Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest Centennial
In 2025 the Northern Highland-American Legion (NHAL) State Forest celebrated its centennial. The forest stands as a testament to the foresight of early conservationists and the enduring value of Wisconsin's natural heritage. From its rich history rooted in forestry innovation and management to its vital role in conservation and community enrichment, the state forest continues to inspire and welcome visitors. Whether exploring its winding trails, paddling across its pristine lakes, or simply marveling at its timeless beauty, visitors are sure to see why this land was preserved 100 years ago and continues to be protected now and into the future.
During the NHAL’s 2025 centennial, we celebrated 100 years of managing this natural treasure for recreation, education and sustainable forestry, ensuring its legacy for generations to come.
Learn more about the early history of Wisconsin's largest state forest in our 100 Years at Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest StoryMap.
Check out these three short videos to learn more about NHAL and the important role of Wisconsin's Northern Forests.
- The History of Our Northern Forests
- Forestry in the Northern Highland - American Legion
- The Future of Wisconsin's Forests
Historic photo gallery
Take a look back through NHAL's history with these photos from the early 1900s.
Top 100 things to do by season
There’s plenty to see and do at NHAL for each and every season. Follow these guides for ideas of what to do at your next visit.
Spring
- Go fishing - top NHAL lakes to fish in the spring
- Buy your fishing license and go fishing during the season opener
- Go birding
- Participate in OutWiGo: Spring in the NHAL
- Listen for turkeys gobbling
- Take a spring hike/walk
- Go camping
- Learn about spring phenology - listen for grouse
- Calling new hunters! Participate in a spring Learn to Hunt Turkey
- Find a geocache
- Foraging by season - wild leeks and morels
- Celebrate Earth Day and learn about fire prevention
- Keep Wildlife Wild - photograph animals from afar
- Identify spring ephemerals
- Paddle the NHAL
- Arbor Day events
- Fly a kite at Powell Marsh
- Go biking
- Attend the open house at the Escanaba Research Station
- Take an Art Oehmcke Fish Hatchery tour
- Pick up a bag of trash (and dispose of it properly)
- Sign up for a safety course
- Visit the North Lakeland Discovery Center
- Listen for spring peepers
Summer
- Summer invasives identification
- Big NHAL Centennial event at Crystal Beach - June 7, 2025
- Go fishing - contact your local biologist for places to fish
- Go birding
- Take a summer hike/walk
- Go camping
- Learn about summer phenology - baby animals
- Find a geocache
- Go boating - practice safety
- Go biking
- Paddle the NHAL
- Visit a State Natural Area in the NHAL
- Take an Art Oehmcke Fish Hatchery tour
- Check out an NHAL Barrens
- Visit the North Lakeland Discovery Center
- Visit a beach and go swimming
- Check out the Crystal Lake Nature Center programs
- Hike Camp Mercer trails and learn about its history
- Participate in an ATV/UTV ride
- Participate in the Free Fun Weekend
- Participate in summer deer and game bird (turkey) observations
- Have a picnic in the NHAL
- Attend Smokey Bear's 81st birthday party
- Find a Champion Tree
- Identify NHAL trees
Fall
- Go stargazing
- Take a fall hike/walk
- Go camping
- Learn about wild rice harvesting
- Find a geocache
- Go boating - practice safety!
- Go biking
- Paddle the NHAL
- Visit a State Natural Area
- Get ready for winter - cut your own firewood
- Log the Load event on a Friday with a school group
- Go on a fall color tour - 5 stops!
- Field to table event, presented by NHAL staff
- Participate in an ATV/UTV ride
- Find a water handpump and fill your water bottle
- Sign up for a safety course
- Visit an NHAL shooting range
- Cut your own holiday tree
- Learn where and what to hunt - NHAL hunting maps
- Try bear hunting
- Participate in the early goose season opener
- Northern duck season opener
- Woodcock season opener
- Trapping (furbearer) season
- Grouse / small game / archery deer / fall turkey opener
- Post about the first snowfall of the season on Instagram
Winter
- Buy a Wisconsin State Park sticker
- Go ice fishing
- Eat your catch
- Go snowshoeing
- Go trapping for beaver and coyote
- Visit WinMan Trails
- Keep an eye out for bear dens when in the NHAL
- Foraging by the season - try spruce tip tea
- Conduct a wildlife survey
- For the family: download a Nature Discovery Kit: Tracking Down Animals
- Go winter camping
- Participate in winter wildlife carnivore tracking
- Learn how our wildlife is adapted to winter weather
- Take a snowmobile ride
- Go sledding or ice skating at Boulder Junction Winter Park
- Build a snow person, snow animal or snow tree
- Go cross country skiing
- Buy your trail pass
- Go fat tire biking
- Sign up for a safety course
- Go birding
- Book your summer camping excursions
- For the kids: discover the Wisconsin Explorer Program
- Visit the North Lakeland Discovery Center, Manitowish Waters
- Take winter photos and share them with us!
100 Birds for 100 Years
Whether you are an expert ornithologist or a novice birdwatcher, you are invited to discover all our feathered friends we have in the NHAL State Forest. How many can you check off?
2024 Holiday Tree
The NHAL State Forest provided the 2024 Governor's Executive Residence tree. Check it out!
