Habitat Extraordinaire

Bubbling springs emerge to join Belanger Creek along its course through this 68-acre natural area. 5600 acres of surrounding land drain into Belanger Creek and its headwaters in Bass Lake.

Brown and brook trout swim under a lowland canopy of hemlock, cedar, and white pine. There are yellow birches, too, whose bark yields a sharp wintergreen taste. Upland you find hardwood climax forest, including ash, sugar maple, and basswood. Look for shaggy-barked ironwood in the under story. Ironwoods are very tolerant trees, able to survive in low-light conditions. They are short-lived and seldom reach a diameter exceeding eight inches.

Unlike the ironwood, aspen require a sunny habitat. They are one of the first species to pop up in a new forest. The huge stands of aspen in these woods are clones, sharing a root system and identical genes. As natural forest succession occurs, aspen will die leaving no viable offspring, because the canopy will not allow in enough sun for aspen saplings to survive.

Natural Wonders Abound

Creatures such as weasels, badgers, minks, porcupines, ruffed grouse, and snowshoe hares revel in the shady understory. Higher up, a lucky observer might see indigo buntings or barred owls. One hike may turn up 30 species of wildflowers, from the yellow lady’s-slipper to the innocuous goldthread, which hides its thin, bright roots underground. Catch the cotton falling from the sky—white hairs protect dispersing aspen seeds.

Belanger Creek Access:

Open to guided tours only. Call to learn of the next scheduled hike at Belanger Creek: 231-256-9665.