett’s locoweed is an endangered species in Wisconsin and a…
Sohlberg Silver Lake, SNA #166 (132/675)
Sohlberg Silver Lake features the eponymous lake as well as the surrounding forest, small bogs, and tamarack swamps. Park at the dead end on 18th Avenue and walk east along the trail which winds to the lake. Exploring the lake shoreline was fairly easy as the high water covered most of the exposed mud flats….
Ottawa Lake Fen, SNA #128 (119/675)
Ottawa Lake Fen features a picturesque fen and marl flat complex between Ottawa Lake and another, unnamed lake. Found within the Ottawa Lake Campground area of the Southern Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest, ample paved parking is available. One option is to park at the boat ramp and canoe/kayak across the lake to…
Whitefish Dunes, SNA #175 (117/675)
Whitefish Dunes features the largest landscape of sand dunes along the Great Lakes. Found within Whitefish Dunes State Park, both active and stabilized dunes are home to various stages of succession with those dunes further from the lake being more wooded and stabilized. Parking is available near the park office. From there, we walked north along…
Logan Creek, SNA #543 (116/675)
Logan Creek features northern wet-mesic and upland hardwood forests along the northern shore of Clark Lake and a short stretch of Logan Creek. A large parking area is found on Loritz Road. This site is owned by The Ridges Sanctuary, LLC and similar to their eponymous sanctuary, a day-use fee is required for use of…
Mud Lake, SNA #125 (112/675)
Mud Lake features a shallow drainage lake surrounded by a sedge meadow. It is one of 6 SNA’s with ‘Mud Lake’ in the name and one of 2 SNA’s with 3 owners. There is room to park at dead-ends on Lime Kiln and Birch Roads, on the north and east sides of the site, respectively….
Kangaroo Lake, SNA #355 (104/675)
Kangaroo Lake features forest and wetland communities surrounding the north end of Kangaroo Lake. The site is owned partly by the Door County Land Trust and by The Nature Conservancy. The bulk of the SNA land is owned by TNC with a smaller portion owned by the DCLT. Both organizations give the Kangaroo Lake name…
Thorp Pond, SNA #403 (102/675)
Thorp Pond contains several wetland communities centered around a bog lake, though the most interesting portions of the site are not publicly accessible. To reach the site, park at dead-end on Quarterline Road East and walk southeast. You will pass though a shrubbery-covered landscape grading into a pine forest and finally into a wet-mesic forest….
Spruce Lake Bog, SNA #59 (90/674)
Spruce Lake Bog features a hard-water seepage bog northwest of Dundee in one of the many kettles characteristic of this region. It is one of 11 SNA’s within the Northern Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest. A parking area is located on Airport Road as denoted by ‘Wildlife Viewing Area’ signs. Cross the grass…
Butler Lake & Flynn’s Spring, SNA #257 (89/674)
Butler Lake features the namesake lake and spring, as well as a short segment of the Parnell Esker. It is one of 11 SNA’s found within the Northern Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest. Access is easy via a large parking area at a bend in Butler Lake Road. There is a boat landing…
State Natural Areas of Wisconsin 