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| Norway maples sit at the entry tot he Nature Loop at Havenwoods State Forest in Milwaukee. |
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| Trail map; trail highlighted in yellow. Click for larger version. |
The 1.28-miles round trip Nature Loop heads through Havenwoods State Forest in Milwaukee. The trail name is not official but used here for convenience sake.
Havenwoods used to be a woodlands of maple, oak, ash, basswood, hickory, beech and elm trees. During the 1850, though, settlers cut all of the trees and drained the wetlands. During the early 20th century it was a prison and after World War II an army facility and even a Nike missile site for a while. During the mid-1970s, though, it was abandoned, and Mother Nature reclaimed the land. It became a state forest in 1979.
To reach the trailhead, from Interstate 43 in Milwaukee, go west on West Silver Spring Drive. Turn right/north onto North Sherman Boulevard then left/west onto West Douglas Avenue. Park in the lot at the nature center.
Norway maple
Head on the trail running southeast from the parking lot. This goes into a woods that runs the length of the loop’s east side.
Look for an orange marker that shows where the Milwaukee County House of Corrections once stood. From 1917-45, its inmates tended a prison farm and worked a furniture factory on what is now Havenwoods.
A grove of Norway maple surrounds the marker. During autumn, it’s a pretty scene. The maple typically turns yellow but some will glow orange-red. One cultivar of Norway maple in fall even boasts dark purple leaves.
About 0.15 miles in, a trail runs left/east to the street. Continue straight-right/south.
Shallow roots
Though Norway maple is part of many Wisconsin forests today, it’s not native to the state. Its natural habit is eastern and central Europe and western Asia. Colonists brought it to North America in the mid-1700s as an ornamental shade tree. Pioneers than brought to the Pacific Northwest in the 1870s.
At 0.28 miles, a trail heads left/southeast to cross an intermittent creek. Keep right/southwest.
That Norway maple is found in Havenwoods isn’t surprising. Its shallow root system helps it outcompete other trees by sucking up nutrients in the soil. Note how the understory growth around Norway maple is limited compared to other parts of the woods. If you have a Norway maple in your yard, grass – and even weeds – don’t grow near its trunk.
The trail briefly parallels an intermittent creek. Along the way, another trail goes right/west. Stay left/south.
Invasive species
Some states now label the Norway maple an invasive species and ban its planting. A number of municipalities are no fan of it either. Because its wood isn’t strong, branches frequently break off in storms, damaging buildings while leaving debris in the streets.
At 0.46 miles, a trail goes left/south to the the foundations of two old silos from farms built by settlers during the late 1800s. This is an easy, shot spur to take.
Otherwise, continue right/southwest. Now on the loop’s south side.
Still, there’s little arguing with the colonists who saw the Norway maple as a comely tree. With a broad, rounded crown and its fall colors, the tree remains a landscaping favorite. It usually grows between 65-100 feet high with a trunk up to 5 feet in diameter.
Next the trail comes to a four-way junction. Go straight/west.
Wild Goose Pond
The Norway maple may be its own worst enemy, though. While in its natural environment it can live up to 250 years, in North America most only last for 60 years at best. Those growing alongside streets lack sufficient space for its root system, so the roots wrap around themselves, which ultimately kills the tree.
The trail next passes a wetlands and open area on the trail’s north side. On the southern tip of the wetlands is Wild Goose Pond, dug in 1983.
Green darner dragonflies can be spotted there in summer and early autumn. The high grasses of the surrounding open area turn golden in September.
The trail reaches the west side of the loop and another trail junction at 0.8 miles. Go right/north and enter another woods.
Harvest-hued woods
At 1.06 miles, a trail runs left/north off the loop. Continue right/northeast.
Look for a variety of pioneer tree species here. The area burned in 1982, and box elder, elm, ash and hawthorn quickly moved in. It’s an impressive sight in autumn as the box elder turns brilliant gold, the elm to a mix of yellow, russet, bronze, orange and wine, the white ash to amber and maroon, and the hawthorn to hues of purple.
At 1.24 miles, arrive back at the nature center. Head into it for seasonal exhibits and live reptiles and amphibians, and then return to the parking lot.
If with children, you may want to make the nature center the first stop. Kids can pick up booklets full of hands-on nature activities, which when completed can be turned in for Wisconsin Explorer patches. They also can participate in Take Smoky for a Hike or check out a backpack with exploring tools and books.
