Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Bibon Swamp (No. 275)

Overview

Location

Bayfield County. T45N-R6W, Sections 1-18; T46N-R6W, Sections 29-35. 8,827 acres.

Access

Several places afford access to the site. From U.S. Highway 63, on the east side of Grandview, go north on Raymond Avenue into the swamp. Alternatively, go east from Grandview on 63 about 1 mile to Matt's Lane, then north about 0.8 miles to its end. The east end may be entered on Bibon Road, about 5.5 miles east of Grandview via 63. Canoe access via the White River is provided at the junction of Sutherland Road Mason Delta Road, about 5 miles west of Mason.

Description

Description

Bibon Swamp, the largest wetland in Bayfield County, occupies the basin of an extinct glacial lake drained by the White River, a hard, cold water trout stream. The community types of this 15-square mile lowland are unusually varied for such a topographically uniform basin. Portions are forested with a rich wet-mesic conifer swamp of medium-sized white cedar, although trunk coring revealed that at least parts of the stand are in excess of 150 years old. Bunchberry, twinflower, small bishop's-cap and a number of orchid species are representative of the groundlayer here. Resident birds include Nashville, parula, and Canada warblers, and winter wren. Bordering the cedar swamp is wet forest dominated by black ash, with a groundlayer of speckled alder, sensitive fern, wood nettle and poison ivy. Black and white warbler, veery, and red-eyed vireo are common nesting birds. North of the river conditions are very different, with a large complex of peatland communities including open bog, spruce-tamarack muskeg, and black spruce swamp. Deep sphagnum hummocks form a continuous ground cover upon which ericaceous shrubs grow including leather-leaf, bog laurel, and Labrador-tea. Birds found in these coniferous peatlands include palm warbler, yellow-bellied flycatcher, boreal chickadee, and sharp-shinned hawk. Vast shrub swamps composed of slender willow, red-osier dogwood, and speckled alder, blanket portions of the wetland. Other communities of lesser areal extent include northern sedge meadow composed of Carex species and blue-joint grass, and patches of riparian woodlands, dominated by American elm, green ash, and red maple, along the White River. The area supports a variety of rare plants and animals, including three state-threatened species: wood turtle, sheathed pondweed (Potamogeton vaginatus), and sweet colt's-foot (Petasites sagittatus). Other rare species found here are great gray owl, bald eagle, osprey, and showy lady's slipper (Cypripedium reginae). Bibon Swamp is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 1992.

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.

• Guidebook Map [PDF, 144 KB]
• Detailed Map [PDF, 183 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)