Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Bear Caves (No. 286)

Overview

Location

Langlade County. T32N-R14E, Section 29. 50 acres.

Access

From the intersection of State Highways 64 and 55 in Langlade, go north on 55 3.5 miles to a town road on the east and an unimproved access road on the west. Park at the town road/highway intersection and walk west along the unimproved access road 0.2 mile. The site lies north and south of the road. Disregard any "private road" signs as this is a legal public access.

Description

Description

Bear Caves State Natural Area is an outstanding geologic feature composed of a boulder train with a complex maze of ridges that contains a diverse lichen and bryophyte community. Located between the Chippewa and Green Bay Lobes of the Wisconsin Glacier, the constant movement and jousting between these two lobes may have resulted in fierce runoff causing a concentration of material to be deposited in the maze of ridges that we see today. Formed from pitted gravel outwash and flanked by several swamps, the southern portion has steep slopes with large, very well rounded boulders of pink granitic gneiss piled up on the steep esker-like ridges. The glacial ice and runoff that transported them to the site shaped the round boulders, which average about 4-6 feet in diameter. They are the largest rocks known in Wisconsin to have been concentrated by glacial action. The northern portion is now forested with second-growth sugar maple, birch, and aspen while the southern area is covered with hemlock, sugar maple, and yellow birch. The entire area is covered with a rich blanket of ground vegetation and the boulder train along the southern edge encloses a small sphagnum-tamarack bog. The name "bear caves" stems from local legend which maintains that bears live in the small "caves" found scattered through the boulder train. Bear Caves is owned by the Langlade County and was designated a State Natural Area in 1995.

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, 120 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)