1964 Map of Moquah NW

About this map

The Washburn Ranger District defines this portion of the Chequamegon National Forest, where the landscape is shaped by the glacial history and early timber extraction of northern Wisconsin. The presence of an Old Railroad Grade running through the northeastern and southern sections of the quadrangle points to the era when industrial logging dominated the region, leaving behind a network of paths now used for forest management. This 1964 survey, updated in the mid-1970s, captures a transition toward conservation, marked by the establishment of the Moquah Barrens Wildlife Area and Moquah Natural Area. These protected zones highlight the unique Moquah Barrens ecology. Scattered throughout the forest are numerous kettle lakes and waterways, including Sunken Camp Lakes, Lake Lenawee, and the headwaters of the East Fork Cranberry River, which provide a detailed look at the hydrology of the sand plain before modern development.