Jones Lake

State Natural Area (No. 531)

Location: Bayfield County. T47N-R9W, Section 23. 44 acres.

Access: From the intersection of Highway 2 and County A in Iron River, go west on Highway 2 1.3 miles, then south on Orlowski Road 2.3 miles, then south on Iron Lake Road 0.1 mile, then south on Jones Lake Road 0.1 mile. The site lies west of the road.

Description: Jones Lake is an undeveloped 37-acre soft-water seepage lake that supports dense stands of aquatic vegetation. At times, nearly the entire lake surface is covered with plants such as water shield, white and yellow water lilies, wild calla, bladderwort, and numerous pondweed species. The landlocked lake has a fluctuating shore that is bordered by leatherleaf, sedges, bluejoint grass, and cat-tails. The surrounding uplands contain white pine, basswood, and red oak with red maple. The understory is comprised of hazelnut, blueberry, American starflower, bracken fern, yellow bluebead lily, gaywings, wild sarsaparilla, and wintergreen. The entire lakeshore is publicly owned with Bayfield County lands surrounding two-thirds of the basin. Jones Lake is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 2007.