Nichols Creek (Class I)
The 612-acre Nichols Creek Wildlife Area lies just northwest of the Village of Cascade, 4 miles southwest of Plymouth, in Sheboygan County's southwest region. Visitors can access the main parking area off County Highway N, about 2 miles west of County Highway E.
The property features numerous coldwater seeps and spring runs that converge to form Nichols Creek, a class 1 trout stream that produces native brook and brown trout. The creek then becomes the North Branch of the Milwaukee River before exiting the property at the southeast corner. Alongside the meandering springs and creek lie lowland woodlands of northern white cedar, black ash, tamarack and yellow birch, as well as shrub-carrs of speckled alder and red-osier dogwood.
Marsh marigolds and skunk cabbage are two of the most common spring wildflowers found in the forest understory. Rolling uplands with restored prairies, cool-season grasses, and northern hardwood forests of maple, basswood, and ash cover the southern, western, and northern areas of the property. This diverse habitat supports abundant wildlife year-round. Common game species like white-tailed deer, wild turkey, woodcock, cottontail rabbit, gray squirrel, and ring-necked pheasant offer hunting opportunities. Rare bird species including sandhill crane, blue-winged warbler, field sparrow, bobolink, northern harrier, and more provide excellent bird watching.
Printable Map (PDF)
* Trout water classification from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources can be found here.
Location/Directions
The property lies a few miles southwest of Plymouth in Sheboygan County, with Highway Z bordering it to the north and County Highways U and N to the south. Moreover, it is just minutes from Kettle Moraine State Forest - Northern Unit and conveniently accessible to the Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Fox Cities metro areas.
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Management co-partners:
Trout Unlimited Wisconsin
Sheboygan County Conservation Association (SCCA)