Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Peninsula Park Beech Forest (No. 12)

Overview

Location

Within Peninsula State Park, Door County. T31N-R27E, Sections 14, 15, 22. 80 acres.

Access

From Ephraim, go south on State Highway 42 about 1 mile to the north entrance to Peninsula State Park. Follow Shore Road north to the Eagle Tower parking area. Access to the natural area is via Shore Road, Highland Road, or the Sentinel Hiking Trail, which forms the northern boundary of the site. A Wisconsin State Park sticker must be displayed on all vehicles entering the park.

Description

Description

Peninsula Park Beech Forest features a continuum of forest types from the dry edge of the Niagara dolomite escarpment to rolling uplands forested with mesic species. The northern mesic forest is old second-growth, with sugar maple, American beech, hemlock, yellow birch, white birch, and ironwood; some trees are nearly 2 feet in diameter. Understory species include yellow blue-bead-lily, large-flowered trillium, red baneberry, Hooker's orchid, and bracted orchid. Relict red oak and white pine are scattered through the area. To the east, between Shore Road and the bluff edge, is a young northern dry-mesic forest dominated by red oak and white pine. The bluff drops 150 feet to several terraces, which are forested with white cedar and hardwoods. The base of the bluff along Green Bay supports many ferns including bulblet, fragile, polypody, slender cliff brake, walking, and marginal wood ferns. The beach is composed of dolomite cobblestones with little vegetation. Numerous mesic forest plants and animals are present along with several uncommon orchids. Noted University of Wisconsin plant ecologist John Curtis used this site as a representative northern mesic forest study site. Peninsula Park Beech Forest is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 1952.

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, 37 KB]
• Detailed Map [PDF, 220 KB]

Objectives

Site Objectives

Manage the site as a northern mesic forest reserve and an ecological reference area. Natural processes will determine the structure of the forest.

Management Approach

Native species are managed passively, allowing nature to determine the ecological characteristics. Exceptions include control of invasive plants and animals, and maintenance of existing facilities. Salvage of trees after a major wind event is not considered compatible with management objectives.

Site-Specific Considerations

• Peninsula Park Beech Forest features a continuum of forest types from the dry edge of the Niagara dolomite escarpment to rolling uplands forested with mesic species. Although northern mesic forest is the dominant cover type, management objectives and systems should allow for dry and dry-mesic forest zones as well.
• Site is within Peninsula State Park. Access is via park trails. Manipulation/removal of vegetation and soil disturbance should be minimized when maintaining park trails within State Natural Area.

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