Blueberry Trail State Natural Area

Blueberry Trail features a relatively undisturbed floodplain forest along a meandering, free-flowing stretch of Beaver Creek. The stream is deeply embedded in sand, with steep banks. Dominant trees are river birch, oak, pine, and red maple. In places, the forest grades into sedge meadow/poor fen, bluejoint meadow, and tamarack swamp. Just north of the creek is a white pine-red maple swamp, a community type that is restricted to the central sand plains area. Common understory plant species include huckleberry, cinnamon fern, skunk cabbage, yellow bluebead lily, and bracken fern. Rare plants include yellow screw-stem, long sedge, crossleaf milkwort, and bog fern.

Two rare birds, the cerulean warbler and Louisiana waterthrush, have been present during the breeding season. Other birds include whip-poor-will, least flycatcher, golden-winged warbler, Nashville warbler, ovenbird, mourning warbler, and scarlet tanager.

Blueberry Trail is owned by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and leased by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. It was designated a State Natural Area in 2008.

Source: WDNR