Dorothy Lake State Natural Area, lake of the United States of America
Dorothy Lake State Natural Area is a protected natural space in Wisconsin featuring a small, calm lake surrounded by forest. The landscape includes mixed woodlands, wetland areas, and terrain shaped by glaciers, covering approximately 95 acres.
The area was designated as protected in 2010 to preserve the natural landscape and rare plant species found there. It had remained wild for centuries before being formally protected to prevent development and safeguard wildlife habitat.
The name Dorothy Lake comes from the area's local history. Today, visitors use the place to walk quietly, watch birds, and experience nature away from busy surroundings.
Access is through simple walking trails that branch from Deer Fly Trail, located about nine miles west of Holcombe. The gentle terrain makes it accessible for visitors of all ages, though snow cover can change conditions during winter months.
The area is home to several rare plant species including Blunt-Lobe Grape Fern and White Adder's Mouth that do not grow elsewhere in the region. A notable feature is a boggy shoreline with unique floating moss that grows on the water surface and exists nowhere else in the area.
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