Nature Preserve Massac Forest

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Nature Preserve Massac Forest is a 709-acre nature reserve in the state of Wisconsin.


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Summary

There are many good reasons to visit this beautiful forest, including hiking, fishing, hunting, bird watching, and nature photography. The forest is home to many species of wildlife, including deer, turkeys, and coyotes, as well as a variety of birds and fish.

Some specific points of interest to see in the forest include the Massac Creek, which is a great place to fish for bass and panfish, as well as various hiking trails that wind through the forest. There are also several picnic areas and campsites available for visitors to enjoy.

Interesting facts about the area include the fact that the forest was once home to a sawmill and a gristmill, which were used to process the timber and grain harvested from the area. There are still remnants of these mills visible in the forest today.

The best time of year to visit Nature Preserve Massac Forest is in the spring and fall, when the weather is mild and the foliage is at its most colorful. However, the forest is open year-round, so visitors can enjoy all that it has to offer no matter what time of year it is.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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