Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Port Wing Boreal Forest (No. 154)

Overview

Location

Bayfield County. T50N-R8W, Sections 20, 21. 165 acres.

Access

For the east unit: from the intersection of County Highway A and State Highway 13 in Port Wing, go east on 13 about 1.6 miles, then west on Lakeview Road 0.2 miles, then north on Big Pete Road about 0.5 miles to Lake Superior. For the west unit: from the intersection of Washington Avenue and 13 in Port Wing, go north on Washington Avenue 0.6 miles, then west on Quarry Road about 1 mile, then north on Point Road 0.25 miles to a parking area.

Description

Description

Port Wing Boreal Forest encompasses two areas of northern dry-mesic forest on sand spits inland from the present Lake Superior shoreline. The forest has distinct boreal characteristics. Large white and red pines (to 30” diameter) form a canopy over white spruce, balsam fir, red maple, white birch, mountain maple, yellow birch, and white cedar. The ground layer contains blueberries, twinflower, yellow blue-bead-lily, large-leaved aster, three-leaved gold-thread, and several club-mosses. Resident birds in the forest are very diverse and include veery, solitary vireo, northern parula, blackburnian warbler, redstart, purple finch, and white-throated sparrow. Between the forested sand spit and the beach to the north is a wetland complex of northern sedge meadow, shrub swamp and bog containing typical bog species such as pitcher plant, sundews, bladderworts, and sedges. Alder thickets are found around the bog. The wetlands are an extension of the estuary of the Flag River, the watercourse that separates the two natural area units. Two rare plants and two rare invertebrates inhabit the wetlands: leafy white orchis (Platanthera dilatata), common bog arrow-grass (Triglochin maritima), black meadowhawk dragonfly (Sympetrum danae) and bog copper butterfly (Lycaena epixanthe). The 20-acre beach and dune complex along the Lake Superior shoreline is dominated by marram grass, blue-joint, Canada wild rye, beach pea, and sand cherry. The beach is used extensively by shorebirds and waterfowl. Port Wing Boreal Forest 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, 54 KB]
• Detailed Map [PDF, 195 KB]
• Line Map [PDF, 47 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)

Data

Plant List