Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Kohler-Peet Barrens & Cedar Swamp (No. 152)

Overview

Location

Within the Governor Knowles State Forest, Burnett County. T40N-R18W, Sections 23, 24, 26. 690 acres.

Access

From the junction of County Highways F and D in Grantsville, go north and east on F 15.3 miles to a parking area north of the road at the right-angle corner.

Description

Description

Kohler-Peet Barrens is a nearly flat expanse of sandy, open barrens situated within the vast glacial outwash deposits of northwestern Wisconsin and adjacent to the steep-walled St. Croix River Valley. Historically, this region supported Pine Barrens vegetation, which burned repeatedly. Today Hill’s oak grubs, jack pine, quaking aspen, and pin cherry are the common trees and many of the oaks have multiple trunks and bushy sprouts, the result of prescribed burning used to maintain the open barrens. The barrens flora is diverse with many species of prairies, barrens, and bracken grassland communities. Four plant species with Great Plains distribution - blue giant hyssop (Agastache foeniculum), autumn onion (Allium stellatum), Carolina larkspur (Delphinium carolinianum) and hairy four-o’clock (Mirabilis hirsuta) - are found here at their northeastern range limit. Common shrub species include beaked and American hazelnut, New Jersey tea, and prairie red-root. A swamp forest of white cedar with black ash and a sphagnum moss understory is also present and grades into black spruce and tamarack. A wooded river terrace escarpment contains oaks at its dry summit which grades into yellow birch, red maple, and black ash near its base where many springs and seeps emanate. Many rare and uncommon animals of open habitats are found here including the federally endangered Karner blue butterfly (Lycaeides melissa samuelis), sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus), eastern bluebird, vesper sparrow, and field sparrow. Kohler-Peet Barrens and Cedar Swamp is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 1979.

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.

• Guidebook Map [PDF, 58 KB]
• Detailed Map [PDF, 140 KB]
• Line Map [PDF, 34 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)