Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest Visitor's Guide 2012
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Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest Visitor’s Guide 2012 Published by The Lakeland Times, Minocqua, WI www.lakelandtimes.com Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest • 4125 Forest Headquarters Road • Boulder Junction, WI 54512 • www.dnr.wi.gov Spotlight Wisconsinites care deeply about theYour cur- towering ‘place white pines denuded up bynorth’ logging biking and snowmobiling. rent and future use of public forests in Wis- near the turn of the last century. Retreating Graced by some of the most consistent consin. The Northern Highland American glaciers 10,000 years ago carved the snowfalls in the state, the forest provides Greetings Legion (NHAL) State Forest is no excep- land’s structure, forming the forest’s more than 400 miles of snowmobile t ion. As the largest state-owned property, unique hills, lakes, boulders and wet- trails that connect with hundreds of the NHAL is a vast and cherished part of lands. more miles of riding opportunities. Wisconsin’s ecological, economic and The lakes and rivers are one of There are approximately 40 miles social past, present and future. The NHAL the primary features that draw of groomed cross-country ski trails State Forest covers 232,000 acres located in more than two million visitors and many more miles of ungroomed northern Wisconsin in Vilas, Oneida and to the forest each year. Fish- trails. There are 18 family camp- Your opinion matters. Let Iron counties. ing, boating, swimming, grounds with 865 campsites in us know what you think. In 1925, the Wisconsin legislature creat- canoeing and kayaking are the forest and two outdoor group Turn to page 2 ed the public forest to preserve the headwa- all popular summer activi- camping areas that will each ters of the Wisconsin, Manitowish and ties. Trails and woods roads crisscross the accommodate a total of 80 people. Boat Lyme Disease Flambeau rivers – once a region of dense forest, providing opportunities for hiking, See WELCOME. page 5 Welcome to the State Forest Find out how to avoid this devastating illness. Turn to page 9 Shoreline project The shoreline at Crystal Lake is being restored. Turn to page 13 Van Vliet hemlocks Travel the trails through the Paul Lueders photograph beautiful hemlock forest. Wildlife is abundant on the NHAL. Enjoy all the state forest has to offer. Turn to page 15 Nature Center NATURE TRAIL Emergency information MAPS Hospital – Howard Young Medical Cen- Telephone – There is a public pay phone Escanaba Trail, Fallison Lake Nature ter, Woodruff. 715-356-8000 located in many of the small towns in the Trail, Lumberjack Trail, Madeline Clinic – Marshfield Clinic, Minocqua. area. Emergency telephones are available at Lake Trail, McNaughton Lake Trail, 715-358-1000 the Ranger Stations during open hours. Resi- North Trout Nature Trail, Powell See what’s on the schedule Ambulance – dial 911 dent managers and campground hosts have Marsh Trail, Raven Nature Trail, at the Nature Center. Fire – dial 911. cell phones for emergencies. Shannon Lake Trail, Tom Roberts Disturbances – In case of a civil distur- Office hours – The Clear Lake and Crys- Memorial Trail . .24, 25 Turn to page 19 bance, notify the nearest Ranger Station, tal Lake Ranger Stations are open daily 8 DNR office, or if necessary phone the Sher- a.m. to 11 p.m. from Memorial Day to CAMPGROUND Hey kids! iff’s Department (911). Be sure to write down Labor Day. From mid-May to Memorial auto license numbers, make and model of Day and again from Labor Day to the end of MAPS cars, campsite numbers, etc. September the Ranger Stations are open Allequash Lake, Clear Lake, Day Lake, Clear Lake Ranger Station: 715- daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The rest of the Jag Lake Group, North Muskellunge 356-3668 year, the Ranger Stations are open as Group, Nebish Lake . .25 Crystal Lake Ranger Station: 715- staffing allows, and usually at least one sta- Big Lake, Buffalo Lake, Cunard Lake, 542-3923 tion is open each day except holidays. For North Trout Lake, Sandy Beach Lake, Severe weather – In case of severe weath- Clear Lake call 715-356-3668, or for Crys- South Trout Lake . .26 er, visitors should check for updates at the tal Lake call 715-542-3923. The forest Crystal Lake, Indian Mounds, Ranger Stations or tune radios to the follow- superintendent is located at the Woodruff Muskie Lake, Upper Gresham . .27 ing stations: 92.5 WJJQ (Tomahawk), 94.5 Service Center at 715-356-5211, ext. 225. Clear Lake, Plum Lake, Starret Lake . .28 ‘Exploring the Extremes’ is WRJO (Eagle River), 95.9 WMQA (Minoc- Other forest operations are handled out of Carrol Lake, East Star Lake, Fire- hot-off-the-presses. fly Lake, Razorback Lake, West qua), 98.3 WCQM (Park Falls) or 99.7 the Trout Lake Forest Headquarters at 715- Star Lake . .29 Turn to page 30 WIMI (Ironwood/Hurley). 385-2727. Page 2–NHAL State Forest Visitor’s Guide-2012 Welcome from the superintendent Welcome to the 2012 version of our done. Some of these changes are former staff are now. Northern Highland-American Legion immediate, for instance the breadth of Something I enjoyed last summer State Forest Visitors Guide. For the the program that Melissa will be lead- was meeting with more of you to hear sixth year it is being produced by The ing. Others will be implemented more your views on the property. This sum- Lakeland Times and we are grateful for slowly, as we are able to hire more peo- mer both Melissa and I will be hosting their support, and the support of the Steve ple. The most notable of those changes campfire listening sessions on Tuesday advertisers that allow us to put this is that we will be hiring more Rangers evenings in July. The schedule is listed paper out each year, with timely infor- Petersen, that will work year round rather than in our nature center article and will be mation to make your stay here pleasant. Superintendent hiring Rangers just for the summer. posted in the stations and campgrounds This column is my opportunity to Those Rangers will also have responsi- as those dates approach. I was happy to share with you some of the significant bilities off the property for forestry get your feedback last year and I changes over the last year. A year ago, related law enforcement like timber learned a lot about your views. Some for instance, I shared with you the not only incredibly strong academic theft and fire cause investigation. Brett things we were able to respond to retirements of several of our staff and credentials but also experience and pas- Bockhop’s role as our property’s super- immediately and other issues will take the transfer of several others to differ- sion for working in our business and visor for the Ranger program will longer to study and solve. ent jobs in the area. The tide has serving the public. We are very excited expand to the other state forests as a We are happy to host you on your turned! Reinforcements are arriving! to have her join us. coordinator to assist those superintend- visit to the Northern Highland-Ameri- On the Monday before Memorial Chase Christopherson is our new ents. can Legion State Forest. We all hope Day weekend Melissa Baker will join forester and grew up nearby, in Boulder I look forward to those changes and you enjoy your stay and return again our staff as the Operations and Visitor Junction. He has worked in the north- believe it will provide you with consis- and again. Let us know if there is Services Supervisor. She will lead the west and in Alaska and is an enthused tent, high-quality service from that something we can do to make your stay teams that maintain and develop our and welcome addition to our staff. Ranger corps as well as better serving here more pleasant. property and also those staff that pro- In addition to some new hires, we our Forestry Division and its cus- vide customer service at the ranger sta- are changing some of the roles existing tomers. What I will miss, though, is the Steve Petersen, Superintendent tions and in the campgrounds. Melissa staff have. This is as a result of some satisfaction of seeing so many of our 8770 Highway J most recently has been the Professor of analysis done by the Division of summer Rangers move on to other Woodruff, WI 54568 Forestry Recreation at the University of Forestry to best align our program staff DNR careers. Look for an article in 715-356-5211 extension 225 Wisconsin – Stevens Point. She brings with the most important work to be this paper sharing where some of those [email protected] Data coverage and wireless DO NOT BRING hotspots for your devices FIREWOOD Data coverage is available at most if of Minocqua provides wireless internet FROM HOME! not all of the NHAL campgrounds. It on most of the island. Other municipal might not be the latest generation and hotspots are at the Boulder Junction and WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE fastest but you will likely have some Manitowish Waters libraries. FIREWOOD? service. While you are spending time in the There are many local businesses that NHAL you will still be able to stay con- UARTERS Firewood purchased HEADQ offer wireless hotspots and they usually nected with work, family, and friends. YOUR BBQ within 25 miles of a post that. Some of them require a “key” Tell them what a great time you are hav- state forest, park, or that you’ll get with a purchase.