Sand Creek Pines
No. 376
Photo by Josh Mayer
The primary feature of Sand Creek Pines is the undeveloped mile-long corridor containing Sand Creek, a cold, fast, sandy bottom soft water stream that supports native brook trout. An alder thicket borders the stream with fen-like seepages along its banks with angelica, purple avens, swamp aster, common rush, and skunk cabbage. Beds of Canadian waterweed are common in the stream. White pine is dominant on the north-facing slopes with red pine locally abundant as naturally occurring groves. Jack pine, oaks, and red maple are also present. The level uplands away from the stream are a mix of overgrown Jack pine-oak barrens with red cedar, pine plantations, and old field. The understory is dense with prickly-ash, and hazelnut.
Scattered prairie species are found in areas with an open understory with such plants as prairie dropseed, Indian grass, prairie larkspur, lead-plant, smooth blue aster, short green milkweed, cream wild indigo, and sand evening-primrose. The feeder creek, Cascade Creek, has a 10-foot-high cascading sandstone waterfall. The forest is more mesic here with second-growth red maple, basswood, bitternut hickory, and herbs such as maidenhair fern, yellow blue-bead-lily, and bishop's cap. Two rare plants are present on the steep sandy bluffs on the north side of Sand Creek. Also present are big blue-stem, poverty grass, butterfly weed, showy goldenrod, field goldenrod, hairy goldenrod, and bracken fern. Sand Creek Pines is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 2002.
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 normally 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.
Entrance fees: Except for Parfrey's Glen, the Cambrian Outlook in the Dells of the Wisconsin River, SNAs within State Parks and some within State Forests, all other DNR-owned SNAs do not have any admission fees. For more information, see Wis. Admin. Code NR 45 [exit DNR]. For non-DNR-owned SNAs, we are unaware of any vehicle or admission fees. However, please contact the landowner for more information.
Allowable activities: DNR-owned land
The activities listed below are generally allowed on all DNR-owned SNA lands. Exceptions to this list of public uses, such as SNAs closed to hunting, are noted above and posted with signs on the property site.
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Cross country skiing
- Hunting
- Trapping
- Scientific research (permit required [PDF])
- Outdoor education
- Wild edibles (What is this?)
- Pets (Rules)
- Wildlife viewing
Prohibited activities: all SNAs
Although a handful of sites allow activities like primitive camping (e.g. Lower Chippewa River on sand bars) or horseback riding (e.g. S. Kettle Moraine), the activities listed below are generally prohibited on DNR-owned SNAs.
- Camping and campfires
- Collecting of animals (other than legally harvested species), non-edible fungi, rocks, minerals, fossils, archaeological artifacts, soil, downed wood, or any other natural material, alive or dead.
- Collecting for scientific research requires a permit issued by the DNR
- Collecting of plants including seeds, roots or other non-edible parts of herbaceous plants such as wildflowers or grasses
- Drones: Flying-related activities, including the use of drones, hang-gliders and model airplanes, are prohibited. Permission may be issued by the SNA Program for the use of drones for educational or research purposes
- Geocaching
- Horseback riding
- Rock climbing
- Vehicles, including bicycles, ATVs, aircraft, and snowmobiles except on trails and roadways designated for their use.
For rules governing state-owned SNAs and other state lands, please consult Chapter NR 45 Wis. Admin. Code [exit DNR].
Location
Within Sand Creek Fishery Area, Monroe County. T19N-R5W, Section 34. 150 acres.
Driving directions
From the junction of Highways 108 and 71 south of Melrose, go southeast on 71 for 3.0 miles, then southwest on Cambridge Road for 0.6 miles, then south for 0.5 miles on an access road.
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.
Sand Creek Pines is owned by: Wisconsin DNR