Unveil Wisconsin’s natural and unique beauty–the barrens of Bayfield. Contrasting the traditional Northwoods, these open landscapes provide an all-new vantage point and valuable opportunities. Come along as we venture off the beaten path to discover the barrens of Bayfield: Moquah Barrens, Bass Lake Barrens, and Barnes Barrens.
Moquah Barrens
Our first stop: Moquah Barrens! The Moquah Barrens are home to rich history, unique species, and recreational opportunities, not to mention epic views.
Dating back to Wisconsin’s beginnings, millions of acres looked similar to these open-air landscapes. Landscapes of the day naturally stayed open because of repeated fire activity. To save the original lay of the land, Bayfield County foresters prescribe burning.
Because of such efforts, species that are barren-dependent flourish. These species, from plants to animals, thrive in open environments. Bring your binoculars and keep your eyes peeled to see animals like turkeys, wolves, black bears, foxes, and sharp-tail grouse.
Besides the amazing wildlife viewing, hunters, be sure to keep an eye out for in-season hunting. And, for our avid hikers and nature lovers, these beautiful landscapes are open for endless exploration. See the horizon, from sunrise to sunset, and vibrant rainbows overhead.
The views are unmatched at Moquah Barrens.
Bass Lake Barrens
Next stop: Bass Lake Barrens! From forests to barrens, these lands dramatically transformed within the last 5 years for the benefit of Bayfield and beyond.
Bayfield County foresters continually make strong conservation efforts to restore the barrens. Conservation is happening now, with prescribed burning, benefitting Bayfield’s protected animals, including sharp-tail grouse.
Rare sharp-tail grouse depend on barrens to call home and always have. Fun fact: Sharp-tail grouse view anything taller than six feet as an obstacle. When they see a smoke column, they instinctively know it’s a suitable habitat.
To mimic the fire activity, foresters prescribe burning, alerting sharp-tail grouse that more open landscapes are on the horizon. Bass Lake Barrens is home to almost 200 unique species, with hopes of attracting more sharp-tails.
In addition to these strong conservation efforts, they also serve Bayfield County taxpayers by setting up commercial timber sales.
Barnes Barrens
Last stop: Barnes Barrens! Barnes Barrens is situated in the middle portion of the Bayfield County Forest, providing abundant, high-quality habitat for species like sharp-tail grouse.
Dedicating these 1,000 acres to permanent open landscapes, the Bayfield County Forestry & Parks Department has opened the door for rare species to thrive and timber sales to take off. Working timberlands surround the barrens, attributing to both animal habitats and timber sales.
With an overall mission to restore the landscape, foresters showcase multi-use management at work. For one, it’s restoration in real-time, offering species the environments they need. For two, taxpayers benefit from commercial timber sales, contributing to the barrens’ diverse value.
As public lands, Barnes Barrens are immensely valuable to visitors, with recreation galore. In the warmer months, ATV or UTV along the beautiful barren trails. In addition, several other unique offerings, like hunting, foraging, birding, and even dog training, are here. When the snow flies, the barrens transform and give visitors a snowmobiling experience like never before.
Looking to the future, Bayfield County foresters strive to educate all adventures by adding signs to guide you along the way.
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The barrens of Bayfield await your exploration. See Wisconsin’s natural beauty from an all-new vantage point and experience valuable recreational opportunities. Your turn to venture off the beaten path to Moquah Barrens, Bass Lake Barrens, and Barnes Barrens!
Get a sneak peek of Wisconsin’s beautiful barrens in Bayfield by watching the Discover Wisconsin original short, ‘Wisconsin’s Barrens of the Northwest Sands’ now:
Don’t forget to tell us about your adventure in the comments below:
*This article is brought to you with support from Enbridge.
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Hailey Rose: Writer for Discover Mediaworks. A born & bred Wisconsinite with a love for fishing, hunting, and enjoying the great outdoors.
