Guide to Significant Wildlife Habitat - Door County Web Map

Ellison Bluff State Natural Area
Description: Ellison Bluff features 170-acres of densely wooded two-tiered rock terrace – part of the
larger Niagara Escarpment rock formation that stretches and winds though the site providing spectacular
views from the bluff tops. Extending from New York, into Wisconsin and forming the Door Peninsula,
the limestone-capped Niagara Escarpment was formed through sediment deposition of inland seas more
than 425 million years ago and contains fossil-rich sedimentary bedrock. Over time, the soft rocks under
a more resistant limestone cap wear away leaving bluffs, which rise 200 feet above the Bay’s shore. The
cliffs, free face and sheer in places, contain sufficient ledges and fractures to support a vertical, talus slope
forest of white cedar with Canada yew, mountain maple, red pine, basswood, and red elderberry. One
cedar was determined to be 250 years old. The talus slope also supports 26 species of land snail including
five rare species and two glacial relict species. The forested bluff top contains a northern mesic forest
dominated by sugar maple, white ash, red oak, and beech. Also present are paper birch, big-tooth aspen,
and hemlock. The understory is composed of wild sarsaparilla, big-leaved aster, Canada mayflower,
large-flowered trillium, wood-betony, and bracken fern. At least two rare plants are also present: rock
whitlow-grass (Draba arabisans) and broad-leaf sedge (Carex platyphylla). Birds include Great-crested
Flycatcher, Least Flycatcher, Winter Wren, Black-throated Green Warbler, and Blackburnian Warbler.
Ellison Bluff is owned by the County of Door and was designated a State Natural Area in 2002.
Access: From the intersection of Highway 42 and Garrett Bay Road in Ellison Bay, go southwest on 42
1.9 miles, then west on Porcupine Bay Road 0.7 mile, then north on Ellison Bluff Park Road 0.7 mile and
then head west about 0.2 mile to an observation deck and parking lot. Hiking trails provide access to the
natural area.
Bayshore Blufflands State Natural Area
Description: Located along more than three miles of the Niagara Escarpment, Bayshore Blufflands is an
ecologically complex site of 124-acres, with a diversity of plant communities both above and below the
escarpment and a series of seeps and springs at the base of the bluff’s talus slopes. Rising 150-200 feet
above the low terrace of Green Bay, the steep carbonate cliffs and outcrops support numerous rare land
snails including the cherrystone drop snail (Hendersonia occulta), a state-threatened species. Aspen,
sugar maple, red oak, hemlock, and white cedar grow out of the talus affording complete shade to the
escarpment maintaining the cool and damp conditions, which support a lush growth of mosses. The
unique site conditions also support such uncommon species as climbing fumitory, mountain maple, bulbet
fern, common polypody, and fragile fern. Above the escarpment is a dry-mesic forest of red and white
pine with red oak. The ground layer is dense dominated by round-leaved dogwood with northern bush
honeysuckle, zig-zag goldenrod, big-leaved aster, and bracken fern. The site slowly grades into a richer,
more mesic forest containing sugar maple, beech, and red oak with hemlock, and white pine. Also
present is a wet-mesic forest of white cedar, big-tooth aspen, and black ash. Several white cedars reach
impressive sizes here. Below the escarpment are seasonally flooded forests dominated by silver maple,
and green ash with swamp white oak, American bladdernut, and great water-leaf. The site contains many
rare plants including the federally threatened dwarf lake iris (Iris lacustris). Other species are variegated
horsetail (Equisetum variegatum), Hooker’s orchid (Platanthera hookeri), long-spurred violet (Viola
rostrata), and large-flowered ground-cherry (Leucophysalis grandiflora). Rare animals include Redshouldered
Hawk (Buteo linneatus), Midwest Pleistocene vertigo (Vertigo hubrichti), and Iowa
Pleistocene vertigo (V. iowaensis). Bayshore Blufflands is owned by The Door County Land Trust and
The Nature Conservancy and was designated a State Natural Area in 2002.
Access: From the intersection of Highways G and 42 in Egg Harbor, go south on 42 7.5 miles, then west
on W. Carlsville Road 1.4 miles, then south on Reynolds Road 0.25 mile to a small parking area and Door
County Land Trust kiosk.
Appendix D – Natural Areas: A Definition &Status Report 193