Swamp Lake
No. 645
Photo by Josh Mayer
Swamp Lake features a 258-acre soft-water drainage lake with a maximum depth of nine feet. A designated Wilderness Lake, the lake is remote and completely undeveloped. Numerous bird species use the site and waterfowl use is especially significant during migration. Species noted include common loon, common merganser, belted kingfisher, great blue heron, bald eagle, and osprey. The lake is surrounded by a black spruce swamp and a large black ash swamp with pockets of white cedar. A narrow outlet channel to Mason Lake drains Swamp Lake and the surrounding wetlands.
East of the lake pole-sized hardwoods grade into select-cut but mature to old-growth northern mesic forest dominated by hemlock, sugar maple, yellow birch, and a few supercanopy white pine. Sugar maple dominates the sapling layer and hemlock regeneration is absent. The ground layer is generally sparse, with lady fern, downy yellow wood violet, sweet cicely, rosy twisted stalk, large-flowered trillium, long beech fern, and American starflower. This is one of the very few significant stands of older forest remaining on the Flambeau following the severe 1977 blowdown event. The natural area includes the largest stand of hemlock-hardwood forest on the property and one of the larger blocks remaining in the region. Swamp Lake is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 2010.
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 the Flambeau River State Forest, Sawyer County. T38N-R3W, Sections 1, 2, 11, 12. 1,042 acres.
Driving directions
From the junction of Highway 13 and County W (Beebe Street) in Phillips go west on County Highway W for 18.8 miles, then north on Tower Hill Road for 2 miles, then continue north on a logging/access road for another 0.7 miles. The lake lies 0.15 miles northeast.
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.
Swamp Lake is owned by: Wisconsin DNR