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Places We Protect

Catherine Wolter Wilderness Area

Wisconsin

Moss-covered tree trunks among fall leaves on the forest floor around the banks of a stream at the Catherine Wolter Wilderness Area Preserve.
Wolter Wilderness The Catherine Wolter Wilderness Area is a great place to find beauty and solitude in Wisconsin’s Northwoods. © Randy Urry

This preserve protects nearly 10 miles of undeveloped shoreline on 15 wild lakes and ponds.

Overview

Description

At this preserve you’ll be able to hike through a portion of Wisconsin’s Northwoods. The 15 wild lakes and ponds at the preserve—with names like Upper and Lower Aimer, Knife, Battine, Bug and Canteen—host a rich diversity of fish and other aquatic species. The surrounding forests provide habitat for many native plants and wildlife species.

This area also serves as a link between the 1-million-acre Ottawa National Forest, located to the north in Michigan, and the 220,000-acre Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest, located to the south in Wisconsin. The Border Lakes area (which includes the Catherine Wolter Wilderness Area) serves as a travel corridor for large-ranging mammals, including timber wolves and possibly moose and Canada lynx.

Access

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Hours

Open year-round, sunrise to sunset

Highlights

Birding, wildlife, fall color, cross-country skiing

Size

2,641 acres

Explore our work in Wisconsin

Photos from Catherine Wolter Wilderness Area

From spectacular birding in spring and fall to cross-country skiing in the winter, there are year-round opportunities to explore the Wisconsin Northwoods at this preserve.

A male Blackburninan warbler perched on a branch.
A fisher pokes its head and front paws out of a hollow stump.
Lower Aimer Lake ripples under a blue sky with white clouds.
A pair of common loons face each other, beak to beak, as they float on a lake’s surface.
A Northern leopard frog partially submerged in a clear pool in a forest.
An osprey soaring against a blue sky with a fish in its talons.
A rippling lake surrounded by autumnal trees on the lakeshore.
The ferns and understory of a forest in summer.
Cross-country skiers on snowy trail bordered by conifer trees with sun glinting on snow at Catherine Wolter Wilderness Area.
A male black-throated green warbler calling while perched on a branch.
A male Blackburninan warbler perched on a branch.

Blackburnian Warbler: Look up high in the forest canopy for a flash of the flame orange throat of a male Blackburnian. © Paul Hurtado/Creative Commons

A fisher pokes its head and front paws out of a hollow stump.

Fisher: The elusive, forest-dwelling fisher is an excellent climber; it can turn its back feet nearly 180 degrees to climb head-first down trees. © Robert A. Kleppin

Lower Aimer Lake ripples under a blue sky with white clouds.

Lower Aimer Lake: Lower Aimer Lake is a perfect place to visit on sunny summer days in the Wolter Wilderness. © Gerald H. Emmerich, Jr.

A pair of common loons face each other, beak to beak, as they float on a lake’s surface.

Common Loons: Listen for the eerie call of loons or watch them dive for fish on the lakes at this beautiful Northwoods preserve. © Marci Lanois/TNC Photo Contest 2022

A Northern leopard frog partially submerged in a clear pool in a forest.

Northern Leopard Frog: In winter, northern leopard frogs hibernate underwater in well-oxygenated ponds, lakes or deep streams that do not freeze to the bottom. © Jim Schumaker, Nature and Human Photography

An osprey soaring against a blue sky with a fish in its talons.

Osprey: Watch for osprey diving for their fishy prey in the lakes at the Wolter Wilderness Area. © Steve Bower

A rippling lake surrounded by autumnal trees on the lakeshore.

Roach Lake: Along the shore of Roach Lake, you can view the beauty of trees in their full autumnal colors. © Jim Schumaker

The ferns and understory of a forest in summer.

Northwoods Forest: Catherine Wolter Wilderness Area protects more than 36,000 feet of undeveloped shoreline on 15 wild lakes and ponds. © Jim Schumaker

Cross-country skiers on snowy trail bordered by conifer trees with sun glinting on snow at Catherine Wolter Wilderness Area.

Winter Wonderland: Cross-country skiers enjoy the snowy beauty of the Catherine Wolter Wilderness Area on trails groomed by the Town of Presque Isle. © Karen Wendt

A male black-throated green warbler calling while perched on a branch.

Black-throated Green Warbler: Listen for this stunning warbler’s persistent “trees trees I love trees” song from high in the treetops. © Jeff Lewis

Visit

  • The preserve harbors white pines up to 400 years old, wetlands including bogs and white cedar swamps, spring-fed ponds and many wild lakes and streams.

    Spring, summer and fall are all great times for birding at this spectacular preserve. In spring, you’re likely to find early wildflowers such as trout lily, Dutchman's breeches, and white trillium. You might also spot migratory birds such as magnolia warblers, Connecticut warblers, scarlet tanagers, black-bellied plovers or ruby-crowned kinglets passing through on their way to summer breeding grounds further north.

    During the summer growing season, impressive wildflowers such as yellow lady's slippers or dwarf lake iris are on display. In the summer, you’ll find neotropical migrant songbirds like the black-throated green and black-throated blue warblers, American redstarts, golden-winged warblers and mourning warblers among the forest trees.

    Along the lakes and ponds, you can see common loons, osprey, and an occasional bald eagle. White-tailed deer are common throughout forests in this area. Otters, fishers, black bears and timber wolves are known to frequent the preserve.

    As fall approaches, the summer colors fade to red, orange and gold. Migratory birds such as Wilscon's warblers and Blackburnian warblers are on the move, and you’re likely to spot raptors such as broad-winged hawks and Northern harriers.

    When winter arrives, snow and ice blanket the area, making it a welcome respite for visitors seeking the peace and quiet of the season. But winter is still a busy time in nature; watch for great horned owls, sharp-shinned hawks, bobcats or rare American martens.

    Many of our preserves allow deer hunting from October through the first week of January, so wearing blaze orange is suggested when hiking in these areas during hunting season.

  • Catherine Wolter Wilderness Area is a wonderful place to hike, cross-country ski, showshoe, watch for birds and wildlife, take photos and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. Carry-in access for non-motorized boats and canoes is allowed on all waters. Catch and release fishing (with artificial lures only) is allowed on all waters.

    TRAILS

    There are approximately 7 miles of well-maintained trails that include welcome kiosks, arrow trail makers and “You are Here” signs at most intersections. 

    In the winter, the Town of Presque Isle grooms 2.5 miles of the trails at the Wolter preserve for cross-country skiing. The rest of the trails are open for backcountry skiing and snowshoeing.

    If you are snowshoeing on the trails that are groomed, please walk beside the ski tracks rather than on top of them. Snowmobiles may use the existing snowmobile trail near County Highway B for winter recreation.

    FISHING

    Fishing is allowed at most publicly accessible sites in Wisconsin.

    HUNTING

    Deer hunting is permitted at Lulu Lake. Click here to learn more about hunting opportunities on Wisconsin preserves. 

    PERMITTED ACTIVITIES

    The following activities are permitted on TNC preserves in Wisconsin:

    • Birdwatching
    • Cross-country skiing
    • Hiking
    • Nature study
    • Photography
    • Snowshoeing
    • Videotaping for personal use (if for commercial use, you must obtain permission from the Wisconsin Chapter office in Madison-see below for contact information)
    • EarthCaching and geocaching are allowed on our preserves in Wisconsin. Caches should be placed at parking lots and entry ways or along trails. Objects placed for geocache sites should be no larger than the size of a coin, film canister or a tube of lip balm. See geocaching.com for additional guidelines and recommendations. Please contact our TNC office near you prior to placing a cache.

  • HOURS
    Sunrise to sunset

    PARKING
    There is a small parking area at the trailhead that can accommodate 10-15 cars.

    RESTROOMS
    There are no restrooms available.

    VISITOR CENTER
    There is no visitor center.

    PICNIC AREA
    There is no designated picnic area.

    WILDLIFE VIEWING AREAS
    While you can view wildlife throughout the trail, there are no designated overlooks, platforms or wildlife viewing areas.

    EV CHARGING
     EV charging is not currently available.

    CELL PHONE AND WIFI SERVICES
    Most TNC preserves are located in remote areas, meaning cell phone and wifi service may not always be available. 

    • Wear comfortable footwear suitable for natural trails, but please do not wear heavy, cleated boots that can damage trails or natural areas.
    • To protect yourself from ticks, poison ivy or poison sumac, wear long pants and tuck them into your socks.
    • No matter the season, each person in your party should bring a full water bottle. Dehydration is a serious risk year-round.

    To get the most from your visit, you may want to bring some or all of the following items:

    • Snacks
    • Camera
    • Insect repellent
    • Rain gear
    • Sunscreen
    • Binoculars
    • Compass
    • Field guides (wildflowers, birds, butterflies & other natural features)
    • First aid kit

  • Our vision is of a world where people and nature thrive together. The Nature Conservancy encourages people of all ages, experiences and abilities to visit our preserves and has a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination of any kind. 

    We encourage you to hike open trails and enjoy bird and wildlife watching and other permitted activities.

    Please do not trespass (or park) on private property adjacent to TNC preserves. Property lines are clearly marked with yellow signs featuring TNC's logo.

    SERVICE ANIMALS
    Service animals specifically trained to aid a person with a disability are welcome.

    DOGS AND OTHER PETS
    Dogs are allowed on the preserve but must be on leash from April 1 to August 1 to protect ground-nesting birds. When dogs are off-leash, they must be kept under voice control by their owners at all times to prevent them from creating a nuisance on adjacent properties and residences.

    There are some exceptions for dogs during hunting season; see the Wisconsin hunting program page. Information is also posted on the sign at each preserve entrance.

    CANOES AND OTHER BOATS

    Carry-in access for non-motorized boats and canoes is allowed on all waters. 

    FISHING

    Catch and release fishing, with artificial lures only, is allowed on all waters

    To protect the plants and wildlife that call the preserve home, TNC prohibits the following at this preserve:

    • Biking and mountain biking
    • Camping, campfires and cooking
    • Caving
    • Horseback riding
    • Hang gliding or paragliding
    • Ice skating
    • Picking flowers, berries, nuts or mushrooms
    • Removing any part of the natural landscape (shells, rocks, etc.)
    • Rappelling
    • Rock climbing
    • Snowmobiling
    • Swimming
    • Firewood collecting
    • Littering (please remove all trash)

    OPDMD USE

    The use of Other Power Driven Mobility Devices (OPDMD)s (utility vehicles, ATVs, Segways, golf carts, etc.) on this property is allowed on established old logging roads but prohibited in the undeveloped areas. 

    The parking lot has a gated combination lock at the trail head. ADA visitors who would like access may call the local project office, 715-358-6305, during regular business hours to obtain the gate combination. 

    DRONES

    AKA personal aircraft, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV)

    Self-propelled or other aircraft are prohibited from taking off, landing or being operated on any TNC preserve except for official TNC purposes, approved research or in an emergency landing situation. We prohibit the private use of drones on our preserves for the following reasons:

    • Privacy and enjoyment of other preserve visitors—In order to avoid capturing images of people who are not related to TNC, and from whom a necessary photo release has not been obtained.
    • Wildlife disturbance—To make sure drones will not disturb resident wildlife, especially areas with many birds or ground-based nests.
    • Preserve management—Unauthorized drones operating in areas where active land management is taking place, such as prescribed burning, could lead to potentially dangerous interactions.
    • Respecting neighboring property—Preserve boundaries are not always apparent from the ground. We wish to be good neighbors and minimize the risk of drones accidentally crossing over from our preserves to non-TNC property.

  • If you are experiencing an emergency, please call 911.

    We hope that you will enjoy a safe, interesting visit.

    If you experience any vandalism or other problems, please contact our office by phone at (608) 251-8140 or email at wisconsin@tnc.org.

Our Work

TNC bought the first piece of land at the preserve from Mrs. Catherine Wolter, a long-time resident of the Presque Isle area, in June 2000. Mrs. Wolter and her late husband, Fred Wolter, had owned and cared for the property for 58 years. Today, the protected land at the preserve totals 2,654 acres (including a 13-acre conservation easement) and includes nearly 10 miles of undeveloped shoreline on 15 wild lakes and ponds in northern Wisconsin. The preserve encompasses some of the last remaining lakes in northern Wisconsin where the native fish populations thrive with limited human influence.

At TNC’s request, researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee initiated a study of the lakes and groundwater at the preserve in October 2000. They studied water flow and quality at the site and made a thorough inventory of the plant and animal life in the lakes. TNC used the information from the study to help guide management and access decisions at the preserve.

Nearby Preserves and Protected Areas

Need more nature? Visit The Nature Conservancy’s other preserves or other local protected areas.

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