Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program
Spider Lake (No. 295)

Overview

Location

Within Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Ashland County. T43N-R4W, Sections 5, 8. 110 acres.

Access

No direct public access. From the intersection of County Highway GG and 77 in Clam Lake, go north on GG about 1.9 miles, then north on FR 345 0.95 mile, then west on FR 193 2.4 miles, then north on FR 344 about one mile to a logging road on the east side of 344. Walk east following the logging road until it turns. Continue east using compass and topographic map to the south end of the ash swamp.

Description

Description

Spider Lake features a high quality stand of swamp hardwoods dominated by black ash of various age and size classes with canopy associates of red maple, paper birch, white cedar, and white spruce. The shrub layer is well developed and dense consisting of speckled alder, mountain maple, red-osier dogwood, and winterberry. Characteristic herbs include cinnamon fern, marsh marigold, swamp saxifrage, creeping snowberry, and fringed, swollen, and three-fruited sedges. Cuckoo-flower (Cardamine pratensis), a species of special concern in Wisconsin, is also present. Mosses are also an important component of the herbaceous flora. Small pools of standing or slowly moving water are frequent within the ash forest including tip-up pools with 4-8" of water. Drainage patterns in this area of pitted moraine are rather poorly developed and lakes, kettle depressions, and swamps are abundant. The headwaters of the Chippewa and Marengo Rivers are in this area. Spider Lake supports a diverse array of bird species including the great-crested flycatcher, veery, black-and-white, northern parula, and black-throated green warblers, northern waterthrush, and the yellow-bellied flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventris), a species of special concern in Wisconsin. Spider Lake is owned by the USDA Forest Service and was designated a SNA in 1988.

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, 134 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)