Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Peninsula Park White Cedar Forest (No. 13)

Overview

Location

Within Peninsula State Park, Door County. T31N-R27E, Sections 28, 29. 53 acres.

Access

From Fish Creek, go north on State Highway 42 about 0.5 mile to the south entrance to Peninsula State Park. Follow Shore Road north into the park and obtain a park map at the office. Access to the natural area is from Shore Road via the Sunset Trail, or Middle Road via Hemlock Trail. A Wisconsin State Park sticker must be displayed on all vehicles entering the park.

Description

Description

Peninsula Park White Cedar Forest features a continuum of five distinct community types that change with elevation away from Green Bay. On the western side of the site, a one-acre open marsh dominated by bluejoint grass, reed grass, and rushes is found. Immediately to the east of the marsh is an open calcareous meadow on a lake dune with low juniper, gay-wings, and two rare plants: lesser fringed gentian (Gentianopsis procera) and bird's-eye primrose (Primula mistassinica). A wet-mesic conifer swamp dominated by white cedar and black and white spruce is located in the transition between the lower and upper beach zones. Impressive vertical cliffs of Niagara dolomite, vegetated with ferns and other cliff-dwelling plants, are found on the western side. A mixed upland forest dominated by white cedar, white birch, and sugar maple is found at the summit of the escarpment. The floor of the cedar-spruce forest lacks diversity but does contain such showy species as yellow lady's-slippers and Indian paint-brush. The federally-threatened dwarf lake iris (Iris lacustris) is found in scattered patches. Bird life is characteristic of areas much farther north and includes winter wren, red-breasted nuthatch, Nashville, black-throated green, and Blackburnian warblers, ovenbird, and veery. Peninsula Park White Cedar Forest is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 1952.

Maps

The WDNR'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. Therefore, while the majority of SNAs are open to the public, access may vary accordingly. 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 land owner 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.

• Detailed Map [PDF, 110 KB]

Activities

Please come prepared for your visit. Amenities vary from site to site with most SNAs being primitive and without facilities. See Guidelines for Visitation for details.

Allowable Activities

Most DNR-owned SNAs allow:

• Hiking
• Hunting
• Fishing
• Trapping
• Skiing

Some exceptions apply. Properties closed to the public or closed to specific use, such as hunting, will be posted.

***For non-DNR-owned SNAs: Additional use guidelines may apply. Please verify any use restrictions with the landowner or contact the SNA Program. Landowners may require additional permits or restrict the number of hunters at a given SNA to provide a quality hunting experience. SNA landowners can be found at the bottom of each SNA description page.

Prohibited Activities

• Horseback riding
• Rock climbing
• Vehicles, including bicycles, ATVs, aircraft, and snowmobiles except on trails and roadways designated for their use
• Collecting of plants (including fruits, nuts, or edible plant parts), animals, fungi, rocks, minerals, fossils, archaeological artifacts, soil, downed wood, or any other natural material, alive or dead

Please note that a permit is required for scientific collection and research on State Natural Areas. For more information, contact Thomas Meyer, State Natural Areas Program Specialist.

For more information on rules governing state-owned SNAs and other state lands, please consult Wisconsin's Administrative Code Chapter NR 45 (exit DNR)

Data

Plant List