Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Apple River Canyon (No. 145)

Overview

Location

St. Croix County. T31N-R19W, Sections 21, 28. 160 acres.

Access

From the intersection of County Highway I and State Highway 64 in Somerset, go west on Highway I 2.4 miles, then continue west on 192nd Avenue 0.85 mile, then north on 42nd Street 0.3 mile. Walk northeast on an access lane into the natural area. Or from its intersection with 192nd Avenue, continue on Highway I another 1.7 miles, then southwest on 208th Avenue 0.6 mile. Park along the road and walk south into the site.

Description

Description

Apple River Canyon features a deep (100-140 feet), narrow (150 feet) gorge along the Apple River about two miles upstream from its confluence with the St. Croix River. The Apple River is a shallow stream flanked by steep high cliffs on both sides. The canyon lies a few miles south of the limits of Glacial Lake Grantsburg, and presumably the gorge was formed during the period of drainage of the lake. A cross section of the gorge reveals - from top to bottom - thin layers of glacial outwash and Oneota dolomite (Ordovician), a massive layer of Jordan sandstone (Cambrian), Lodi shale (Cambrian), Nicollet Creek dolomite (Cambrian), and Franconia sandstone (Cambrian). The vegetation is quite interesting due to the nearly east-west orientation of a segment of the gorge, creating north and south walls with contrasting sunlight, moisture, and temperature conditions. On the upland to the north is an oak forest: on the south-facing upper slope a strip of prairie grasses; on the south-facing cliffs a few lichens and mosses; on the lowest talus slope a floodplain forest; on north-facing talus a northern dry-mesic forest; on northern cliffs, cryptogams; and on the upper slope a narrow prairie. Apple River Canyon is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 1978.

Maps

The WDNR's State Natural Areas Program is comprised of lands owned by the state, private conservation organizations, municipalities, other governmental agencies, educational institutions, and private individuals. Therefore, while the majority of SNAs are open to the public, access may vary accordingly. Public use restrictions may apply due to public safety, or to protect endangered or threatened species or unique natural features. Lands may be temporarily closed due to specific management activities. Users are encouraged to contact the land owner for more specific details.

The data shown on these maps have been obtained from various sources, and are of varying age, reliability, and resolution. The data may contain errors or omissions and should not be interpreted as a legal representation of legal ownership boundaries.

• Detailed Map [PDF, 136 KB]

Activities

Please come prepared for your visit. Amenities vary from site to site with most SNAs being primitive and without facilities. See Guidelines for Visitation for details.

Allowable Activities

Most DNR-owned SNAs allow:

• Hiking
• Hunting
• Fishing
• Trapping
• Skiing

Some exceptions apply. Properties closed to the public or closed to specific use, such as hunting, will be posted.

***For non-DNR-owned SNAs: Additional use guidelines may apply. Please verify any use restrictions with the landowner or contact the SNA Program. Landowners may require additional permits or restrict the number of hunters at a given SNA to provide a quality hunting experience. SNA landowners can be found at the bottom of each SNA description page.

Prohibited Activities

• Horseback riding
• Rock climbing
• Vehicles, including bicycles, ATVs, aircraft, and snowmobiles except on trails and roadways designated for their use
• Collecting of plants (including fruits, nuts, or edible plant parts), animals, fungi, rocks, minerals, fossils, archaeological artifacts, soil, downed wood, or any other natural material, alive or dead

Please note that a permit is required for scientific collection and research on State Natural Areas. For more information, contact Thomas Meyer, State Natural Areas Program Specialist.

For more information on rules governing state-owned SNAs and other state lands, please consult Wisconsin's Administrative Code Chapter NR 45 (exit DNR)