Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Devil's Lake Oak Forest (No. 27)

Overview

Location

Within Devil's Lake State Park, Sauk County. T11N-R6E, Section 24. T11N-R7E, Section 19, 30. 88 acres.

Access

From the intersection of Highways 12 and 136 in West Baraboo, go east (south) on 12 4 miles, then east on Ski Hi Road 1.2 miles, then south (right) on South Shore Road to the South Shore main gate and parking/campground area. The natural area lies east of the south shore day use area. Access is provided via Grottos hiking trail.

Description

Description

Devil's Lake Oak Forest features a southern dry-mesic forest with an overstory of red oak and a nearly pure understory of red maple. The natural area is part of a deep, scenic gorge incised into the Baraboo Hills by an ancestral Wisconsin River, and later abandoned and partially filled with glacial debris. The forest is dominated by an even-aged stand of red oak, which originated between 1856 and 1872 according to tree core data. Open-grown white oaks, substantially older and larger than the other canopy trees, are also present. Understory species include American hazelnut, round-leaved dogwood, yellow honeysuckle, and maple leaved viburnum. The groundlayer contains maidenhair fern, wild sarsaparilla, tall milkweed, blue cohosh, sweet-scented bedstraw, wild geranium, and meadow-rue. The forest is situated on top of the terminal moraine of the Cary Glacier, which blocked the ancient river channel. Forest soils are Baraboo and Skillet silt loams; many quartzite and igneous boulders are strewn over the forest floor. Rare birds include Acadian flycatcher (Empidonax virescens), Kentucky warbler (Oporornis formosus), and hooded warbler (Wilsonia citrina). Devil's Lake Oak Forest is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 1953.

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, 200 KB]

Objectives

Site Objectives

Manage the site as a southern dry-mesic forest reserve and as an ecological reference area. Natural processes will determine the structure of the forest. Note: It is understood that over the course of time, the oak component will decrease under a passive management regime. Other State Natural Areas, however, are managed to maintain an old-growth oak cover type. Both management scenarios are needed as ecological reference areas.

Management Approach

The native species are managed passively, which allows nature to determine the ecological characteristics of the site. The dry-mesic forest will be allowed to convert over time to a more mesic forest condition. Other allowable activities include control of invasive plants and animals, and access to suppress wildfires.

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)