Dory's Bog and Hunt Hill
No. 116
Photo by Aaron Carlson
Dory's Bog and Hunt Hill consist of two separate and ecologically distinct areas. Dory's Bog is a small bog lake with good examples of concentric successional stages including a sedge mat, ericaceous shrub zone, tamarack black spruce zone, and a mesic hardwood zone of maples, birches, and scattered white pine. The open bog vegetation is diverse and contains small and large cranberries, bog-laurel, bog-rosemary, pitcher plant, two sundews, cotton-grass sedge, and orchids. The adjoining uplands feature a high-quality, mature southern dry-mesic forest dominated by red oak, white oak, sugar maple, and basswood situated on rolling end moraine.
Associated canopy species include white ash, butternut, yellow bud hickory, big-tooth aspen, yellow birch, and a few super canopy white pine. The herbaceous layer is typical for this forest type with species such as interrupted fern, hog-peanut, wild sarsaparilla, and American cancer root. Nesting birds include crested flycatcher, eastern wood pewee, red-eyed vireo, rose-breasted grosbeak, black-billed cuckoo, hermit thrush, veery, common yellowthroat, white-throated sparrow, and Nashville warbler. Dory's Bog and Hunt Hill are owned and managed by the Friends of Hunt Hill Audubon Sanctuary. It was designated a State Natural Area in 1974.
Very few State Natural Areas have public facilities, but nearly all are open for a variety of recreational activities as indicated below. Generally, there are no picnic areas, restrooms, or other developments. Parking lots or designated parking areas are noted on individual SNA pages and maps. If a developed trail is present, it will usually be noted on the SNA map and/or under the Maps tab. A compass and topographic map or a GPS unit are useful tools for exploring larger, isolated SNAs.
The good majority of SNAs are isolated and have few or no facilities. Some SNAs have vehicle access lanes or parking lots, but their accessibility may vary depending on weather conditions. Parking lots and lanes are not plowed during winter. Hiking trails may be nonexistent or consist of undeveloped footpaths. A GPS unit or compass and a detailed topographic map are useful tools for exploring larger SNAs.
Non-DNR lands
Entrance fees: For non-DNR-owned SNAs, we are unaware of any vehicle or admission fees. However, please contact the landowner for more information.
Hunting and trapping
This is a non-DNR-owned SNA: Opportunities for hunting and trapping depend on the landowner. Please contact them directly to find out about their rules for hunting and trapping. You can find a link to other owner websites under the Resources tab.
Note: Hunting and trapping are prohibited.
Other activities
Other allowable activities such as - but not limited to camping, geocaching, and bicycling are determined by the landowner. Please contact them directly or visit their websites for details.
Location
Washburn County. T37N-R11W, Sections 3, 4. T38N-R11W, Sections 33, 34. 159 acres.
Driving directions
From Spooner, go south on U.S. Hwy. 53 5.5 miles, then east on County B 5.5 miles, then south on County M 2.2 miles, then west on Audubon Road 1 mile, then north on Hunt Hill Road 0.4 miles into the main camp to check-in.
Hunt Hill is a non-profit nature sanctuary dedicated to connecting people to the environment. Trails are open to the public and free to hike. However, donations are appreciated. Donation boxes are located on the information kiosks along with trail maps.
The DNR'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. While the majority of SNAs are open to the public, access may vary according to individual ownership policies. 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 landowner 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. To create your custom map where you can zoom to a specific location, please use the DNR's Mapping Application.
Dory's Bog and Hunt Hill are owned by: The National Audubon Society and managed by the Friends of Hunt Hill Audubon Sanctuary