Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Tomahawk Lake Hemlocks (No. 510)

Overview

Location

Within the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest, Oneida County. T38N-R7E, Sections 4, 5, 8, 9. 244 acres.

Access

From the intersection of Highway 47 and County D in Lake Tomahawk, go south on 47 0.6 miles, then west on County D 1 mile, then north on Two Lakes Road 0.7 miles, then west on Rainbow Road 0.7 miles. The site lies east and west of the road between Little Carr Lake and Tomahawk Lake.

Description

Description

Situated on gently rolling pitted outwash, Tomahawk Lake Hemlocks features a northern mesic forest of mature hemlock and yellow birch with hemlock dominant in kettle depressions. The canopy varies from nearly pure hemlock with occasional yellow birch, sugar maple, and paper birch to mixed hemlock-hardwoods with exceptional hemlock reproduction. A few supercanopy white pine are present and white pine saplings are common on a steep southwest-facing slope. The sparse understory contains shining club-moss, intermediate wood-fern, Canada mayflower, twisted stalk, partridgeberry, and sedges. Small groves of red pine can be found along the lake shore. Other features include small stands of open bog and black spruce swamp, small bog pond, and approximately one mile of undeveloped lake shoreline. Tomahawk Lake Hemlocks 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)