Overview

Location

Within the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Forest County. T38N-R12E, Sections 3 SE¼, 10 NW¼. 30 acres.

Description

Description

Giant White Pine Grove features one of the best examples of mature hemlock hardwoods with a white pine supercanopy in northeastern Wisconsin. Located in the Headwaters Wilderness Area, hemlock, sugar maple, yellow birch, and basswood dominate the forest with taller white pines up to 3 feet in diameter adding a supercanopy stratum. Saplings are primarily sugar maple and shrubs include mountain maple, beaked hazelnut, red elder, and fly honeysuckle. Groundlayer species are bunchberry, yellow blue-bead-lily, American starflower, wild sarsaparilla, large-leaved aster, shining club-moss, and oak fern. Summer resident birds include ovenbird, blackburnian and black-throated blue warblers, winter wren, pileated woodpecker, and evening grosbeak. Other interesting forest inhabitants include porcupine, snowshoe hare, black bear and American toads, spring peepers, and wood frogs. Giant White Pine Grove is owned by the U.S.D.A. Forest Service and was designated a State Natural Area in 1974.

Access

Driving directions

From the junction of Highways 45 and 32 in Three Lakes, go south and east on 32 4.7 miles, then east on Julia Lake Road 0.6 miles, then south and east on Scott Lake Road (FR 2183) 3.1 miles, then north on Giant Pine Road (FR 2414) 1.6 miles to a parking area on the west side of the road. A hiking trail loops through the site.

Ownership

Giant White Pine Grove is owned by:

• US Forest Service

Maps

The DNR's state natural areas program is comprised of lands owned by the state, private conservation organizations, municipalities, other governmental agencies, educational institutions and private individuals. While the majority of SNAs are open to the public, access may vary according to individual ownership policies. Public use restrictions may apply due to public safety, or to protect endangered or threatened species or unique natural features. Lands may be temporarily closed due to specific management activities. Users are encouraged to contact the landowner for more specific details.

The data shown on these maps have been obtained from various sources, and are of varying age, reliability, and resolution. The data may contain errors or omissions and should not be interpreted as a legal representation of legal ownership boundaries.

• Topographic map [PDF]
• 2002 Guidebook map [PDF]

Recreation

Very few State Natural Areas have public facilities, but nearly all are open for a variety of recreational activities as indicated below. Generally, there are no picnic areas, restrooms, or other developments. Parking lots or designated parking areas are noted on individual SNA pages and maps. Trails, if present, are typically undesignated footpaths. If a developed trail is present, it will normally be noted on the SNA map and/or under the “Access” tab. A compass and topographic map or a GPS unit are useful tools for exploring larger, isolated SNAs.

DNR-owned lands

See the "Ownership" tab above to determine if this State Natural Area is DNR-owned, In general, the activities listed below are allowed on all DNR-owned SNA lands. Exceptions to this list of public uses, such as SNAs closed to hunting, are noted under the “Access” tab above and posted with signs on site.

Non-DNR lands

Many State Natural Areas are owned by DNR partner organizations and agencies. See the "Ownership" tab above to determine ownership of this SNA. Allowable recreational uses on partner-owned sites, and the rules governing them, may differ from those permitted on DNR-owned SNAs. Specific rules, especially for hunting and trapping, vary depending on the partner’s policies, and some may require a special permit. More details regarding use of partner-owned SNAs may be available under the "Access" tab above. If this SNA is owned by a partner, a link to the partner website is found at the top of this page. Please contact partners directly for more information on activities allowed on this property.

Back to Top

Prohibited activities

• Horseback riding
• Rock climbing
• Vehicles, including bicycles, ATVs, aircraft, and snowmobiles except on trails and roadways designated for their use
• Collecting of animals, non-edible fungi, rocks, minerals, fossils, archaeological artifacts, soil, downed wood, or any other natural material, alive or dead. Collecting for scientific research requires a permit issued by the DNR
• Collecting of plants including seeds, roots or other non-edible parts of herbaceous plants such as wildflowers or grasses
• Camping and campfires
• Geocaching

For rules governing state-owned SNAs and other state lands, please consult Chapter NR 45 Wis. Admin. Code [exit DNR]