Trail Overview
This route runs through the heart of the Argonne Experimental Forest. This route is a great mix of wide winding trails as well as larger rolling hills. Views of the oncoming landscapes are limited by the natural canopy provided by the untouched and undisturbed forest. Nature/wildlife sightings are abundant in this area. This trail is great for anyone looking to experience the wilderness in some of its most pure forms.
History
Argonne Experimental Forest features the largest contiguous tract of old-growth hemlock hardwood forest on drumlinized ground moraine. These types of protected rich mesic hardwood forests are very scarce in northern Wisconsin and on this land type (Argonne Outwash Plains). A northern hardwood forest dominated by sugar maple, hemlock, yellow birch, and basswood is located on a gently sloping, unpitted outwash fan. Shrubs include leatherwood and elderberry. Understory plants include oak fern, ground pine, wood ferns, rosy twisted stalk, Canada mayflower, running club-moss, lady fern, and sweet cicely. This area is surrounded by a conifer swamp, which has several rare species. The conifer swamp is dominated by black spruce, tamarack, and white cedar. Understory species include Labrador tea, leather-leaf, balsam fir, yellow bluebead lily, false mayflower, creeping snowberry, Canada blueberry, and sphagnum. Rare species include small round-leaved orchis, sparse-flowered sedge, and northern bog sedge. The extensive habitat of Argonne Experimental Forest supports uncommon boreal bird species such as boreal chickadee and gray jay. In addition, the rare three-toed woodpecker (Picoides tridactylus) has been seen in the conifer swamp. Other birds include broad-winged hawk, blackburnian warbler, and scarlet tanager. Source: https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/regions/eastern/ArgonneExperimentalForest/index.shtml.
