Mud Lake

State Natural Area (No. 125)

Location: Within the Mud Lake Wildlife Area, Door County. T30N-R28E, Sections 3, 4. T31N-R28E, Sections 28, 33, 34. 1,190 acres.

Access: From Baileys Harbor, go north on State Highway 57 0.75 miles, then east on County Highway Q 2.5 miles to Sunset Drive, then north 1.2 miles to Birch Road, then west to Mud Lake.

Description: Mud Lake State Natural Area consists of a 155-acre shallow (maximum depth 5 feet) drainage lake surrounded by an extensive shrub and timber swamp. The lake has a truly wild character to it. The bottom is predominantly marl, although dolomite bedrock is exposed in some areas. Many old snags along the shoreline attest to water levels that fluctuate with seasonal precipitation. Aquatic plants are most diverse in the outlet stream (Reibolts Creek) and include bur-reed, coon’s-tail, pondweed, and wild rice. In the lake, soft-stem bul-rush, yellow water-lily, common reed, and cat-tail is found. Immediately surrounding the open water is a narrow zone of shrubby northern sedge meadow dominated by sedges, willows, dogwoods, and sweet gale. The wetlands and lake provide habitat for the federally-endangered Hine's emerald dragonfly (Somatochlora hineana). The open zone grades into second-growth wet-mesic forest of white cedar, white spruce, balsam fir, and black ash. Reibolts Creek, which runs from Mud Lake to Lake Michigan, has been stocked with trout and supports a trout spawning run. Waterfowl use of the lake is occasionally heavy. Nesting birds include pied-billed grebe, American bittern, common golden eye, mallard, pintail, blue-winged teal, wood duck, and Virginia rail. Mud Lake is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 1975.