 |
| Roche-A-Cri State Park |
Wisconsin than a hike.
The brilliant yellows, oranges and red
The brilliant yellows, oranges and red
of maples to the scarlet and russets of oaks...the crisp, fresh autumn air and
the last warm rays of sunlight before winter arrives...the crunch of fallen leaves and acorns beneath your boots...stopping to enjoy a warm
mug of apple cider or a caramel apple pulled from your backpack – it all calls for an afternoon on the trail.
Fortunately, there are plenty of great autumn trails around central Wisconsin to hike. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that
Fortunately, there are plenty of great autumn trails around central Wisconsin to hike. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that
you can do in an afternoon.
Adams County
Day hikers can head to to the top of a 300-foot-high half-billion-year-old rock formation at Roche-A-Cri State Park. The 0.12-mile round trip stairway goes up the side of the prominent Roche-A-Cri formation. While short in length, the first-half is all uphill. It’s a beautiful hike in autumn when scarlet, amber and orange leaves line the forest canopy and float upon the stairs. From Adams-Friendship, take Wis. Hwy. 13 north. Turn left/west at the park entrance. Follow the park road to the opposite side of the formation, where there is a lot. A short trail leads to informative kiosks about the formation and the stairs.
Clark County
Day hikers can enjoy impressive views of the surrounding woodlands from atop a high mound on the Self-guided Interpretive Trail. The 1.94-mile trail at the Levis Mound and Trow Mound Recreational Area runs through an oak savanna, a grove of mature aspen, and historic white pine. A side trail heads up to Porky Point, a great vista for seeing autumn colors below. Fifteen stations on the nature trail point out interesting facts about local wildlife, trees and geology. From Neillsville, take Wis. Hwy. 95 south. After crossing the Black River, turn right/north onto Fisher Avenue/Columbia Road. Take the first left/west into the Levis Mound Trail Center.
Juneau County
The trail to Mill Bluff’s summit delivers a fantastic vista for viewing fall colors. Jutting 120 feet above the terrain, the blufftop allows view of forests and farmland for several miles around. The dark red leaves of northern red oak and russet of white oak nicely balance the green of jack pine, red pine, eastern white pine that dominates the bluff. The trail is short but steep – just 223 stone steps. From Interstate 94, take either Exit 48 for Oakdale and travel south on U.S. Hwy. 12 or Exit 55 at Camp Douglas and travel north to Mill Bluff State Park.
Marquette County
Day hikers can stand on extremely ancient rock 300 feet above the surrounding terrain at Observatory Hill State Natural Area. The 1.2-mile round trip Observatory Hill Trail crosses an oak savanna, where in autumn the burr oaks turn yellow-brown. The hill’s slopes are lit up with the orange-red leaves of red oak, the russet of white oak, the chartreuse of basswood, and the rich yellow of shagbark hickory. At the summit, the 1.76 billion-year-old volcanic rock offers a grand view. From Montello, take County Road F south. Turn straight-left/south on 14th Road then left/south on 13th Road and lastly straight-left/east on Gillette Avenue. The parking lot is on the road’s left/north side.
Wood County
Leaves aren’t the only things of beauty descending from the sky in autumn. Migratory birds make their way south through Wisconsin, and one of the best places to see them is at the Sandhill State Wildlife Area. The 7-mile round trip Swamp Buck Hiking Trail heads past a few of their rest stops and then to the summit of North Bluff. An observation tower there offers a sweeping view of the pine and russet-leaved oaks common to the central sandy plain. You’ll also see in flight, flocks of sandhill cranes, herons, geese, teal and wood ducks. From Babcock, take Wis. Hwy. 80/173 southwest. Turn right/north on County Road X then left/west into the wildlife area. The gravel Trumpeter Trail heads north from it. Park in a pullout about a mile from the entry when the road bends west to north. The trail heads southwest from the pullout.
Orange-gold to yellow oaks and crimson red maples await day hikers at Hamus Nature Preserve and Recreation Area in Marshfield. Some of the trees on the 32-acre site are 150-plus years old. A 0.9-mile trail – a combination of the Swamp White Oak and the Whitetail trails – passes a pond and circles the heavily wooded property. Along the way you’ll pass a large swamp white oak tree. Other paths – the Fox Run and Boardwalk trails – head to a large red maple tree in the forest’s interior. From Wis. Hwy. 97 in Marshfield, go west onto Northridge Street then right/north onto Hamus Drive. When the street curves east, it becomes Wilderness View Drive. Turn left/north into the nature preserve. Parking is at the road’s end.
Adams County
Day hikers can head to to the top of a 300-foot-high half-billion-year-old rock formation at Roche-A-Cri State Park. The 0.12-mile round trip stairway goes up the side of the prominent Roche-A-Cri formation. While short in length, the first-half is all uphill. It’s a beautiful hike in autumn when scarlet, amber and orange leaves line the forest canopy and float upon the stairs. From Adams-Friendship, take Wis. Hwy. 13 north. Turn left/west at the park entrance. Follow the park road to the opposite side of the formation, where there is a lot. A short trail leads to informative kiosks about the formation and the stairs.
Clark County
Day hikers can enjoy impressive views of the surrounding woodlands from atop a high mound on the Self-guided Interpretive Trail. The 1.94-mile trail at the Levis Mound and Trow Mound Recreational Area runs through an oak savanna, a grove of mature aspen, and historic white pine. A side trail heads up to Porky Point, a great vista for seeing autumn colors below. Fifteen stations on the nature trail point out interesting facts about local wildlife, trees and geology. From Neillsville, take Wis. Hwy. 95 south. After crossing the Black River, turn right/north onto Fisher Avenue/Columbia Road. Take the first left/west into the Levis Mound Trail Center.
Juneau County
The trail to Mill Bluff’s summit delivers a fantastic vista for viewing fall colors. Jutting 120 feet above the terrain, the blufftop allows view of forests and farmland for several miles around. The dark red leaves of northern red oak and russet of white oak nicely balance the green of jack pine, red pine, eastern white pine that dominates the bluff. The trail is short but steep – just 223 stone steps. From Interstate 94, take either Exit 48 for Oakdale and travel south on U.S. Hwy. 12 or Exit 55 at Camp Douglas and travel north to Mill Bluff State Park.
Marquette County
Day hikers can stand on extremely ancient rock 300 feet above the surrounding terrain at Observatory Hill State Natural Area. The 1.2-mile round trip Observatory Hill Trail crosses an oak savanna, where in autumn the burr oaks turn yellow-brown. The hill’s slopes are lit up with the orange-red leaves of red oak, the russet of white oak, the chartreuse of basswood, and the rich yellow of shagbark hickory. At the summit, the 1.76 billion-year-old volcanic rock offers a grand view. From Montello, take County Road F south. Turn straight-left/south on 14th Road then left/south on 13th Road and lastly straight-left/east on Gillette Avenue. The parking lot is on the road’s left/north side.
Wood County
Leaves aren’t the only things of beauty descending from the sky in autumn. Migratory birds make their way south through Wisconsin, and one of the best places to see them is at the Sandhill State Wildlife Area. The 7-mile round trip Swamp Buck Hiking Trail heads past a few of their rest stops and then to the summit of North Bluff. An observation tower there offers a sweeping view of the pine and russet-leaved oaks common to the central sandy plain. You’ll also see in flight, flocks of sandhill cranes, herons, geese, teal and wood ducks. From Babcock, take Wis. Hwy. 80/173 southwest. Turn right/north on County Road X then left/west into the wildlife area. The gravel Trumpeter Trail heads north from it. Park in a pullout about a mile from the entry when the road bends west to north. The trail heads southwest from the pullout.
***
