Trout Lake Conifer Swamp

State Natural Area (No. 21)

Location: Within Northern Highland State Forest, Vilas County. T41N-R7E, Section 19 SE¼SE¼. 25 acres.

Access: From Woodruff, go north on U.S. Hwy. 51, 6 miles, then northeast on County M 2 miles or 0.25 miles past the intersection with County N. The natural area lies northwest of the highway.

Description: Trout Lake Conifer Swamp is a small, mature northern wet-mesic forest composed of white cedar, black spruce, tamarack, and balsam fir. The ground cover is carpeted with sphagnum moss in which grow a number of orchids, one-sided pyrola, one-flowered wintergreen, American starflower, bunchberry, Canada mayflower, and many other typical bog plants. In the northwestern corner a series of springs flow to the northwest. Alder and black ash dominate in these areas. Surrounding the swamp are large-toothed aspen and white birch. Nesting birds include many warblers: Nashville, black and white, blackburnian, black-throated green, yellow-rumped, and northern parula. Black bears and large numbers of phantom crane flies have been observed. Trout Lake Conifer Swamp is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 1953.