Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Camp Nine Pines (No. 470)

Overview

Location

Within the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Bayfield County. T45N-R8W, Section 3. T46N-R8W, Sections 28, 32, 33, 34. 2,958 acres.

Access

From Drummond, go west on County Highway N for 6 miles, then north of FR 229 (Beck Road) about 5.5 miles to the Camba Bike Trail Trailhead. Trails provide access east and west into the site. Access from the north is provided by W. Delta Lake Road and Beck Road (FR 229).

Description

Description

Camp Nine Pines contains one of the largest blocks of natural red pine and white pine on the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Other significant attributes include scattered frost pocket barrens, the opportunity to establish a connective corridor to the Rainbow Lake Wilderness Area, and the diversity of forest interior wood warblers. After the initial harvest followed by intense fires on the cutover land, the pine forest was allowed to re-develop and continue towards old-growth until harvest was again initiated on some portions of the site. A contiguous canopy of 75 to 100-year old pine and oak stretches over nearly 3,000 acres in total. The canopy is broken up only by natural open frost pockets and several recent clear-cuts. The forest is dominated by red pine and white pine with significant stands of red oak and jack pine. Associated species are paper birch, quaking aspen, and sugar maple. Red maple is ubiquitous in small numbers throughout the area. Shrubs include beaked hazelnut, American hazelnut, and American fly-honeysuckle. The herbaceous layer includes wood anemone, red baneberry, cinnamon fern, rough-leaved rice grass, round-lobed hepatica, and blunt-leaf orchid. Significant open or partially forested areas are dominated by widely spaced jack pine, bracken fern, and early low blueberry. Common understory species are harebell, smooth aster, big bluestem, and poverty oats. Typically these openings are in located in depressions and maintained by frost. Although recent activity has modified portions of the area, most exhibits the full range of local soil, topographic, and aspect variability. This area represents the best opportunity on the Forest and perhaps in Wisconsin to protect and restore a large block of future old-growth pine. Rare species include Connecticut warbler (Oporornis agilis), black-throated blue warbler (Dendroica caerulescens), large round-leaved orchid (Platanthera orbiculata) and rugulose grape-fern (Botrychium rugulosum). Camp Nine Pines 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.

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)