Hog Island Tamaracks State Natural Area

Hog Island Tamaracks is a wet forest of tamarack and black spruce found among low sandy ridges and flat plains. Huckleberry dominates the shrub layer, interspersed with winterberry and mountain holly. Visitors will also find Canada bunchberry, swamp dewberry, cinnamon fern, and tawny cotton-grass in this unique forest habitat.

The Area provides refuge for bird Species of Greatest Conservation Need including: Canada warbler, golden-winged warbler, Connecticut warbler, and veery. Other bird species including: hermit thrush, white-throated sparrow, yellow-rumped warbler, and Nashville warbler can be found nesting here.

There are three units of this Area located within Wood County Wildlife Area and the Wood County Forest. As such, there are three places to park/enter as follows:

Ball Road at: 44.306114 -90.309598

Cranberry Road at: 44.25628 -90.317913; and

Juneau Co. at: 44.234206 -90.287861

Hog Island Tamaracks is owned by Wood County and the U.S. Government. It was established as a State Natural Area in 2008.

Hog Island Tamaracks SNA (Photo: Aaron Carlson)

Source: Wisconsin State Natural Areas Program

Destination Information

Size: 462 acres

County: Wood County

Property Managed By: WDNR

Google Map Directions (opens new window)

Driving Directions: From the intersection of Highways 80 (North) and 173 in Babcock, go south on 173 1.1 miles, then west on County X 0.7 miles, then continue west on Ball Road 8.8 miles. The site lies north and south of the road. Or continue west another 0.7 miles, then south on Cranberry Road 3.8 miles. The site lies east of the road. To access the 3rd unit, from the intersection of Highways 80 (South) and 173 just south of Babcock, go south on 173 7.2 miles, then west on 3rd Street W 3 miles, then north along a ditch 0.9 miles. Walk west nearly 0.2 miles to the tamaracks.

Additional Files:

Area map

Did we miss something? Please contact us with any corrections.