Located on the Niagara Escarpment, the
Lautenbach Woods Nature Preserve presents
visitors with a chance to see first-hand the
fractures in the dolomite rock that underlies
much of Door County. In the spring, when the
ground thaws, water from higher elevations
pours out the base of the escarpment on its way
to Green Bay, as if someone’s pulled the plug
on a drain. This water creates a vernal pond
and a unique hardwood swamp on the far western
portion of the preserve. The pond is
reminiscent of the bayous of the south and
contains enough water in spring that the
Lautenbach children traversed it by rowboat.
The pond is a favorite habitat for migrating
waterfowl, salamanders and spring peepers.
Although the pond recedes or disappears with
warmer weather, high water marks on the
hardwood trees are visible year-round.