Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Thunder Mountain (No. 491)

Overview

Location

Within the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Oconto County. T33N-R17E, Sections 25, 36. 75 acres.

Access

From the intersection of State Highway 32 and County Highway W in Mountain, go east on County W 8.5 miles, then north on FR 2101 (La Fave Road) 4.6 miles. Walk east and north on a trail 0.8 mile, then head due east 0.2 mile into the site.

Description

Description

Thunder Mountain is a quartzite monadnock that rises 360 feet above the wetlands at its base and affords picturesque views of the surrounding Forest. It is one of the largest of several promontories in the southern portion of the Nicolet National Forest that are not drumlins, but are bedrock outcrops, predating the Pleistocene, actually of the Precambian era, dating to the early and middle Proterozoic division. It has exposed bedrock on the southern flank, and these contain specimens of Missouri rock-cress (Arabis missouriensis), a rare plant. Two other rare plants are found on the mountain, butternut (Juglans cinerea) and Indian cucumber-root (Medeola virginiana). Several spring seeps are on the mountainside. The forest on the slopes is more southern in its biota than normally found on the Nicolet. It is classed as a southern dry-mesic forest, dominated by regenerating red oak and white oak, especially on the south facing slopes. The lowlands at the base contain white cedar and black ash swamps, a river corridor, and a small silver maple floodplain forest. Other notable species include the parasitic plant squaw-root, and turkey vulture. Thunder Mountain is owned by the US Forest Service 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.

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)