Thursday, December 25, 2014

Northwoods wildlife, river rapids await day hikers in Phillips, Wis., area

Wisconsin Concrete Park. Photo courtesy of TravelWisconsin.com.
Trails running past Northwoods lakes, alongside a rapids-filled river, and through a park with more than 200 unique statues, await day hikers in the Phillips, Wis., area.

Located in Price County, the trails often are used by mountain bicyclists, skiers, snowmobilers and ATVers, making the area an outdoors mecca. The vast Chequamegon National Forest sits to the northeast and the Flambeau River State Forest to the west.

Among the best day hiking trails in the Phillips region are:
g Bass Lake TrailYou can discover a clear lake next to peat bogs in Wisconsin’s Bass Lake Peatland State Natural Area west of town. The Bass Lake Trail runs 1.68-miles round trip; park where Bass Lake Road dead ends in the Flambeau River State Forest and follow the trail into the state natural area.
g Beaver Creek Trail A variety of wildlife can be spotted on the Beaver Creek Trail at Kimberly Clark State Wildlife Area west of town, as this 1.8-miles round trip trail sits in a 8,700-acre natural area. Park in the dirt lot on the right/east Price Lakes Road, about a quarter mile after crossing Price Creek.
g Flambeau Hills Trail (Short Swing Trail) – The ski and hiking trail system in the Flambeau River State Forest offers a number of hiking trails. Among the easiest is the 1.1-mile Short Swing Trail, the first loop on an access trail running from a parking lot off of County Road W. The trailhead is in Sawyer County about 22 miles west of town.
g Georgetown Trail segment – The 15.8-mile trail runs north-south through Price County. The northern terminus can be accessed from Carpenter Creek Road about 13 miles west of town. ATVs and other motorized vehicles are allowed on the trail.
g Holy Cross Trail (Red Loop) – The wide set of ski trails offer 6 miles of day hiking opportunities from spring through autumn. Try the Red Loop, a 2.1-mile lollipop on a stem leading from the parking lot located off Hick’s Landing Road.
g Little Falls Slough Gundy TrailEnjoy a peaceful walk between a couple of the Flambeau River’s famous rapids on the Little Falls-Slough Gundy Scenic Area Trail east of town in Sawyer County. Located in the Flambeau River State Forest, the looping trail with two spurs is just a little over a mile. Park in the lot off of County Road M after crossing the South Fork of the Flambeau River; watch for the signage.
g Phillips School Forest Trail (Trail D) – Several miles of multi-use trails run through the dense woodlands and open meadows east of town, with Trails A-F available for hiking. Try Trail D for a two-mile round trip; park in the lot off off North Worcester road.
g Solberg Lake/Squaw Creek Trail – Two loops head through an aspen and pine forest about eight miles northeast of town. Try the 1.1-mile Blue Loop, which runs alongside Squaw Creek; park in the lot off Hick’s Landing Road.
g Wisconsin Concrete Park Nature Trail – More than 200 concrete statutes of historic and mythical figures can be explored at the park, located about a half-mile south of town on Wis. Hwy. 13. A 0.5-mile nature trail also can be found at the park.

Learn about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.