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A Storied Stand | 100 Years Of History, Heritage And Preservation At Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest
Garrett Dietz
Garrett Dietz is a public information officer in the DNR’s Office of Communications.
Nestled in the heart of Wisconsin's Northwoods, the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest encompasses 236,000 acres of rugged beauty stretching across Vilas, Oneida and Iron counties. Hidden in this expansive forest — the largest state property in Wisconsin — are countless natural areas and historical treasures.
These hidden gems take many forms: from secret trails and overlooks that may go years without visitors to artifacts buried in the earth, revealing a vivid history of the forest’s transformation over the past century.
The state forest was established 100 years ago, but the story of this land began well before that. For centuries, it was the ancestral home of the Ojibwe people. The rich forests, hundreds of lakes and abundant wildlife provided resources for these communities long before written records.
Although the lands were ceded through a series of treaties, the Ojibwe still retain the right to hunt, fish and gather within the state forest and the rest of the ceded territory in Wisconsin.
Forestry Takes Root
At the turn of the 20th century, northern Wisconsin was a shadow of its former beauty, dotted with brush piles and stumps from decades of intense logging. This cutover was prone to erosion and forest fires, completely different from the seemingly neverending pine forests that once dominated the landscape.
Efforts to convert the region into farmland had largely failed, as harsh winters and sandy soil made sustainable farming nearly impossible. Amid this crisis, forestry as a science began to take root in the U.S. Wisconsin leaders recognized the urgent need for conservation and revived discussions about preserving northern forests. The first state forest nursery emerged from this barren land, established at Trout Lake in 1911. This experimental nursery has since multiplied in size many times over, producing more than 1.6 billion seedlings for reforestation projects across the state.
In the early 1920s, the state began purchasing cutover lands in northern Wisconsin with the vision of restoring these areas to ecological health and public use. By 1925, Northern Forest Park was officially designated, marking the start of a long journey to transform barren landscapes into thriving woodlands.
Reforestation became a top priority in the following decades. State foresters and local communities worked tirelessly to plant trees, suppress wildfires and heal the land.
CCC, YCC Are Key
The biggest initial key to success for this depleted land was the deployment of the 660th Company of the Civilian Conservation Corps. Established as part of the New Deal to help the country recover from the Great Depression, the CCC deployed men ages 18-25 to improve public lands and protect our natural resources.
Four CCC camps were set up around what is now known as the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest and were integral in working year-round to help build roads, tend the nursery, plant trees and restore wildlife habitat. Efforts laid the groundwork for today’s forest, including the dense woodlands and proud structures still standing tall.
In the decades following the CCC’s disbandment in 1942 (as U.S. involvement in World War II increased), the young forest grew again. But the work was far from finished.
In 1962, the first Youth Conservation Corps camp was established at Statehouse Lake near Manitowish Waters. Inspired by Gaylord Nelson, Wisconsin’s governor at the time, the YCC was meant to continue the legacy of conservation championed by the CCC and give high school students interested in natural resources the skills and experience necessary to pursue careers in the field. President Nixon later signed a national YCC program into law.
Since its inception, 24,000 students have participated in the YCC across Wisconsin. At the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest, they planted 30,000 trees, constructed hundreds of fish cribs, created 17 miles of trails and completed countless other projects under the direction of state foresters.
As the trees planted by the CCC and YCC continued growing, so did the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest. The state added more parcels of land, and the property got its current name in 1968 when the American Legion Forest and the Northern Highland Forest were combined.
The DNR now continues the longstanding legacy of conservation and sustainable forest management in the forest, which restored this once-barren land to a vibrant forest teeming with wildlife and recreation opportunities.
Artifacts Of Times Past
The forest is rich in history, boasting over 100 historic buildings and structures. These monuments are a tribute to those who worked to revive the landscape. The CCC-built ranger station, dormitory and shop are still in use, and the first YCC camp at Statehouse Lake
is now the North Lakeland Discovery Center, located just outside the bounds of the forest.
In addition to these buildings and structures, DNR archaeologists have documented hundreds of previously discovered archaeological sites. Some of these include possible bootlegging hideouts from the time of Prohibition, and there also are ancient burial sites.
In a forest so expansive, no one knows how many more artifacts are waiting to be discovered. History quite literally awaits at the end of nearly every trail.
To learn more about the forest’s storied past, stop by the visitor centers at Crystal Lake and Clear Lake or venture down the Camp Mercer Interpretive Trail. The trail has two branching loops that lead hikers on a 3-mile journey back in time, revisiting CCC project sites and old logging infrastructure, as explained by dozens of interpretive panels and signs.
A Year To Celebrate
The forest’s centennial in 2025 is a milestone that reflects the work of countless individuals who spent decades caring for and restoring this land.
From the first state foresters and local residents working with CCC members to replant the forest to modern sustainable forest management and timber harvest, the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest is defined by a generation-spanning commitment to sustainability and stewardship. It’s a story of resilience, renewal and community.
To commemorate the centennial, the DNR will host events throughout the year, including seasonal self-guided activities, a public event in June with historical presentations plus more to honor the forest’s origins.
Whether you visit for the serene beauty of its lakes, the thrill of its trails or the stories hidden within its trees, the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest provides endless opportunities to connect with nature and Wisconsin’s rich conservation heritage.
Learn More
To learn more about the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest’s centennial celebration, visit the DNR's celebration webpage. For general information about the state forest, visit the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest webpage.
