Kohler Park Dunes

State Natural Area (No. 71)

Location: Within Kohler-Andrae State Park, Sheboygan County. T14N-R23E, Sections 22, 23. 135 acres.

Access: From the junction of Interstate Highway 43 and County Highway V, about 3 miles south of Sheboygan, go east on V about 2 miles to Kohler-Andrae State Park. Follow the signs to the Sanderling Nature Center. The natural area includes all of the dunes north of Old Park Road, east of the park access road, and south of Beach Park Lane, except the intensive use area around the nature center. A boardwalk provides access. A Wisconsin State Park sticker must be displayed on all vehicles entering the park.

Description: Embracing the shore of Lake Michigan, Kohler Park Dunes contains active and stabilized lake dunes, interdunal wetlands, and a small dry-mesic white pine forest. More than one mile of Lake Michigan beach is included in the natural area. Several interdunal wetlands (called pannés) are thickly vegetated with lakeshore rush and sedges. Some of the common plants that stabilize the dunes are sand reed, marram grass, Canada wild rye, northern wheat grass, common and trailing junipers, sand cherry, and willow species. Three state-threatened plants are found in the dunes: clustered broom-rape (Orobanche fasciculata), dune goldenrod (Solidago simplex var. gillmanii) and dune thistle (Cirsium pitcheri). The dunes may also still harbor the only known population of the state-endangered prairie moonwort (Botrychium campestre), a tiny fern that was observed here in 1985, but has not been relocated since. In autumn, the skies above the dunes are often frequented by migrating raptors, while the low shrubs and pannés are very attractive to passerines. An extensive wooden cordwalk, with overlooks at several points, provides hiking opportunities through this sensitive ecosystem. Kohler Park Dunes is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 1969.