Kroenke Lake
No. 515
Photo by Thomas A. Meyer/DNR
Kroenke Lake features a variety of natural community types including a northern dry-mesic forest, a wet-mesic forest, and an undeveloped seepage lake. Situated on rough morainal ridges near the lake is a mature dry-mesic forest of variable composition. The canopy is composed of large red oak, red maple, and white ash with white pine. Associate species are basswood, white oak, big-tooth aspen, black cherry, paper birch, and butternut. The mesic lower slopes support species such as beech, hemlock, balsam fir, yellow birch, and a small amount of upland white cedar. Both hemlock and cedar are reproducing. The sub-canopy sapling layer is composed of red maple, ironwood, eastern hop-hornbeam, and beech.
The shrub layer varies in density with species including leatherwood, alternate-leaved dogwood, and beaked hazelnut. The ground layer is comprised of bracken fern, elliptic shin-leaf, interrupted fern, intermediate wood fern, Canada anemone, and Canada mayflower. West of the lake is a wet-mesic forest which is part of a larger swamp complex that extends north into the Menominee Indian Reservation. The swamp is dominated by white cedar with hemlock, tamarack, black spruce, and black ash.
Trees are primarily small to medium-sized though patches of larger cedar and hemlock are present. White cedar, hemlock, and yellow birch are reproducing well in places. The ground layer includes a yellow-blue bead lily, a three-leaved goldthread, leatherleaf, and Labrador tea. Alder is common in some areas, as is marsh marigold, indicating probable groundwater movement. Birds include pileated woodpecker, common raven, wood duck, Cooper's hawk, yellow warbler, yellow-rumped warbler, brown creeper, pine grosbeak, and northern harrier. Kroenke Lake is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 2006.
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. If a developed trail is present, it will normally be noted on the SNA map and/or under the Maps tab. A compass and topographic map or a GPS unit are useful tools for exploring larger, isolated SNAs.
The good majority of SNAs are isolated and have few or no facilities. Some SNAs have vehicle access lanes or parking lots, but their accessibility may vary depending on weather conditions. Parking lots and lanes are not plowed during winter. Hiking trails may be nonexistent or consist of undeveloped footpaths. A GPS unit or compass and a detailed topographic map are useful tools for exploring larger SNAs.
Entrance fees: Except for Parfrey's Glen, the Cambrian Outlook in the Dells of the Wisconsin River, SNAs within State Parks and some within State Forests, all other DNR-owned SNAs do not have any admission fees. For more information, see Wis. Admin. Code NR 45 [exit DNR]. For non-DNR-owned SNAs, we are unaware of any vehicle or admission fees. However, please contact the landowner for more information.
Allowable activities: DNR-owned land
The activities listed below are generally allowed on all DNR-owned SNA lands. Exceptions to this list of public uses, such as SNAs closed to hunting, are noted above and posted with signs on the property site.
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Cross country skiing
- Hunting
- Trapping
- Scientific research (permit required [PDF])
- Outdoor education
- Wild edibles (What is this?)
- Pets (Rules)
- Wildlife viewing
Prohibited activities: all SNAs
Although a handful of sites allow activities like primitive camping (e.g. Lower Chippewa River on sand bars) or horseback riding (e.g. S. Kettle Moraine), the activities listed below are generally prohibited on DNR-owned SNAs.
- Camping and campfires
- Collecting of animals (other than legally harvested species), 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
- Drones: Flying-related activities, including the use of drones, hang-gliders and model airplanes, are prohibited. Permission may be issued by the SNA Program for the use of drones for educational or research purposes
- Geocaching
- Horseback riding
- Rock climbing
- Vehicles, including bicycles, ATVs, aircraft, and snowmobiles except on trails and roadways designated for their use.
For rules governing state-owned SNAs and other state lands, please consult Chapter NR 45 Wis. Admin. Code [exit DNR].
Location
Shawano County. T27N-R15E, Section 5. 150 acres.
Driving directions
From the intersection of County A and Beech Road just west of Red River, go east and north on Beech Road for 2.1 miles and park. Walk west into the site.
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. To create your custom map where you can zoom to a specific location, please use the DNR's Mapping Application.
Kroenke Lake is owned by: Wisconsin DNR