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| Parnell Tower Trail, Kettle Moraine State Forest, Wisconsin |
There’s no better way
to experience autumn colors around east-central Wisconsin than
a hike.
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 east-central Wisconsin to hike. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.
Manitowoc County
Hikers can walk upon what 5000 years ago was a Lake Michigan beach ridge. Entirely wooded now, it makes for a great autumn hike. The 0.5-mile Conifer Trail at Woodland Dunes Nature Center and Preserve sits near the great lake between Manitowoc and Two Rivers. Signs along the trail point out the different types of trees, which make a splendid autumn display – the bronze of American beech, the yellows, oranges and reds of sugar maple, the brown of red oak and the scarlet of white oak, all mixed with the olive leaves of basswood and evergreen needles of the conifers. From Manitowoc, take Wis. Hwy. 42 north or from Two Rivers follow the highway south. Go north onto Columbus Street and left/west onto Wis. Hwy. 310. Immediately after Columbus Street, turn right/north into the preserve’s nature center and park there. To reach the trailhead, head south alongside Columbus Street; a sign identifies the trailhead, about two blocks from the nature center, on the road’s west side.
Outagamie County
A pretty hike through a woods to an observation tower overlooking a pond awaits at the Gordon Bubolz Nature Preserve. The hike to and on the Deer Run Trail goes for about 4 miles in a loop. During autumn, you’ll enjoy golden red prairie grass while the forest boasts bronze beech accented by the oranges and reds of sugar maple, the amber of basswood, and the russet of red and white oak. The observation tower takes you a story above the terrain and Black Acres Pond. From Appleton, head out of town north on N. Lynndale Drive/County Road A. The road to the nature preserve is on the left/west. Once parked, pick up a trail map at the nature center, as you’ll need to hike segments of other routes to reach the Deer Run Trail.
Sheboygan County
Day hikers can head to an observation tower on the Kettle Moraine State Forest’s highest point via a short trail. In autumn, the walk through the surrounding forest and the view of it from the tower is a fantastic sight. The 0.7-mile out and back Parnell Tower Trail heads to the 60-foot wooden Parnell Observation Tower. The hike can be lengthened, though, by adding a loop, known as the Parnell Tower Trail Loop, which runs 2.9 miles. The hike to the tower heads beneath a canopy of maple trees while northern red oak, basswood, sugar maple and white ash dominate another part of the hill. From Plymouth take Wis. Hwy. 67 west. Turn left/south onto County Road A (aka Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive). County Road U joins County A from the east; in just under 2 miles when County Road U goes right/west, turn onto it. In about 0.15 miles, turn right/north into the parking lot for the trail. A gravel trail – the short stem leading to the loop – heads north from the lot’s northern side.
Winnebago County
Hikers can enjoy an array of autumn colors along a comely stream at Waukau Creek County Nature Preserve. The 0.55-mile Elderberry Trail loops through a small part of the preserve and includes a connector that goes to Waukau Creek and two other footpaths. Along the way is wine-red-leaved white oak, yellow-colored bitternut hickory and prickly ash, gold to maroon white ash, burgundy northern red oak, crimson smooth sumac, and orange-brown box elder. From Oshkosh, take Wis. Hwy. 44 southwest. Turn right/west onto Wis. Hwy. 91 then right/north on Wis. Hwy. 116. In Waukau, go left-straight/northwest onto Delhi Road/20th Street. The parking area is on the road’s left/west side with the trailhead on the road’s opposite side.
Fortunately, there are plenty of great autumn trails around east-central Wisconsin to hike. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.
Manitowoc County
Hikers can walk upon what 5000 years ago was a Lake Michigan beach ridge. Entirely wooded now, it makes for a great autumn hike. The 0.5-mile Conifer Trail at Woodland Dunes Nature Center and Preserve sits near the great lake between Manitowoc and Two Rivers. Signs along the trail point out the different types of trees, which make a splendid autumn display – the bronze of American beech, the yellows, oranges and reds of sugar maple, the brown of red oak and the scarlet of white oak, all mixed with the olive leaves of basswood and evergreen needles of the conifers. From Manitowoc, take Wis. Hwy. 42 north or from Two Rivers follow the highway south. Go north onto Columbus Street and left/west onto Wis. Hwy. 310. Immediately after Columbus Street, turn right/north into the preserve’s nature center and park there. To reach the trailhead, head south alongside Columbus Street; a sign identifies the trailhead, about two blocks from the nature center, on the road’s west side.
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A walk through an oak forest up an ancient kame awaits day hikers on a section of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. The 2.3 miles (one-way) Walla Hi segment winds to the top of a 975-foot high kame then back down to a plain. Tan and russet oak leaves, accented by the yellow of various birches and the dark green of pines, line the route between Walla Hi County Park and Lax Chapel Road. From Kiel, take Wis. Hwy. 32 east/south. Turn left/north onto County Road MC/South Cedar Lake Road then left/west into Mueller Road. Park in the lot at the end of Mueller Road. Head south/west on the trail.***
Yellow and orange leaves along a pretty river await hikers on the Henry Schuette Park segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail in Manitowoc. Half of a 1.2-mile loop runs along the wooded Manitowoc River before the waterway spills into Lake Michigan. From U.S. Hwy. 151 in Manitowoc, go north on South 35th Street. Turn left/west onto Meadow Lane, which becomes Broadway Street when it curves north. Park at the playground then take the sidewalk along Broadway north. The trailhead is on the street’s right/east side. Check ahead to ensure the trail is not closed due to high water levels.Outagamie County
A pretty hike through a woods to an observation tower overlooking a pond awaits at the Gordon Bubolz Nature Preserve. The hike to and on the Deer Run Trail goes for about 4 miles in a loop. During autumn, you’ll enjoy golden red prairie grass while the forest boasts bronze beech accented by the oranges and reds of sugar maple, the amber of basswood, and the russet of red and white oak. The observation tower takes you a story above the terrain and Black Acres Pond. From Appleton, head out of town north on N. Lynndale Drive/County Road A. The road to the nature preserve is on the left/west. Once parked, pick up a trail map at the nature center, as you’ll need to hike segments of other routes to reach the Deer Run Trail.
Sheboygan County
Day hikers can head to an observation tower on the Kettle Moraine State Forest’s highest point via a short trail. In autumn, the walk through the surrounding forest and the view of it from the tower is a fantastic sight. The 0.7-mile out and back Parnell Tower Trail heads to the 60-foot wooden Parnell Observation Tower. The hike can be lengthened, though, by adding a loop, known as the Parnell Tower Trail Loop, which runs 2.9 miles. The hike to the tower heads beneath a canopy of maple trees while northern red oak, basswood, sugar maple and white ash dominate another part of the hill. From Plymouth take Wis. Hwy. 67 west. Turn left/south onto County Road A (aka Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive). County Road U joins County A from the east; in just under 2 miles when County Road U goes right/west, turn onto it. In about 0.15 miles, turn right/north into the parking lot for the trail. A gravel trail – the short stem leading to the loop – heads north from the lot’s northern side.
***
Hikers can head through a 130-year-old forest at the Kettle Moraine Red Oaks State Natural Area. The remains of a half-mile pack trail (1-mile round trip) runs through the northern section of the forest, where more than 100 trees, shrubs and herbs can be found. In autumn, the red oak-dominated forest is colorful as basswood, sugar maple, white ash, big-tooth aspen, white oak, black cherry, and shagbark hickory offer a variety of harvest hues. From Plymouth, take Wis. Hwy. 23 west. Turn left/southwest onto Plank road and then left/southeast onto Cemetery Lane. Park at the end of the lane, which marks the state natural area’s border.Winnebago County
Hikers can enjoy an array of autumn colors along a comely stream at Waukau Creek County Nature Preserve. The 0.55-mile Elderberry Trail loops through a small part of the preserve and includes a connector that goes to Waukau Creek and two other footpaths. Along the way is wine-red-leaved white oak, yellow-colored bitternut hickory and prickly ash, gold to maroon white ash, burgundy northern red oak, crimson smooth sumac, and orange-brown box elder. From Oshkosh, take Wis. Hwy. 44 southwest. Turn right/west onto Wis. Hwy. 91 then right/north on Wis. Hwy. 116. In Waukau, go left-straight/northwest onto Delhi Road/20th Street. The parking area is on the road’s left/west side with the trailhead on the road’s opposite side.
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A variety of autumn colors can be enjoyed at the North High Conservancy Park next to Oshkosh North High School. Just under a mile of bark trails ramble through the 12.19-acre natural area that is mostly woods with a couple of small ponds. The trees range from immense old hardwoods to thin new birch growing in the wetter sections. Volunteer efforts are underway to remove buckthorn and garlic mustard from the park. From the junction of U.S. Hwy. 45 and Wis. Hwy. 44, take the former north. Turn left/west onto West Smith Avenue then right/north on Vinland Avenue and finally right/eat onto Morgan Avenue. A trail runs north from the high school parking lot. When school is in session, park instead on an adjoining street.