Central Crex Meadow trails make great hikes

Sedge meadows line the back of a flowage
at Crex Meadows Wildlife Area in Wisconsin.

Often when traveling to Wisconsin’s Crex Meadows Wildlife Area, day hikers often stick to the popular ones near the visitor center. Yet just a few miles drive away in Crex Meadows’ central area are a number of jeep trails that make great hiking paths.

Among those trails:
g Sandberg Flowage Trail – The jeep trail runs 0.4 miles round trip to wetlands on the north side of Sandberg Flowage. To reach the trailhead, from Kylingstad Road north of North Fork Dike Road, turn left/west onto the jeep trail. The parking lot is at the jeep trail’s end, between Sandberg Flowage to the south and the Middle North Fork Flowage to the north. Hike the out-and-back trail with a walk back to Kylingstad Road.
g Reed Lake Trail – A beautiful blue lake in front of a massive sedge meadow await day hikers on this brief trail. To reach it, from the visitor center take County Road F north. After passing Currey Pond, turn right/east onto Reed Lake Road. Past North Refuge Road, a jeep trail heads right/south to Reed Lake. Drive the trail to the lake’s northshore, where there’s a parking lot. Hike the jeep trail back to Reed Lake Road then to the parking lot for an easy 0.45-mile round trip.
g Reed Lake Meadow State Natural Area Trail – Day hikers can see the elaborate dances of sharp-trail grouse on this trail during late March through May. To reach the trail, from the visitor center take County Road D east. Turn left/north onto Rylander Road then right/east onto North Fork Dike Road. North Fork Dike becomes Kylingstad Road. At the next junction, turn left/north onto Hildas Road, which becomes James Road. A jeep trail is about 0.4 miles north of Klotts Road on the left/east.
g Upper North Fork Flowage Trail – You can hike to and from the top edge of the Upper North Fork Flowage on this 0.6-mile round trip jeep trail. From Highline Road north of Lincoln Road, turn left/west onto the jeep trail opposite of Lhotka Road. Park at a lot on the flowage’s northeastern end. For an out-and-back trail, hike back to Highline Road. Though public property, Lhotka Road is not part of Crex Meadows.
g West Paulson Flowage Trail – The 0.6-mile round trip jeep trail runs through woodlands north of West Paulson Flowage to Klarquist Road. To reach the trailhead, turn left/west onto the jeep trail from Klarquist Road, north of Corner Road. A parking lot is at the end of jeep trail well north of West Paulson Flowage. For an out-and-back trail, hike back to Klarquist Road. To extend the walk by up to 0.6 miles, cross the road to the Eastern Boundary Trail.
g Eastern Boundary Trail – A walk through the woods await day hikers on this 0.6-mile round trip jeep trail. From Klarquist Road, north of Corner Road, turn right/east onto the jeep trail. The parking lot is at end of the road south of a wetlands near Crex Meadow’s eastern boundary. Hike back to Klarquist Road for an out-and-back trail. To extend the walk by up to 0.6 miles, cross the road to the West Paulson Flowage Trail.

Read more about day hiking Crex Meadows in my Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking Crex Meadows Wildlife Area guidebook.