Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Great hiking trails located in Rice Lake area

View from Tuscobia
State Trail near
Rice lake, Wis.
Cabin-goers to the Rice Lake, Wis., area will be impressed by the array of day hiking trails in and around this Barron County community. Among them:
g Cedar Lake Area County Forest trails – As with all Barron County Forests, several unnamed trails crisscross the wooded area. Try the northern-most one, off of Valley Road, which heads west for 2.5 miles through a nice mix of hardwoods; it ends at a gate just shy of Red Cedar Lake.
g Cedar Lake Sections 5 & 6 County Forest – Off of North Townline Road just east of 24th Street, a trail runs roughly north-south for about 1.5 miles before coming to a T-intersection. You’ll walk through a thick hardwood forest.
g Cedar Side Walking Trail – If you need to make a trip into town, consider this beautiful trail that runs alongside the Red Cedar River. Plenty wide and some of it paved, you can take different-length segments based on your abilities.
g Mikana Area County Forest – On Swamp Road upon coming to Mirror Lake, take the gated trail going north. You’ll skirt the shorelines of the lake and then Lake 20-10. For about a 1-mile round trip, turnaround at the gate where the trail splits.
g Moon Lake Biking and Walking Trail – Located at the site of a former municipal airport, this 1.5-mile round trip trail heads to and along scenic Moon Lake. The trail is wide and paved.
g Tuscobia State Trail – Built on old railroad tracks, the Tuscobia State Trail shares a stretch with the Ice Age Trail as it heads northeast. The trail runs about three miles to the 22nd Street intersection.
g Wild Rivers State Trail – A walk through pleasant woodlands and scenic farmland await users of this trail northwest of town. Park at the Tuscobia State Trail junction on County Road SS, near its intersection with U.S. Hwy. 53 and head south for about four miles to West Knapp Street.

Read more about day hiking Barron County in my Hittin’ the Trail: Day Barron County, Wisconsin guidebook.