Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
St. Peter's Dome (No. 420)

Overview

Location

Within the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Ashland County. T44N-R4W, Section 6. T45N-R4W, Sections 19, 20, 21, 28-33. 5,092 acres.

Access

The site is approximately 15 miles south of Ashland with access from FR 199 (County Line Road), which runs along the western boundary of the site. Hiking, x-country ski, and snowmobile trails give access to the interior.

Description

Description

The highest point on the Chequamegon, St. Peter's Dome features a stream situated on a scenic chasm surrounded by a large block of unfragmented second-growth northern hardwood forest. The stream descends the Lake Superior escarpment in a gorge, which follows a fracture in Keweenawan granite. The gorge contains several low cliffs and occasional vertical cliffs, both moist and dry. Most of the lower gorge slopes are composed of moss-covered boulders 1-3 feet in size. The exposed bedrock features are used extensively by university groups studying Precambrian geology. The upland northern mesic forest contains extensive stands of maturing hemlock-hardwood and rich sugar maple-basswood forest along with significant inclusions of "old growth-like" forest. Other forest types include black ash-white cedar swamp, mixed swamp conifer, and dry-mesic forest. The northern mesic forest is dominated by rich sugar maple and basswood with scattered hemlock, yellow birch, white cedar, and pockets of mature white pine. Regeneration of white pine, hemlock, and white cedar is good and there are stable populations of Canada yew. The understory is rich with one of the most complete species assemblages on the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Shrubs include mountain maple, alternate-leaved dogwood, red elder, leatherwood, and American fly-honeysuckle. Herbaceous species include Carolina spring-beauty, trillium, bellwort, rosy twisted-stalk, trout-lily, wild leek, wild ginger, red baneberry, and blue cohosh. White mandarin (Streptopus amplexifolius), a species of special concern in Wisconsin is also present. Open cliff faces, talus and cliff tops support an overstory of white pine, red pine, white cedar, mountain maple, gooseberries, blueberry, and bearberry. Herbs include pale corydalis, columbine, long-leaved bluets, and numerous ferns. Of interest is the presence of three rare fern species: fragrant fern (Dryopteris fragrans), spreading wood fern (Dryopteris expansa) and state-threatened Braun’s holly fern (Polystichum braunii). Other notable features include the headwaters of several important cold water streams including Morgan, Frames, and Waboo Creeks, a full range of forest development in a natural matrix, the unroaded and remote nature of the site and the widest elevation gradient on the Forest (500 feet), and the 80 foot waterfall, Morgan Falls. St. Peter's Dome is owned by the US Forest Service and was designated a State Natural Area in 2007.

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, 296 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)