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| The wood violet is Wisconsin's state flower. |
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| Upper-Lower Trails Loop. Click map for larger version. |
The 1.2-mile Upper-Lower Trails Loop runs through the 170-acre site. Though a state natural area, the Ridges Sanctuary owns and manages the property, which is open to the public.
The trail is several miles south of the Ridges Sanctuary’s main site near Baileys Harbor. To reach the trailhead, from Jacksonport, take Wis. Hwy. 57 south. Turn left/south onto Loritz Road. An entrance to a gravel parking lot is on the road’s right/east side. Park there and take the trail at the lot’s northeast corner.
Three stacked loops make up the trail. The Ridges Sanctuary’s map splits the loops into four trails. Heading east, you’re on the Middle Trail. At the first trail junction, go north and begin the Upper Trail loop.
The trail heads through an upland beech-sugar maple forest. Visit in spring – especially mid- to late May – and you’ll be blown away by the number of wildflowers here. It’s especially a great place to see violets, which cover the forest floor.
Wood violet
Among them is the wood violet, also known as a common blue violet, which is Wisconsin’s state flower. Ranging in color from deep violet to lavender, (though sometimes they can be white), the flower consists of five distinct petals with three veined lower petals, and measures about an inch wide.
The flowers usually grow on their own stalk and stay beneath the plant’s heart-shaped leaves. The latter is high in vitamins A and C, and should you ever be lost in the woods with no food, know that they can be eaten raw. If you ever see violet-flavored jelly and candy, it was made from the flowers.
Wisconsin’s school children in 1908 selected the wood violet to represent the state’s scenic beauty for Arbor Day, and years later the legislature officially declared it the state flower. Three other states, including neighboring Illinois, have the wood violet as its state flower as well.
The wood violet is found throughout Wisconsin.
Also at the state natural area is the bird’s-foot violet. Colored pale to deep purplish blue, it is about 1.5-inches across and has five petals with the lower ones wider than the top ones. The flower’s center is orange. Unlike the wood violet, the bird’s-foot’s flower stands above its leaves. Bird’s-foot is a host plant for the Fritillary butterfly and mainly found in the southern part of the state.
Non-purple violets
Not all violets are purple, as is the case with two of those found at Logan’s Creek.
The downy yellow violet bears a five petaled sun-yellow flower about three-quarters of an inch wide. Violet veins on the petals act as guidelines for pollinating insects. Its stalks and leaves are downy. The plant grows all across Wisconsin.
Violets also can be white. Such is the case with the Canada violet. Its five-petaled flower has a yellow center, and it measures anywhere from one-fourth to an inch wide. As the flower ages, it can take on a pink hue. The blossom is one of the few violets that emits a fragrance. It grows throughout the state.
The trail next enters a wetland forest dominated by white cedar and black ash along with hemlock. Because of the different forest types that appear in the state nature area, its range of wildflowers is impressive. In late May, you’ll find spring-beauty, Dutchman’s-breeches, toothwort, large-flowered trillium, and trout-lily in bloom. During early June, look for orchids; more than 25 species grow on the site.
The varied forests also make this an excellent location for birdwatching, so bring your binoculars. Black-throated green warbler, eastern wood-pewee, great crested flycatcher, hermit thrush, ovenbird, red-eyed vireo, and rose-breasted grosbeak all can be found here.
Clark Lake
Upon re-entering an upland beech-maple forest, a spur trail runs north toward Logan Creek; stay right/east and circle to the south, where you the trail comes upon another wetland forest.
In the wetlands, another of the stacked loops begins with a trail heading left/east. This is the Lake Trail and goes to Clark Lake, adding about 0.4 miles to the hike. More than 4500 feet of the lake’s shoreline sits in the state natural area.
If you skip the Lake Trail or when coming back on it to the Upper Trail, you have the option of going on the third stacked loop, the Lower Trail. Take it straight-right/south.
Initially the Lower Trail heads through a wetland forest but as curling west rejoins the beech-maple forest. This affords the opportunity to see more violets.
The Lower Trail takes you to the parking lot’s southeast corner.
