7 great day hikes in Cable, Wis., region

View from atop St. Peter's Dome.

Imagine a place where you can hike sandy beaches and enjoy fantastic vistas of the world’s largest freshwater lake, a place of towering pines that bald eagles fly over and black bears scamper beneath, a place where you can explore sea caves or hike across billion-year-old red rock. The place is real – it’s called Bayfield County, Wisconsin.

If Wisconsin were a mitten, Bayfield County would be the peak of the four fingers. With much of it a peninsula, it boasts more shoreline on Lake Superior than any other Wisconsin county. It also offers dozens of miles of trails for those who love hiking.

A gateway to Bayfield County, many traveling to points north pass through this village. A number of travelers make the village their destination as well, and for good reason. The Chequamegon National Forest stretches to the north and east while the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway heads to the southwest into Saywer and Washburn counties.

Among the village’s highlights is the Birkebeiner Trail, which though mainly used for skiing, also can be hiked during other seasons.

Popular day hiking trails in the Cable area include:
g Birkebeiner Trail
g Forest Lodge Nature Trail
g Morgan Falls St. Peter’s Dome Trail
g Namekagon Dam Landing Trail
g Roundup of Cable area trails
g Site of Wisconsin’s first Thanksgiving
g West Torch Trail

Read more about day hiking Bayfield County, Wisconsin, in my Day Hiking Trails of Bayfield County guidebook.