Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Northeast Lake (No. 472)

Overview

Location

Within the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Bayfield County. T44N-R7W, Sections 23, 25, 26, 27, 35, 36. 833 acres.

Access

The site is located approximately 5 miles northeast of Cable, WI. From Cable, go east on County M 2.5 miles, then north on FR 214 4 miles, then east on FR 373 to the site.

Description

Description

The primary features of this site are the two largely undeveloped lakes and a mosaic of upland northern dry-mesic forest and open bog. Both Northeast Lake and Sugar Bush Lake are soft-water seepage lakes surrounded by peatlands that support numerous rare plants and animals. Extensive emergent aquatics are found in Northeast Lake, which attracts large numbers of ducks and waterfowl. Near the northeast shore of Sugar Bush Lake (Mud Lake) is a diverse, extensive sphagnum-cranberry lawn with numerous sedges, leatherleaf, bog rosemary, grass pink, tawny cotton-grass, creeping snowberry, bog buckbean, pitcher plant, and horned bladderwort. To the south is an alder/tamarack/black spruce swamp with Labrador-tea, three-leaf solomon’s-seal, bunchberry, small green-fringed orchid, and bog birch. Of note are the rare species present including the state-endangered lesser wintergreen, swamp pink, brown beakrush, and bog fritillary butterfly. Other lepidoptera include bog copper, brown elfin, eastern pine elfin, arctic jutta, and hobomok skipper. The uplands are comprised of a dry red oak and white pine forest with canopy trees 28 to 30 inches in diameter. Red pine is also present. Numerous white pine saplings occur in scattered areas. The ground flora includes bracken fern, wild sarsaparilla, Canada mayflower, American starflower, rice grass, blueberries, and Pennsylvania sedge. Birds using the area include bald eagle, common raven, hermit thrush, cedar waxwing, red-eyed vireo, white-breasted nuthatch, red-breasted nuthatch, and eastern wood pewee. Northeast Lake is owned by the US Forest Service and was designated a State Natural Area in 2007.

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.

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)