Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest

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The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest is a 1,519,800 acre (6,150 km²) U.S. National Forest in northern Wisconsin in the United States. Much of the old growth forest in this region was destroyed by logging in the early part of the 20th century. Some of the trees that grow there today were planted by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. Actually two separate national forests, the Chequamegon National Forest and the Nicolet National Forest were established by presidential proclamations in 1933 and have been managed as one unit since 1993.

Chequamegon National Forest

The Chequamegon, or "Chwam", as it is locally known, is comprised of three units in the north-central part of the state totaling 850,000 acres. The Nicolet covers 650,000 acres of northeastern Wisconsin. Remote areas of uplands, bogs, wetlands, muskegs, rivers, streams, pine savannas, meadows and many glacial lakes are found throughout these forests. Native tree species include Sugar, Red, and Mountain maples, White, Red, and Black oaks, Aspen, Beech, Basswood, Sumac, and Paper, Yellow, and River birch. Coniferous trees including Red, White,and Jack pine, White Spruce and Balsam Fir are abundant due to a dense second growth. Eastern Hemlock are also present as this is the easternmost limit of its distribution. Tamarack/Black Spruce bogs, Cedar swamps and Alder thickets are common. Blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, cranberries, serviceberries, ferns, mosses, cattails, and mushrooms also grow here, as well as many more shrubs and wildflowers.

White-tailed Deer are numerous as many are hit by motorists on roads in northern Wisconsin year-round. Black bears, foxes, raccoons, rabbits, beavers, otters, squirrels, chipmunks, pheasants, grouse and wild turkeys are popular game in these northwoods. Timberwolves and elk have recently been reintroduced and there hve been sightings of moose, coyotes, wolverines, marten and lynx.[1] Bird species include Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, American Crow, American Robin, Red-tailed hawk, Red-Winged Blackbird, owls, ducks, loons, bald eagles and many species of thrushes, sparrows and warblers. Brook trout, Rainbow trout, and Brown Trout are found in many miles of excellent streams. Walleye, Small and Largemouth Bass, crappie, Northern Pike, and many species of panfish make the areas lakes famous for freshwater fishing. A record Muskellunge, Wisconsin's state fish, was caught in these waters and future records may still be out there. The beauty, heritage, and oppertunities of these majesic forests draw thousands of tourists to the Chequamegon-Nicolet annually.