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| Flambeau River. Photo courtesy of Wisconsin DNR. |
Though the state forest is best known for its whitewater rapids loved by kayakers, there’s plenty for landlubbers to do there. Among the great day hiking trails are:
g Connors Creek Trail – Though primarily used by ATVs and snowmobiles, the trail leading south of County Road W from the Flambeau Hills Trails parking lot can be day hiked a little more than 2-miles one-way (4.2-miles round trip) to Connors Creek.
g Lake of the Pines Trail – Another ATV/snowmobile trail, the route loops wide around the Lake of the Pines from the Flambeau Hills Trails parking lot. Turn around upon reaching the lake’s northern tip, at about 3 miles, for a 6-mile round trip.
g Oxbo Trails – Day hikers can enjoy a walk through a thickly wooded area on a series of five short loops that total up to 8 miles in distance. Loop A, the easiest trail to access from a lot off of Wis. Hwy. 70, runs about 2.4 miles.
g Rim Creek Loop – A beautiful forest walk amid maples and yellow birch offering an array of colors come autumn, awaits day hikers of this 4.9-mile trail. It heads north from the Flambeau Hills Trails parking lot via the Short Swing Loop (see below).
g Short Swing Loop – Among the easiest trails in the state forest is the 1.1-mile Short Swing Loop, which is accessed via a stem trail at the parking lot off County Road W. The loop is used for cross-country skiing in winter.
g Snuss Trail – Day hikers stand a good chance of spotting a variety of wildlife on this 4.3-mile (one way) route. About a mile after Hwy 70 crosses the Flambeau River’s north fork in Oxbo, turn right/south onto Snuss Boulevard; a parking lot is on the left.
Read more about day hiking Sawyer County, Wisconsin, in my Day Hiking Trails of Sawyer County guidebook.
