Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Inch Lake (No. 499)

Overview

Location

Bayfield County. T46N-R8W, 2, 3, 11; T47N-R8W, Sections 34, 35. 626 acres.

Access

From the intersection of US Highway 2 and County H in Iron River, go south on H 7.1 miles to a small parking area west of the road and north of Inch Lake.
Special Regulations apply to Inch Lake: Inch Lake is catch and release only. No use of live bait is permitted. Motors, including electric, are not permitted.

Description

Description

Inch Lake SNA features two undeveloped lakes surrounded by wetlands and rolling upland forest. The property abuts the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest to the south. Inch Lake is a 31-acre undeveloped, soft-water seepage lake containing largemouth bass, yellow perch, and panfish. The 41-foot deep lake is classified as a “wild lake”, an increasingly uncommon feature as development pressure intensifies in northern Wisconsin. No motors are allowed and only artificial lures may be used. These special regulations will provide important research opportunities related to fishing. Surrounding the southern portion of Inch Lake is a diverse northern mesic forest dominated by red pine, red oak, and aspen. Canopy associates include white spruce, white pine, and paper birch. The shrub layer contains abundant American hazelnut and sugar maple saplings. Understory species include Indian pipe, sweet fern, interrupted fern, and blueberries. North of the lake is a northern dry-mesic forest dominated by large red pine and red oak with a diverse ground flora. Species include bracken fern, wood betony, big-leaved aster, thimbleberry, American starflower, and wild sarsaparilla. The site also features scattered wetland depressions vegetated with wool grass, leather leaf, and sphagnum moss. Hildur Lake is a 66-acre hard-water drainage lake on the lower end of the Pike Lake chain. The lake and associated spring pond are the headwaters of the White River. The lake bottom is primarily gravel with a few scattered areas of sand and muck. Fish include northern pike, largemouth bass, muskie, yellow perch, bluegill, and crappie. Surrounding the lake is a narrow band of leatherleaf and alder with uplands comprised of mixed northern hardwoods. Rolling topography to the east supports a northern dry-mesic forest dominated by red pine with red oak and sugar maple. In addition, this area contains a diversity of other natural community types including a small wetland that supports nesting common loons. Bald eagles also occur here. Inch Lake was donated to the DNR by Jill and Jerry Martin – their second donated State Natural Area property. In 2007, the adjacent Hildur Lake parcel was acquired by the West Wisconsin Land Trust and later donated to the DNR for incorporation into the State Natural Area Program. Acquisition was assisted by a partial donation from the Harris family. Inch Lake was designated a State Natural Area in 2006.

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, 240 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)