Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Big Eau Pleine Woods (No. 235)

Overview

Location

Within Big Eau Pleine County Park, Marathon County. T26N-R5E, Section 13. T26N-R6E, Section 18. 105 acres.

Access

From the intersection of State Highways 107 and 153 just east of Halder, go east on 153 0.3 mile to Eau Pleine Park Road, then south 6.3 miles to the parking area for the Giant Hardwoods Nature Trail west of the road.

Description

Description

Big Eau Pleine Woods is an old-growth northern mesic forest located on a sloping peninsula that projects south into the Big Eau Pleine Reservoir, an impoundment of the Big Eau Pleine River. Sugar maple dominates the old growth forest with basswood, yellow birch, hemlock, and red oak. The largest trees occur on a small hilltop with a younger mixed-species forest occurring on the slopes. The gently rolling moraine contains numerous tip-up mounds and fallen, decaying trees afford a variety of microhabitats for plants and animals. The understory is rich with a diversity of spring ephemerals such as trillium, violets, hepatica, and bloodroot. Rare and uncommon nesting birds include cerulean warbler (Dendroica cerulea), Acadian flycatcher (Empidonax virescens), olive-sided flycatcher, and yellow-throated vireo. Big Eau Pleine Woods is owned by the Marathon County and was designated a State Natural Area in 1990.

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, 67 KB]
• Detailed Map [PDF, 243 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)