Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Lake Laura Hardwoods (No. 500)

Overview

Location

Within the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest, Vilas County. T41N-R8E, Sections 11, 12, 13, 14. 852 acres.

Access

From Star Lake, go east on County Highway K 2 miles, then north on Deerfoot Road 0.7 miles to a boat launch. Walk west into the site.

Description

Description

Situated on rolling to broken pitted outwash terrain between Lake Laura and Salsich Lake, Lake Laura Hardwoods features an extensive northern mesic forest that includes old-growth stands as well as mature stands that possess or are developing old-growth attributes. Some stands are over 250 years old. Canopy dominance varies from almost pure hemlock with white pine to pure hardwoods including sugar maple, yellow birch, and basswood. Reproduction is primarily sugar maple but balsam fir is an important sapling locally. Hemlock and yellow birch are reproducing well near Salsich Lake. The understory includes Canada mayflower, lycopods, intermediate wood fern, rough-leaved rice grass, and twisted stalk. Where sugar maple is dominant associates include yellow birch, red oak, white ash, basswood with occasional large white pine and hemlock. Common groundlayer species include Pennsylvania sedge, wood anemone, hepatica, American starflower, sessile-leaved bellwort, and false Solomon’s seal. Shrubs present are leatherwood, beaked hazelnut, and American fly honeysuckle. Salsich Lake is a 48-acre soft-water seepage lake, which is ringed with a mature forest. Along the southeast shore is an old-growth hemlock-hardwood stand with a long history of research use by Purdue University and University of Wisconsin ecologist, John Curtis. The lake bottom is mostly sand with some gravel, boulders, and silt and supports the rare lake emerald dragonfly (Somatachlora cingulata), a more northerly species which, in Wisconsin, has only been found in Vilas County. The clear-water lake contains freshwater sponges, indicating high water quality. Animal life is diverse with bald eagle, broad-winged hawk, common loon, pileated woodpecker, evening grosbeak, blackburnian warbler, ovenbird, northern parula, and bobcat. The site contains numerous scattered wet depressions that are important habitat for many amphibians such as wood frog, spring peeper, and chorus frog. Of note is the presence of lungwort, a lichen that is an indicator of undisturbed ecosystems. Lake Laura Hardwoods 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, 296 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)