Yawkey Forest Reserve
NWLT's largest property, this forest reserve protects over four miles of shoreline on Lake Katherine and offers opportunities for exploration.
Natural Features
The highlight is the nearly 4 miles of protected shoreline on Lake Katherine, including two islands and Tigertail Point, the peninsula that juts south into the lake. The conserved land west of Highway 51 borders the Bearskin State Trail. Forest types here vary greatly depending on where you stand. Primarily made up of second growth sugar maple and oak stands, the property is currently being managed for a greater diversity of forest types.
HISTORY
In 2018, the Yawkey Lumber Company and family donated the 431 acres that make up the majority of this remarkable property after their 125 years of ownership and management. The shareholders – all great-grandchildren of C.C. Yawkey, a lumberman who founded the company — wanted to preserve the last remaining undeveloped shoreline on the 590-acre Lake Katherine. They spent nearly four years working with NWLT to package 23 separate parcels into the land donation, making it one of the most valuable and sizable outright gifts of conservation land to a land trust in Wisconsin.
In 2019, Rob & Elke Hagge donated 20 acres of land to add to the Reserve to protect Lake Katherine.
In 2023, the Wagner family donated a small parcel at the end of Tigertail Point to fill in a missing piece of protected shoreline.
Read about the geologic and natural history in this blog article.
Town of Hazelhurst, oneida County
453 Acres
Ownership: Northwoods Land Trust
Getting There
The reserve is located primarily along the shoreline of Lake Katherine in the Town of Hazelhurst. There are several places to park along the road to access the preserve.
Bow hunting is allowed according to NWLT Guidelines.
Dogs are welcome.
MANAGEMENT
The preserve was enrolled in Wisconsin’s Managed Forest Law (MFL) program prior to being donated to NWLT. Timber harvests are planned to promote a diversity of forest types with multiple age classes and species.
Benefits
Natural plant and animal habitat; water quality; public access; carbon storage and other nature-based services that lessen the impacts of climate change
Funding Support
This project was supported by grants from the Caerus Foundation, Arthur L. & Elaine V. Johnson Foundation, the Wisconsin Land Fund of the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation as well as several private individuals and families.
More to Explore
Holmboe Conifer Forest State Natural Area
