Open Spaces and Wild Places

The Ephraim Preserve at Anderson Pond. Photo by Julie Schartner.

The Door County Land Trust is celebrating 25 years of preserving Door County’s finest open spaces and wild places. Over the course of the summer and fall, this column will feature one of the special places the Land Trust is working to protect.

The Ephraim Preserve at Anderson Pond is a serene oasis within walking distance of the bustling and picturesque village of Ephraim. The centerpiece of the preserve is a spring-fed pond that fluctuates from six flooded acres in the spring to one acre in late fall. The pond provides habitat for nesting waterfowl, rare species such as the Hooded Merganser and dozens of species of migrating songbirds. We ask that all visitors keep a respectful distance from nesting waterfowl at the pond.

The Ephraim Preserve is dominated on the east by a craggy vertical expanse of the Niagara Escarpment. Old beach ridge is evident along the property’s western boundary. The interior of the preserve is a mix of woodlands, including some old-growth hemlocks, and an old field that gives testament to its past as a working farm. Portions of the original, mid-1800s Anderson farmhouse foundation and apple orchard are still visible.

The Door County Land Trust is challenging people to visit all of the places featured in this column. People are encouraged to email [email protected] when they accomplish this feat and to have their name entered into a drawing to win a copy of the Land Trust’s Guide to the Places We Protect due to be published this fall. For more information on the Land Trust and to download preserve trail maps, visit http://www.doorcountylandtrust.org.

The Ephraim Preserve was the site of the original Aslag Anderson family homestead. Photo courtesy of the Ephraim Historical Foundation.

Just the Facts: Ephraim Preserve at Anderson Pond

Acres protected: 27

Miles of trails: approximately one mile of easy, looped trails

Amenities: bench near pond, kiosk at trailhead; no restroom facilities

Directions: The Ephraim Preserve at Anderson Pond is located in downtown Ephraim at the corner of Anderson Lane and Moravia Street. Parking is prohibited on Moravia and other public streets by Ephraim Village ordinance. Please park at established public parking areas on Highway 42 and walk the short distance to the preserve.

Hikes: You’re welcome to hike at the Ephraim Preserve at Anderson Pond anytime. As part of the Fyr Bal festivities, the Land Trust is offering guided hikes at 1 and 2 pm on Saturday, June 18. The hikes will last approximately one hour; no registration is necessary. Meet at the preserve.

Partnering organizations: The Nature Conservancy, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Knowles Nelson State Stewardship Fund, and many generous individuals.