Black Creek Bog

State Natural Area (No. 433)

Location: Within the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Ashland County. T41N-R4W, Sections 10-15. 576 acres.

Access: The site is located 10 miles south of Clam Lake. From the intersection of County GG and Highway 77, go south on GG 8.5 miles, then east 0.5 miles on FR 164. The site lies northeast of the road.

Description: Black Creek Bog forms one of the largest open heath bog complexes with boreal attributes on the Glidden Drumlins landtype. It is predominately a large open sphagnum bog dominated by sphagnum, Carex oligosperma, and ericaceous shrubs including Labrador tea, bog laurel, bog rosemary, leatherleaf, and small cranberry. Patches of stunted black spruce and tamarack woodland are also present. Surrounding the bog is an upland forested area dominated by fire origin red pine, paper birch, and white spruce growing on a narrow gravel esker. Overstory trees are generally in the 8-12” diameter range with a few large white spruce greater than16” in diameter. Typical understory plants include bracken fern, poverty oats, club mosses, blueberry, Labrador tea, wintergreen, and other “boreal” associated plants. The site serves as the headwaters of Black Creek, a dark, warm water drainage stream that flows into the Moose River. This is an important area for boreal birds including gray jay, boreal chickadee and spruce grouse. Black Creek Bog is owned by the US Forest Service and was designated a State Natural Area in 2007.