Hike This Ancient Hemlock Forest In Wisconsin That’s Home To 300-Year-Old Trees
By Ben Jones|Published June 20, 2023
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Ben Jones
Author
Ben Jones is at heart an adventurer who delights in inspiring others. A former reporter and photojournalist, he explored towns large and small as a Wisconsin correspondent for USA Today. He later became a lead photographer and senior copywriter for an award-winning destination marketing agency, before founding Boldland Creative, a company that produces photography, video, and other content for travel destinations. Jones has completed photography and content projects in more than 15 states and when he’s not looking through a camera or at his Macbook you’ll find him exploring the world’s lakes and forests.
There’s a place in Wisconsin where you cans get a magical glimpse of what Wisconsin was like before European settlers arrived. Van Vliet Hemlocks State Natural Area is a wonderful old growth forest of hemlocks that will take you back in time, one step at a time. Here’s why Van Vliet Hemlocks is a great Wisconsin park you should visit.
You’ll find Van Vliet Hemlocks State Natural Area in Presque Isle, in far northern Wisconsin. It’s an area that was heavily logged in the late 1800s, and early 1900s. When logging companies arrived in this region, this is what they found – a mixed forest that was home to many large hemlocks.
This type of forest was once very common in Northern Wisconsin, but it has all but disappeared – this is one of the few rare, undisturbed places that’s left.
This beautiful natural area contains a large tract of hemlocks that the loggers missed. It’s managed by the state Department of Natural Resources, and it has been an official state natural area since 2013.
There is a lot to explore. The parkland covers 400 acres, and it includes more than four miles of trails and more than a mile and a half of shoreline. The natural area includes some wetlands, and it’s filled with native plants and wildlife.
The hemlocks in this forest are huge, and they are very old. This type of tree grows very slowly, and these trees have been around for a very long time. Some have been growing here for hundreds of years!
Today the property is a must-visit forest for anyone who enjoys wild spaces. It’s a popular place for hiking, birdwatching, and paddling. It’s also a spectacular backcountry destination for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the winter.
I enjoyed hiking this wonderful trail a few years ago. My one tip: bring some bug spray! Learn more about Van Vliet Hemlocks on the state Department of Natural Resources website. There’s so much beauty to discover in Wisconsin. Here are some of the top attractions in Wisconsin.
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