Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Bastile Lake (No. 302)

Overview

Location

Within the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Forest County. T39N-R14E, Section 28. 156 acres.

Access

From the intersection of State Highway 139 and Settlement Road in Long Lake in western Florence County, go northwest on Settlement Road 0.2 mile, then west on FR 2168 (Long Lake Road) 3.7 miles, then south on FR 2167 (Macarther Pine Road) 1.9 miles to an old logging road. Walk east 0.25 mile to the lake.

Description

Description

Bastile Lake State Natural Area features an undeveloped wilderness lake surrounded by conifer swamp and a narrow stand of mature hemlock. The 47-acre lake is deep and has extremely soft water. The sparse aquatic vegetation includes pipewort, quillwort, and yellow pond-lily. The fish population is dominated by yellow perch with pumpkinseed, black bullhead, common shiner, and golden shiner. Surrounding the south shore of the lake is a small stand of large old hemlocks with sugar maple, basswood, paper birch, white spruce, white pine, and red pine. The understory includes bunchberry, wood sorrel, and numerous club mosses. White cedar and red maple are common along the shore. East of the lake is a boggy conifer swamp dominated by black spruce and tamarack and an understory of sphagnum moss, Labrador tea, leather-leaf, small cranberry, blue-joint grass, and sedges. The secluded nature of the lake and sufficient forage fish make the lake suitable habitat for nesting common loons (Gavia immer), a species of concern in Wisconsin. Other birds include belted kingfisher, black-throated green and Nashville warbler, red-eyed vireo, and brown creeper. Bastile Lake is owned by the USDA Forest Service and was designated a State Natural Area in 1996.

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, 137 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)