Sohlberg Silver Lake
No. 166
Photo by Thomas A. Meyer/DNR
Sohlberg Silver Lake features a small seepage lake nestled in a landscape of undulating topography with low wooded hills and scattered open bogs and tamarack swamps. Situated in the bed of now extinct Glacial Lake Wisconsin, the shallow lake has very soft, alkaline water and is moderately transparent. The fluctuating shoreline is dependent upon the local water table and the lake occupies anywhere from 7 to 16 acres depending on annual precipitation. These seasonal and yearly fluctuations maintain the sandy and muck shores in relatively open conditions that harbor several rare plants more commonly found along the Atlantic coastal plain. On the sandy shores and mud flats occur other uncommon species including autumn sedge, golden pert, beak rushes, lowland rotala, and yellow-eyed grass.
On the adjacent uplands grows an even-aged dry forest of scrubby oak and jack pine while surrounding lowlands contain a sphagnum moss and sedge bog with cotton grass and leather-leaf and a tamarack swamp forest with huckleberry and low-bush blueberry. Bird use is varied and dependent upon the local water level. While the surrounding uplands attract many breeding birds, migratory bird use by species such as sandpipers and other shorebirds varies seasonally with the amount of exposed mudflats available for foraging. Sohlberg Silver Lake is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 1980.
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
Adams County. T16N-R5E, Sections 4, 9. T17N-R5E, Section 33. 308 acres.
Driving directions
From the intersection of State Highway 13 and County Highway M in Adams, go south on 13 for 1.9 miles, then west on County F for 4.8 miles, then south on 18th Avenue for 2.1 miles. Park at the end of the road and walk east 0.5 miles to the lake.
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.
Sohlberg Silver Lake is owned by: Wisconsin DNR