Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Douglas County offers diverse array of trails

Snakepit Falls, Amnicon State Park. Photo courtesy of Wisconsin DNR.
Anyone looking for a good day hike destination ought to try Wisconsin’s Douglas County. The county boasts a number of outdoor attractions perfect for day hikers.

Douglas County’s hiking trails generally are clustered in three areas. Lake Superior Country includes those in the city of Superior and others in the county’s northwest corner. Brule River Country are those in or near the Brule River State Forest in the county’s northeast section. St. Croix River Country generally run along the St. Croix River in a swatch across the county’s southern lands. Much of the southeast and central section of the county, despite being heavily forested, lacks public trails, however.

Several major highways offer access to Douglas County. From Minneapolis-St. Paul area, take Interstate 35 north then cross into Wisconsin on either the Richard I. Bong Memorial Bridge (aka U.S. Hwy. 2) or the Interstate 535/U.S. Hwy 53 bridge. From northern Minnesota, head east on either Hwy. 2 or Hwy. 53 to Duluth and enter Superior via the aforementioned bridges.

From western Wisconsin, take either Wis. Hwy. 35 or Hwy. 53 north; both enter southern Douglas County. From eastern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula, drive Hwy. 2 to the county’s eastern side. From central and southern Wisconsin, take either Wis. Hwy. 13 or U.S. Hwy 51 north then Hwy. 2 west to Poplar.

Among the great Douglas County day hiking trails are:
Big Manitou Falls overlook trails
Wisconsin Point Trail
Amnicon Falls island trails
Brule River Outlet Trail
Schoen/Louise Parks Jeep Trails
Brule Bog Boardwalk Trail

Read more about more these and nearby day hiking trails in Day Hiking Trails of Douglas County.