Namekagon Barrens Wildlife Area
This is a must-see, globally rare habitat. Come see all the wildlife species this open-landscape habitat attracts. The Namekagon Barrens Wildlife Area is a uniquely beautiful 6,446-acre property located at the junction of the northern parts of Burnett and Washburn counties, consisting of two units separated by a few miles. As part of the Northwest Sands Ecological Landscape of northwest Wisconsin, it is characterized by sandy soils and a pine/oak barrens community rich with diverse prairie flora and fauna. The North Unit is 5,663 acres with a big open sky that's perfect for listening to wolves while stargazing or seeing the big, beautiful, fluffy clouds while hiking easy terrain alongside native grasses, flowers and shrubs. The South Unit is 753 acres of rolling terrain that is often referred to as “Little Montana”.
The pine/oak barrens habitat present at the Namekagon Barrens Wildlife Area is part of less than one percent of the original span remaining in Wisconsin and is overall declining throughout the world. The Namekagon Barrens provides unique opportunities to experience this imperiled ecosystem, including wildlife viewing of beautiful wildlife species uncommon to Wisconsin, such as sharp-tailed grouse and upland sandpiper, as well as badgers, wolves, turkeys, deer and black bear. If you don’t see the animals, the sandy ground provides a tapestry for seeing their tracks. As a fire-dependent ecosystem, this wildlife area offers excellent wild blueberry foraging. Endless off-trail hiking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing opportunities are available throughout the property. It is a birder’s paradise with the diversity of song birds throughout and waterfowl and shorebird species among the scattered wetlands.
It's also a favorite hunting destination for locally high populations of turkeys, deer and bears. Hunters enjoy the open landscape and wilderness experience. The possibility of a sharp-tailed grouse hunt is determined annually. Visit the Sharp-tailed grouse hunting webpage for the most up-to-date information.
Management Objectives
In 2015, the state acquired fee title of the land previously leased (approximately 5,000 acres) through a land trade with Burnett County.
The land in the barrens area was settled in the early 1900s, but went tax delinquent and reverted to Burnett County in the 1930s due to the dry sandy soils, drought, and the Depression. The Friends of Namekagon Barrens Wildlife Area (FNBWA) was established in the mid-1950s through a lease with Burnett County out of concern for the rapidly declining prairie grouse species in Wisconsin. In 2013, the Conservation Fund donated 1,400 acres specifically for barrens management. In 2015, the state acquired the fee title of the land previously leased through a land trade with Burnett County.
Historically, wildfire was a regular occurrence in this part of the state. Today, the FNBWA is divided into approximately 30 burn units and is managed through a five- to eight-year rotation of prescribed burning. The fire maintains this critical pine/oak barrens habitat type for a wide variety of plant and animal species that depend on this habitat community for survival, including the sharp-tailed grouse and upland sandpipers. Several sharp-tailed grouse habitat and population research projects have been conducted on the barrens over the years. FNBWA offers events to learn more about the property and the unique habitat. A scenic view parking lot can be found on the Springbrook Trail on the south unit overlooking the beautiful, rolling topography of pine barrens and wetlands. For more information, view the FNBWA auto tour.
Sharp-Tailed Grouse Viewing Opportunity
Sharp-tailed grouse, a native prairie bird, are currently found only in suitable habitats in isolated areas of the state. Similar to greater prairie chickens, sharp-tails gather at grassy openings called dancing grounds, or leks, during the early morning hours of spring. At the dancing grounds, males court the females by spreading their wings, rapidly stomping their feet and rattling their upturned tails as they coo and gobble with the aid of beautiful purple air sacks inflated on their necks. Viewing sharp-tailed dancing is an experience you will never forget. Dancing activity peaks from about April 15 to May 15, depending on the year.
FNBWA and the Wisconsin DNR make blinds available for up-close viewing of the remarkable and entertaining mating dance of the sharp-tailed grouse. Reservations are available in mid-January at the FNBWA Viewing Blinds webpage and fill up quickly, but cancellations are common, so check back often. The early morning wake-up is well worth it to watch from just a few feet away as males show off, competing for the chance to mate.
To learn more about the history and management of Sharp-tailed grouse, see this pamphlet.
Recreation
The following recreational opportunities exist at Namekagon Barrens Wildlife Area:
- ATV trail (only on town road trail system, no ATVs allowed on the property)
- Auto travel (only on town roads)
- Biking
- Birding (sharp-tailed grouse viewing opportunities, upland sandpipers, and other rare grassland birds)
- Camping (by permit on county forests)
- Canoeing (available nearby on Namekagon and Totogatic rivers)
- Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing (no designated trails, lots of off-trail cross-country options)
- Dog trialing (by permit only)
- Hiking (no designated trails, but there are endless easy-to-moderate hiking opportunities)
- Hunting (sharp-tailed grouse by special permit only, turkeys, and other popular huntable species)
- Snowmobiling trail (only on marked trails)
- Trapping
- Wild edibles/gathering (excellent for blueberries)
- Wildlife viewing (year-round mammal tracking and chances to see badgers)
Amenities
- Bathroom - There are two porta-potties located 100 yards south of the intersection of Saint Croix Trail Rd and Gomulak Fire Lane: 46.11286, -92.06993.
- Parking lot - none.
- Campground and size - none.
- Trails, Types and Lengths - No designated trails, but off-trail hiking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing are permitted
- Other amenities - Three informational kiosks with maps and brochures: one at the South Unit on Springbrook Trail Rd, 0.5 miles west of Namekagon Trail Rd and two on the North Unit: one at the intersection of Saint Croix Trail Rd and Dry Landing Rd and one on County Line Rd, 1 mile west of Town Line Rd.
Maps
Download a map of this property.
If you are interested in exploring this property further, you can access an interactive map.
Directions
The Namekagon Barrens are located northeast of Danbury and west of Minong. The South Unit is located along Namekagon Trail and Sprinkbrook Trail. To get to the South Unit, drive north 2 miles on Namekagon Trail from Highway 77. To access the North Unit, continue north on Namekagon Trail for 2 miles and go east on St. Croix Trail for 1 mile. Expect sandy road surfaces.
This wildlife area has been adopted by the Friends of Namekagon Barrens.