Sajdak Springs

State Natural Area (No. 171)

Location: Within the White River Fishery Area, Bayfield County. T46N-R7W, Section 26, SE¼. 40 acres.

Access: From the junction of County Highway E and Sutherland Road in Mason, go west on Sutherland Road 5.1 miles, then south on Mason Delta Road 0.6 mile, then west on Sutherland Road 1.3 miles. Park along the road and walk north 0.2 miles into the natural area.

Description: Sajdak Springs features a series of soft water springs originating from a north-facing moraine which feeds a small trout stream. This stream then feeds the White River and flows north to Lake Superior. The springs originate under a variety of cover types including second-growth aspen and maple woods, virgin white cedar, and cutover white cedar and alder. The scenic spring run contains emergent aquatics that border the sandy, firm-bottomed rivulets. The stream has open marshy banks dominated by horsetail, great bulrush, scarlet pimpernel, and round-leaved monkey flower. Additional species include blue-joint grass, angelica, purple-fringed orchid, spotted jewelweed, marsh marigold, water hemlock, cow parsnip, and Michigan lily. A sugar maple/aspen forest dominates the surrounding uplands. The understory contains thimbleberry, wild sarsaparilla, wild ginger, large-leaved aster, drooping wood-reed, round-lobed hepatica, false Solomon's seal, and miterwort. Sajdak Springs is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 1981.