Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Fish Lake Pines (No. 394)

Overview

Location

Within Fish Lake State Wildlife Area, Burnett County. T37N-R19W, Section 9. 40 acres.

Access

From the intersection of Highways 70 and 87 in Grantsburg, go south on 87/48 1.4 miles, then west on Assembly Road nearly 1 mile, then south on Hickerson Road 1.4 miles to a parking area west of the road. A trail loop leads west into the site.

Description

Description

Located on pitted glacial outwash, Fish Lake Pines contains a small remnant northern dry-mesic forest, once a more common community type in northwest Wisconsin. On a low, sandy peninsula is a mature forest of white pine and red pine with Hill’s oak surrounded by wetlands. Associated trees include white oak, red maple, big-tooth aspen, red oak, and Jack pine. Reproduction is mostly by white pine with red maple saplings common throughout. Although the surrounding wetlands may have protected the forest from most wildfires, scattered stumps and fire scars through the forest suggest that this stand originated by fire about 100 years ago. The moderate shrub layer consists of American hazelnut, beaked hazelnut, Rubus, and common winterberry. The herbaceous layer includes bracken fern, interrupted fern, wild sarsaparilla, blueberries, rough-leaved rice grass, three-leaved gold-thread, leather-leaved grape fern, and Canada mayflower. Resident birds are pileated woodpecker, scarlet tanager, ovenbird, veery, and golden-winged, pine, Canada, and Nashville warblers. Fish Lake Pines is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 2003.

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, 131 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)