Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Two Lakes Pine-Oak Forest (No. 511)

Overview

Location

Within the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest, Oneida County. T38N-R7E, Section 16. 112 acres.

Access

From the intersection of Highway 47 and County D in Lake Tomahawk, go south on 47 0.6 miles, then west and south on County D 3.4 miles, then east on Wil Jo Road 0.3 miles to the west edge of the site.

Description

Description

On the gently rolling, sandy terrain between three lakes and conifer swamp is a northern dry-mesic forest dominated by large to medium-sized white pine, red pine, and red oak. In the oldest and least disturbed stands a super-canopy stratum is developing. The forest appears to have established after blowdown and fire following the cut-over era but there has been little disturbance since that time. White pine saplings are common in scattered spots while elsewhere saplings are mostly red maple, sugar maple, and balsam fir. The shrub layer is composed of beaked hazelnut, maple-leaved viburnum with occasional American fly honeysuckle. The herb and low shrub layer is represented by early low blueberry, velvet-leaf blueberry, wintergreen, wild sarsaparilla, big-leaf aster, hog-peanut, northern tree club-moss, running club-moss, Canada mayflower, Pennsylvania sedge, and bracken fern. Within the drier forest, patches of mesic forest occur as inclusions, some with large hemlock, basswood, and yellow birch. There is good hemlock reproduction locally and scattered steep-sided kettles within the site. Breeding birds include pileated woodpecker, least flycatcher, veery, hermit thrush, yellow-rumped warbler, black-throated green warbler, pine warbler, ovenbird, Canada warbler, and scarlet tanager. Two Lakes Pine-Oak Forest 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, 265 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)