Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Allequash Lake and Pines (No. 508)

Overview

Location

Within the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest, Vilas County. T41N-R7E, Sections 16, 17, 20, 21. 398 acres.

Access

From the intersection of County K and M (Cut-off Road) in Boulder Junction, go south on K 1.9 miles, then continue south on County M 3.2 miles, then go east on an access road to the Allequash Lake boat landing and parking. The southern lake basin is electric motors only.

Description

Description

Situated on gently rolling to rough terrain is a mature second-growth dry mesic forest surrounding the south basin of Allequash Lake. The forest is dominated by medium to large red oak with white pine, sugar maple, red maple, paper birch, and balsam fir. The understory is composed of maple and fir saplings, beaked hazelnut, maple-leaved viburnum, clubmosses, and ferns. Other herbaceous groundlayer species include Pennsylvania sedge, bunchberry, wild strawberry, Canada mayflower, partridgeberry, gay-wings, elliptic shin-leaf, twisted-stalk, American starflower, and false Solomon’s-seal. Allequash Lake is a drainage lake with clear, alkaline water. About 60-70% of the south basin is less than five feet deep and supports extensive beds of emergent, floating-leaved, and submergent aquatic plants. Important species include wild rice, large-leaf pondweed, common pondweed, Richardson’s pondweed, Robbin’s pondweed, flat-stemmed pondweed, northern water-nymph, coon’s-tail, common bladderwort, white water-lily, and water-shield. Stands of cat-tail and bulrushes are also present. Numerous birds make use of the lake and abundant aquatic vegetation including migrating waterfowl, black tern, wood duck, sora, and the state-threatened osprey (Pandion haliaetus). Other breeding birds of the area include broad-winged hawk, belted kingfisher, eastern wood pewee, least flycatcher, winter wren, veery, hermit thrush, Nashville warbler, magnolia warbler, black-throated green warbler, blackburnian warbler, pine warbler, black and white warbler, ovenbird, and scarlet tanager. Allequash Lake and Pines is owned by the DNR 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.

• Detailed Map [PDF, 294 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)