Top fall hikes in westcentral Wisconsin, Pt. II

Hoffman Hills State Recreation Area

There’s no better way

to experience autumn colors in west-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 across west-central Wisconsin to hike. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.

Barron County
A walk through pleasant wooded areas and scenic farmland await users of the Wild Rivers Trail near Rice Lake. The first half mile north of the Tuscobia Trail heads through a typical deciduous forest that Wisconsin is famous for. In autumn, the trail’s varied trees amaze in an array of red, yellow and orange leaves. Upon reaching 29th Avenue, the woods gives way to pretty farm fields that look best when green in August, so turn around there. Park north of the Rice Lake city limits at the Tuscobia Trail junction on County Road SS, near its intersection with U.S. Hwy. 53. The parking lot sits east of County SS, and you’ll need to take the Tuscobia Trail west across the highway to reach the Wild Rivers Trail then go north through Haugen.

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An array of autumn colors await in the Barron County Forest-Silver Creek Unit southwest of Barron. A roughly two-mile trail runs through the forest’s heart, which is dominated by tan- and russet-leaved oak, amber, orange and red sugar maple, and amber-colored yellow birch, accented with some evergreen hemlock. From Barron, take U.S. Hwy. 8 west. Turn left/south onto County Road P/Sixth Street. Go left/west on County Road D/Seventh Street then left/south on Fifth Street. At the junction with Sixth Avenue, park off the side of the road. The forest road going east enters the Silver Creek Unit. Several miles of other trails in the county forest are used by mountain bikers.

Dunn County
Day hikers can see a dozen major trees that dominate Wisconsin forests while heading to a 60-foot observation tower in Hoffman Hills State Recreation Area. The roughly two-mile Tower Nature Trail heads up then downhill though a stand of birch and maple with an understory of ferns. During autumn, the yellow birch and red maple leaves make a splendid display. At the top is the 60-foot Greg Schubert Memorial Tower. From the observation tower’s top platform, you can see about six miles on a clear day. A pretty quilt of farm fields and woodlands stretch below the hill in all directions. From Exit 45 on Interstate 94 east of Menomonie, take County Road B north. Turn right/east onto 650th Avenue, which eventually becomes County Road E. Follow County Road E/730th Street as it goes north. The highway zigzags to the park entrance, which is a little more than a mile north of 690th Avenue. Follow the park entrance road to the main parking lot.

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Beautiful fall colors line the northern end of the Red Cedar Trail in Menomonie. Running 14.5 miles alongside the Red Cedar River, among its most scenic portions is the 1.6-mile (3.2-miles round trip) section from Riverside Park to a creek flowing out of the Devil’s Punchbowl. Amber-, orange, and crimson-colored maples, yellow-leaved aspen and birch, and russet-hued oak can be found alongside the trail. From downtown Menomonie take Wis. Hwy. 29 west. Upon crossing the Red Cedar River bridge, turn at the second left (or south) into Riverside Park. A parking lot sits next to an old train depot turned visitor center, with the trail leaving from the lot’s south end.

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For more Dunn County trails, see Day Hiking Trails of the Chippewa Valley.

Pepin County
Day hikers can explore a bluff steeped in majestic white oaks and legend high above Lake Pepin. The Maiden Rock Bluff Trail runs 1.4-miles round trip in west-central Wisconsin overlooking beautiful Lake Pepin. It’s located in the Maiden Rock State Natural Area, which preserves a blufftop prairie that turns golden in autumn. From Stockholm, take County Road J north. Turn left/northwest onto County Road E then go left/west into Long Lane. The road dead ends at a grassy parking lot on the blufftop. A trailhead is a few yards east of the lot and heads north from the road.

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Day hikers can enjoy a walk alongside a lake and through the woods on the Silver Birch Park Trail. The 0.6-mile round trip trail runs through Silver Birch Park to Holden Park Campground. As if it were a mirror, Silver Birch Lake impressively reflects the blue sky and clouds on days when the wind is low. The reflection seems to stretch forever – not surprisingly as the lake’s surface area covers 145 acres. A tree canopy covers the walking path, which makes for a nice autumn stroll when leaves change color. From Durand, head west on Wis. Hwy. 25 then turn left/south onto County Road P. Go left/south onto Silver Birch Road. At County Road NN/Round Hill Road, turn right/west. The next left/south is the park entry road.

Pierce County
Hikers can walk through a rare old growth oak forest on the Purple Trail at Kinnickinnic State Park. The 1.2-mile loop sits near the confluence of the St. Croix and Kinnickinnic rivers. Pioneers and 19th century logging companies cut most of the trees in this part of Wisconsin, but the trail passes through one of the few woodlands to escape the ax. The oaks are majestic, especially when their leaves turn tan, orange and brown in autumn. The trail includes a deck overlooking the confluence where eagles can be spotted. From Prescott, take Wis. Hwy. 29 east then turn left/north County Road F north. Turn left/west onto 820th Avenue then left/south into the park; follow the entry road west all of the way to its end and park in the St. Croix Picnic Area Lot.

***

Amber, orange and crimson leaves surround and reflect off of the blue waters at Nugget Lake County Park east of Ellsworth. The Nook Trail and the Lake Overlook combine for a mile-long round trip that gets you up close to 117-acre Nugget Lake and to a great vista of it. From Ellsworth, take U.S. Hwy. 10 east. Turn left/north onto County Road CC then right/east onto County Road HH, which curves south. The park entry is on the road’s right/west side. Park in the lot where the road runs out.

St. Croix County
Tucked within Wisconsin’s dairy country is a hilly, wooded region that gives day hikers the chance to get back to nature. Glen Hills County Park offers a plethora of trails amid 700 acres of maple and oak trees. The 2-mile round trip Glen Lake East Trail goes downhill to a campground. Before hitting the trail, though, head to a scenic overlook of Glen Lake, ringed by red pines and hardwoods. From U.S. Hwy. 12 in Wilson, take County Road W north. Turn left/north onto Rustic Road 4 then go left/northwest onto Thompson Lane, which dead ends at the parking lot.

Top fall hikes in west-central Wisconsin, Pt. I

Sisters’ Farm Trail System

There’s no better way to experience autumn colors in west-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 across west-central Wisconsin to hike. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.

Chippewa County
Day hikers can enjoy a pleasant walk around several placid lakes and ponds on the South Loop at the Hickory Ridge Recreational Area east of Bloomer. Though primarily cross-country skiing trails, the series of stacked loops can be hiked during the other seasons. The South Loop, a 3.1-miles round trip lollipop, is a good choice, as almost the entire trail runs through a northern hardwood forest. In Wisconsin, such a forest typically consists of sugar maple, beech, basswood, white ash, and yellow birch. The trail makes for a colorful walk in autumn when the leaves change. From Bloomer head west on Wis. Hwy. 64. Go left/north onto County Road AA then right/east onto 226th Avenue, which as veering south naturally becomes 225th Avenue (aka Bob Lake Road). The parking lot is on the north side of the road just east of Big Buck Lake.

***

Day hikers can walk under a canopy of amber, orange and scarlet leaves at Irvine Park. A paved 1.1-mile paved trail loops through the park’s southeast corner, runs alongside a creek and passes through a tiny zoo, making it a perfect autumn outing if children are with you. From downtown Chippewa Falls, head north on Wis. Hwy. 124. Turn left/west onto Bridgewater Avenue. Go right/north onto Bear Den Drive and pull into the parking lot on the left/west. At the lot, angle northeast past the restrooms. At Bear Den Drive, walk left/north along the sidewalk.

***

A cornucopia of colors await hikers each autumn at Lake Wissota State Park. Though much of the park consists of evergreen plantations, sections of it contain deciduous forests. Try the south end of the Lake Trail, which runs 1-mile round trip from the beach house to the Red Pine Trail junction. Yellow-, orange, and red-leaved sugar maples, russet-colored oaks, and a few evergreen red and white pine – surround the trail. From Chippewa Falls, head north on Wis. Hwy. 178. Turn right/east onto County Road S. Immediately after the Chippewa River bridge, go right/east on County Road O. The park entrance is about two miles on the right. Park in the lot for the beach house.

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For more Chippewa County trails, see Day Hiking Trails of the Chippewa Valley.

Eau Claire County
Day hikers can enjoy a walk along two waterways through a wildlife-laden forest in the heart of Eau Claire. Several undesignated trails run through the Putnam Park State Natural Area on the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire campus. Hike the natural area’s eastern section, which is largely centered on Little Niagara Creek. The natural area is heavily forested, with red and white pines dominating the higher ground while hackberry, paper and river birch, and red and silver maple thrive in the lower, wetter areas. Tamarack and white cedar also can be found in the eastern portion’s wettest sections. Day hikers will be impressed by the size of the trees, especially the red and white pine, which have largely been undisturbed for more than a century. It can be reached by walking alongside Putnam Drive, which starts across from campus parking lot #14.

***

Hikers can enjoy a waterfalls shrouded in autumn colors while perched atop rock that is at least 1.85 billion years old at Big Falls County Park. Though there’s no designated trail, hikers easily can walk a half-mile along the Eau Claire River and across the rock. The waterfalls – surrounded by trees that have turned yellow and various shades of red– consists of two drops that total 25 feet over outcroppings of ancient gneiss. From Eau Claire, take U.S. Hwy. 12 east. Turn left/north on N. Elco Road. At County Road SS (aka 9 Mile Creek Road), go right/east. This road runs out at County Road K (aka N. 130th Avenue); head left/north onto County K. Just before crossing the Eau Claire River, turn left/west onto Big Falls Forest Road. The sandy road heads straight to a parking lot; from there, walk west toward the river.

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Day hikers can walk through an oak savanna and along a stream at the Beaver Creek Reserve north of Fall Creek. The 1.3-mile round trip Interior Loop runs through a small section of the 400 acres overseen by the Friends of Beaver Creek Reserve. Each autumn, the savanna's oak leaves range from yellow-brown to wine red. A variety of colors also can be seen on other trees along the creek and the trail's uplands portion. From U.S. Hwy. 12 in Fall Creek, go north on County Road K. The reserve is on the north side of the Eau Claire River. Park in the lot for the nature center on the road’s right/south side. From there, take a connector trail east to the trailhead.

***

For more Eau Claire County trails, see Day Hiking Trails of the Chippewa Valley.

Rusk County
By Wisconsin standards, the 1300-foot high Blue Hills are like mountains. With that kind of relief from the surrounding terrain, it’s an excellent place to see a variety of fall colors. The Blue Hills primarily sit in a mixed deciduous forest of maple basswood, and oak, but you also can find red and white pines, balsam and hemlock. The Blue Hills West Trail’s first stacked loop at 2.3 miles total is particularly good during autumn. From U.S. Hwy. 8 in Weyerhaeuser, go north on Second Street. Take the road out of town for about seven miles. At the Y intersection, turn right/east. After passing Christie Mountain, turn left/north onto Fire Lane Road. Next, go left/west onto Excelsior Road (unmarked); if you pass the turnoff for the East Side Trailhead and parking lot, you’ve gone too far.

***

Autumn colors can be found aplenty on the Sisters’ Farm Trail System just outside of Ladysmith. Ten miles of trails cover the varied terrain inside a bend of the Flambeau River. Leaves along the trail shimmer red, yellow and orange. From downtown Ladysmith, take U.S. Hwy 8 south. Turn right/west onto Port Arthur Road then straight/left-south on Sisters’ Farm Road, which leads to the parking lot.

Maps of 5 great Barron County day hikes

Visitors to Wisconsin’s Barron County can enjoy a number of major recreational areas, many of which contain great day hiking trails.

Five great county day hikes and maps for them include:

Cattail State Trail (Turtle Lake to Almena segment)
Active railroad lines once crisscrossed northwestern Wisconsin’s beautiful countryside, but the advent of highways made many of them obsolete. A number of those old tracks fortunately have been converted to hiking trails so that modern day walkers can enjoy a plethora of scenery from woodlands to rolling pastures. Among them is the Cattail State Trail, which runs for nearly 18 miles on an old Soo Line rail bed between Amery (in Polk County) and Almena with access in Turtle Lake. Its location is perfect for a number of visitors to Polk and Barron counties.

Cedar Side Trail segment
An urban route, the Cedar Side Trail still maintains a back-to-nature charm as it ambles alongside the Red Cedar River. It’s a great walk if you need to spend a little time in town, as it runs near a few retail businesses in Rice Lake. Some of the Cedar Side Trail is paved, and it’s plenty wide – up to 10 feet in some sections. A long trail, it can be broken into a number of small sections ideal for a day hike. Among those sections is West Coleman Street south to 18-1/2 Street, which makes for a roughly two-mile round trip on a paved path.

Cedar Lake Area County Forest trails
As with all Barron County Forests, several unnamed trails crisscross the wooded area. One you might try is the northernmost one, off of Valley Road, which heads west for 2.5 miles through a nice mix of hardwoods; it ends at a gate just shy of Red Cedar Lake.

Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Waterman Lake Area County Forest segment
Day hikers will have several opportunities to spot the impressive white-tailed deer on a segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail south of Shell Lake. The 2.6-miles round trip segment of the Ice Age Trail runs through Waterman Lake Area County Forest. The Ice Age Trail runs 1200 miles across the state, mostly marking the farthest advance of the last glacier to touch these parts some 11,000 years ago.

Wild Rivers State Trail, Rice Lake segment
A walk through pleasant woodlands and scenic farmland await users of the Wild Rivers State Trail near Rice Lake. The trail runs for around 100 miles across three counties on an old Omaha and Soo Line Railroads rail line connecting the city to Superior. A good place to experience the trail is at its southern end. Park north of the Rice Lake city limits at the Tuscobia trail junction on County Road SS, near its intersection with U.S. Hwy. 53. You can head south for about four miles into Rice Lake at West Knapp Street. Arrange to have someone bring you back to where you parked, or turn around at any time on the trail.

Read about nearby trails in Hittin’ the Trail: Day Barron County, Wisconsin.

Meet the red-shouldered hawk

Red-shouldered hawk. Courtesy of Wikipedia.

Red-shouldered hawk
Buteo lineatus

Appearance: Peachy to red barred underparts, black with white banded tail, broad rounded black and white checkered wings

Song: A whistled rising kee-rah

Habitat: Tall woods near rivers or swamps

Nest: Stick nests built into the crotch of a tree

Trails it can be seen: Bear Trail; Five-Mile Bluff Prairie Trail; Ice Age National Scenic Trail at Straight Lake State Park; Lower Chippewa River State Natural Area Trail; Moose Ear Creek Trail; Snuss Trail (all trails in Wisconsin)

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

Meet the golden-winged warbler

Golden-winged warbler. Courtesy of Wikipedia.

Golden-winged warbler
Vermivora chrysoptera

Appearance: Silvery gray with striking yellow marks atop head and along wings

Song: Long, high-pitched note followed by 3-6 shorter, lower-pitch notes. Listen.

Habitat: Tangled shrubs in wet areas

Nest: Cup on ground on low in a bush

Trails: Moose Ear Creek Trail (Wisconsin)

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

Meet the Louisiana Waterthrush

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

White-tailed deer abound in Wis. woodlands

White-tailed deer can run up to 40 miles per hour. Courtesy of Photoree.

Trail marked in alternating red and yellow line.
Map courtesy of Barron County. 

Ice Age Trail segment runs through Barron County forest

Day hikers will have several opportunities to spot the impressive white-tailed deer on a segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail in a western Wisconsin forest.

The 2.6-miles round trip segment of the Ice Age Trail runs through Waterman Lake Area County Forest in northwest Barron County. The Ice Age Trail runs 1200 miles across the state, mostly marking the farthest advance of the last glacier to touch these parts some 11,000 years ago.

To reach the trailhead, from Cumberland, take U.S. Hwy 63 north. Turn left/west onto 24-1/2 Avenue. The road becomes 4th Street when it begins running along Beaver Dam Lake and gradually curves north. When 4th Street splits, the main road turns west and becomes County Road H/3-1/2 Street, passing several farms, then upon veering north turns to 3rd Street. After the 29-1/2 Street intersection, look for the gravel parking lot on the road's left/west side. Park there.

Take the access trail from the lot's northwest corner for about 0.05 miles to the Ice Age Trail. Go left/southwest onto the Ice Age.

The trail generally heads south through a mixed hardwoods forest. This habitat is perfect for white-tailed deer, which often grazes on agricultural fields at the edge of woodlands.

In about 0.6 miles, you’ll reach a junction to a side trail; continue right/west. In about 0.1 miles, you’ll come to the junction for where the side trail reconnects with the main trail.

Wisconsin’s official wildlife animal, white-tailed deer are quite common across the state. They can grow up to three-feet high at the shoulder and weigh up to 200 pounds.

As heading west, wetlands areas can be found off both sides of the trail. At 0.8 miles from trailhead, you’ll junction a trail heading north; continue left/west on the main trail, though.

Fawns usually are born in May and June, so a great time to hike this trail is late summer when mothers bring out their young. Newborns typically remain low in the grass, and their reddish brown coats with white spots makes for perfect camouflage.

About 1.1 miles in, the trail turns northwest coming along the shoreline of Lake 4-8. This is a good location to spy whitetail taking a drink.

Should you spot a deer, unless it is in the distance or freezes, don’t expect to see it for long. Despite long skinny legs, they can run up to 40 miles per hour, jump nine feet high (allowing them to clear almost any fence), and can swim about 13 miles per hour. When broad jumping, they can leap up to 30 feet in a single bound.

At 1.25 miles from the trailhead, the Ice Age Trail veers away from lake; upon reaching a junction with a trail heading north, turn back. The trail does continue west through the county forest, but the landscape gets significantly swampier for the next mile or so.

Read about nearby trails in Hittin’ the Trail: Day Barron County, Wisconsin.

Hike beside Class I trout stream in NW Wis.

The inland brook trout is Wisconsin's only native trout.
Illustration courtesy Wisconsin DNR.

Moose Ear Creek
runs through
county forest

Hikers on the Moose Ear Creek Trail in the Cameron-Chetek, Wis., area may want to bring bait and tackle. A walk alongside the stream is certain to conjure thoughts of those Ernest Hemingway trout-fishing days of old.

Located in the Moose Ear Creek/Sumner Area County Forest, the trail runs roughly two miles out and back. It’s lush with vegetation in summer, vibrant with colors in autumn, and gurgling with fast-flowing snowmelt in spring.

Flows out of Blue Hills
To reach the trailhead, from Cameron head east on U.S. Hwy. 8. Turn right in the Barron County forest’s eastern-most entrance just before reaching Moose Ear Creek. Park at the head of the forest trail immediately beyond the high wire lines.

From the lot, the trial heads southward. Don’t worry about the gate; it’s merely there to prevent vehicle traffic.

You’ll walk roughly southwest for 0.35 miles. At the forest road junction, go left/east. A good mix of Northern hardwoods line the trail.

At 0.125 miles, the trail comes to a spur leading to Moose Ear Creek. A Class I trout stream, Moose Ear Creek begins as a rock-bottomed brook in the Blue Hills to the north. The hills are all that remain of an ancient mountain range. Glaciers just 10,000 years ago ground the then low mountains to their current heights. Today, the creek flowing out of the Blue Hills is an excellent brook and brown trout stream.

Variety of birds
Bird watching is superb as well; keep an eye out for the golden-winged warbler, Louisiana waterthrush, red-shouldered hawk, and whip-poor-will.

Continuing south, the trail parallels the stream. After about 0.4 miles, the trail swerves away from the creek, which flows south into Moose Ear Lake, a 33.6-acre waterbody sporting a warm water fish population.

Upon coming to next trail junction, you’ve hiked about a mile. This marks a good spot to turn back.

Read more about day hiking Barron County in my Hittin’ the Trail: Day Barron County, Wisconsin guidebook.

Barron County, Wisconsin, hiking guidebook now out in paperback

My recent ebook Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking Barron County, Wisconsin is now out in paperback. The book describes more than 40 trails that can be found near Rice Lake, Cumberland, Turtle Lake, Chetek and Cameron, as well as in the surrounding counties of Polk, Washburn, Rusk, Chippewa and Dunn. Among those trail featured are the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, the Wild Rivers Trail, Cattail State Trail, the Tuscobia Trail, and those running through the Blue Hills. The book is available online.

Find out about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

Enjoy walk along Red Cedar River in Wis.

Red Cedar River along Cedar Side Trail on
UW-Barron County campus.

An urban route, the Cedar Side Trail still maintains a back-to-nature charm as it ambles through alongside the Red Cedar River. It’s a great walk if you need to spend a little time in town, as it runs near some retail businesses in Rice Lake.

Some of the Cedar Side Trail is paved, and it’s plenty wide – up to 10 feet in some sections. A long trail, it can be broken into a number of small sections ideal for a day hike.

Among those sections is West Coleman Street south to 18-1/2 Street, which makes for a roughly 2-mile round trip on a paved path. You should find parking along West Coleman Street near the trailhead.

A good mix of evergreen and deciduous trees line the river shore while the trail’s opposite side largely look into the urban landscape. It passes behind the local community college then enters woodland upon reaching the technical college.

The Red Cedar flows for 85 miles from a reservoir on northern Barron County to the Chippewa River in southern Dunn County. This section of the river is wide and shallow with a brisk current.

Keep an eye to sky. Bald eagles have nested near the trail, and herons often rest on sandbars farther down the riverway.

The junction with 18-1/2 Street is easy to spot as the trail goes under that road just past the Barron County Restorative Justice Center.

Mile posts along the trail let you know how far you’ve walked. Riverview benches and a picnic shelter are available in some sections. Marshy areas of the longer trail boast three boardwalks. Be aware that bicyclists also use the route.

Read more about day hiking Barron County in my Hittin’ the Trail: Day Barron County, Wisconsin guidebook.

Explore 1.7 billion-year-old Blue Hills in Wis.

Blue rock on the Blue Hills West Trail

In Wisconsin, across northwest Barron County and northwest Rusk County, a hazy blue stretch of hills appearing vaguely like distant mountains offers a scenic backdrop. The site is the ancient Blue Hills, a range that runs for about 20 miles, primarily in Rusk County.

Several miles of footpaths meander through the Blue Hills. They generally are associated with one of three major trail groups:
• Ice Age National Scenic Trail – Trailheads to various segments are located on Old 14/Bass Lake Road, Bolgers Road and Bucks Lake Road.
• Blue Hills East Trail – Fourteen stacked loops over a variety of terrain are used by cross-country skiers in winter but can be day hiked other seasons on a system maintained by the Blue Hills Trail Association.
• Blue Hills West Trail – This sister set of cross country ski trails includes two stacked loops and a lollipop trail.

The Blue Hills West Trail’s first stacked loop at 2.3 miles total is particularly good for day hiking.

To reach it, from Barron County, take Hwy. 8 east to Weyerhaeuser. In the village, turn left/north on Second Street. Take the road out of town for about seven miles. At the Y intersection, turn right/east. After passing Christie Mountain, turn left/north onto Fire Lane Road. Next, go left/west onto Excelsior Road (unmarked); if you pass the turnoff for the East Side Trailhead and parking lot, you’ve gone too far.

Rocky Wisconsin High
The West Side trailhead is on the parking lot’s north side; this is Junction A. All intersections are signed with “you-are-here” maps, and junctions are labeled with an alphabet letter.

As the trail heads northwest, you’re at about 1375 feet elevation, which may not be much compared to the Rockies or the Appalachians, but for Wisconsin there are few spots that are higher. In the Midwest, these are the equivalent of mountains.

The Blue Hills formed more than 1.7 billion years ago when sediment settled across a flat plain submerged in shallow water. With each new layer of sediment, the sands below cemented into a hard, glittery rock known as red quartzite. The quartzite now runs 600 feet thick and is highly resistant to erosion.

After about 0.45 miles of walking, you’ll reach Junction B. Go left/west. The terrain gradually will start climbing in elevation.

At the base of these hills, you’ll notice sloping piles of fallen rocks, called felsenmeer. Though smooth sided, their edges are very sharp, so be careful if picking them up.

In a little less than two-thirds of a mile, the trail comes to Junction C. Go right/north.

In addition to being careful with the sharp rocks, avoid stepping on or picking any plants growing in the felsenmeer. Several endangered species live in this unique environment.

Colorful Fall Foliage
In about a fifth of a mile, you’ll reach Junction I. Go right/west for 0.58 miles. Johns Creek flows to the trail’s left, but in short order the stream and footpath angle away from one another, and you descend toward the trailhead.

The Blue Hills primarily sits in a mixed deciduous forest, but you also can find red and white pines, balsam, and hemlock. Because of this, late September and early October mark a good time to hike the trails for the fall foliage. Be aware that hunting occurs during some parts of autumn.

At Junction J, go right/south. This returns you to Junction B, where you go left back to the parking lot.

For amenities, pit toilets are at the trailhead. As the trails are maintained by a private, nonprofit organization, please give a donation if you can to support their upkeep.

Read more about family friendly day hiking trails in my Headin' to the Cabin guidebooks.

Fourth ‘Hittin’ the Trail’ book, on Barron County, Wisconsin, released

The next book in my Hittin’ the Trail hiking guide series, Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking Barron County, Wisconsin, went on sale today. The ebook lists dozens of great family-friendly trails in all of your favorite Barron County communities, including Rice Lake, Cumberland, Chetek, Turtle Lake and Cameron as well as the Blue Hills in neighboring Rusk County. Included is a primer about day hiking essentials, such as gear, clothing, navigation, and how to avoid various trail dangers. Day Hiking Barron County, Wisconsin is available as an ebook on Kindle, Nook, iBook/iPad, Kobo, and other formats.

Find out about other trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

Great trails await Cameron/Chetek visitors

Moose Ear Creek

Visitors to the Cameron and Chetek, Wis., area will find a number of good day hiking trails to explore this summer. Among them:
g Chetek Area County Forest – On 11th Avenue, take the second gated jeep trail heading west to a fire tower. The hike is about 0.6 miles round trip.
g Moose Ear Creek/Sumner Area County Forest – On U.S. Hwy. 8, take the gated jeep trail immediately west of Moose Ear Creek. Turn left at the first trail junction, paralleling the stream; turn back at the next junction as angling away from the waterway for a 1.5-mile round trip.
g Pioneer Village Museum – Take a walk back through time at the Barron County Historical Society’s living history museum. Events usually are scheduled on weekends; admission is charged.
g Veterans Memorial Park trails – Southeast of town, short trails run through a wooded area alongside Prairie Lake. The park, which includes several public amenities, stretches across 160 acres.

Read more about day hiking Barron County in my Hittin’ the Trail: Day Barron County, Wisconsin guidebook.

Day trails abound in Cumberland, Wis., area

Waterman Lake Area County Forest trail

Visitors to the Cumberland, Wis., area will find a number of great day hiking trails awaiting them. Among the pickings:
• Bear Lake Area County Forest trails – A large number of trails crisscross this Barron County forest. Entering from the north side on Narrow Gauge Road, take the first gated trail on the left for a half-mile round trip to Lake 6.
• Ice Age National Scenic Trail – North of town, a segment of this expansive trail runs at the edge of where the glacier last seen in these parts towered some 10,000 years ago. At Old Hwy. 63, head east to Grassy Lake for a hike just under 4 miles round trip.
• Kirby Lake Area County Forest – On Fifth Street just before the road curves toward Kirby Lake, turn east onto a gated jeep trail. The path heads to Tamarack Lake; at the T-intersection, turn back for a 1.4-mile round trip.
• Maple Plain Area County Forest – From 29-1/2 Avenue, take the gated jeep trail heading south. The trail crosses an unnamed creek flowing into Upper Waterman Lake. At the T-intersection, turn back for a half-mile round trip.
• Waterman Lake Area County Forest – In County Road H south of 29th Avenue, take the gated jeep trail heading west. You’ll walk past Lake 9-8A (It’s more of a pond, really.) and end at scenic Black Duck Lake for a 2-mile round trip. Wear pants as the frog-laden grass can be high in summer.

Read more about day hiking Barron County in my Hittin’ the Trail: Day Barron County, Wisconsin guidebook.

Great hiking trails located in Rice Lake area

View from Tuscobia
State Trail near
Rice lake, Wis.

Cabin-goers to the Rice Lake, Wis., area will be impressed by the array of day hiking trails in and around this Barron County community. Among them:
g Cedar Lake Area County Forest trails – As with all Barron County Forests, several unnamed trails crisscross the wooded area. Try the northern-most one, off of Valley Road, which heads west for 2.5 miles through a nice mix of hardwoods; it ends at a gate just shy of Red Cedar Lake.
g Cedar Lake Sections 5 & 6 County Forest – Off of North Townline Road just east of 24th Street, a trail runs roughly north-south for about 1.5 miles before coming to a T-intersection. You’ll walk through a thick hardwood forest.
g Cedar Side Walking Trail – If you need to make a trip into town, consider this beautiful trail that runs alongside the Red Cedar River. Plenty wide and some of it paved, you can take different-length segments based on your abilities.
g Mikana Area County Forest – On Swamp Road upon coming to Mirror Lake, take the gated trail going north. You’ll skirt the shorelines of the lake and then Lake 20-10. For about a 1-mile round trip, turnaround at the gate where the trail splits.
g Moon Lake Biking and Walking Trail – Located at the site of a former municipal airport, this 1.5-mile round trip trail heads to and along scenic Moon Lake. The trail is wide and paved.
g Tuscobia State Trail – Built on old railroad tracks, the Tuscobia State Trail shares a stretch with the Ice Age Trail as it heads northeast. The trail runs about three miles to the 22nd Street intersection.
g Wild Rivers State Trail – A walk through pleasant woodlands and scenic farmland await users of this trail northwest of town. Park at the Tuscobia State Trail junction on County Road SS, near its intersection with U.S. Hwy. 53 and head south for about four miles to West Knapp Street.

Read more about day hiking Barron County in my Hittin’ the Trail: Day Barron County, Wisconsin guidebook.

Day trails abound in Turtle Lake, Wis., area

Skinaway Lake Recreational Park trail

Cabin-goers to the Turtle Lake, Wis., area will find a number of good hiking trails in that area. Among them are:
• Cattail State Trail – From the village limits, the trail heads west into Polk County to Joel. This five-mile segment includes wetlands and a thick woods, both of which teem with wildlife, including white-tailed deer, otter, mink, fox, eagles, osprey a couple of hundred bird species and even black bear. Alternately, you can go east on the trail for up to 5 miles to Almena.
• Joel Marsh Wildlife Area jeep trail – Berry picking and wildlife watching are popular activities on this wildlife area; among the first pair of nesting trumpeter swans were located here in 1991. An old jeep trail begins where the main road ends south of Joel Flowage and runs for almost a mile to 120th Avenue.
• Loon Lake State Wildlife Area trail – Along the oddly named 18-1/2 19-1/2 Avenue is a trail heading east through woodlands to a pond. The wildlife area is an excellent place for birdwatching with around 140 species spotted.
• Silver Creek County Forest – A number of trails run through this county forest south of the village; a good one begins at the end of 5-1/2 Street and parallels Turtle Creek for a 1-mile round trip. It includes a spur leading to the waterway.
• Skinaway Lake Recreational Park trails – On the north side of town, a trail makes its way through a mixed hardwood forest along the shores of Skinaway Lake. The lake is popular for its largemouth bass and several varieties of panfish.

Learn more about nearby day hiking trails in my Day Hiking Trails of Polk County guidebook.

Author's 'Headin' to the Cabin' trail guidebook debuts today

My latest book, Headin’ to the Cabin: Day Hiking Trails of Northwest Wisconsin, is now available on Kindle. Describing more than 100 trails, the book tells where you can walk across 1.2 billion-year-old rock, dip your toes in the world’s largest freshwater lake, tramp along the same routes that the first European explorers bushwhacked during the 1600s, and see the fourth highest waterfall east of the Rockies. It’s the indispensable hiking guide to anyone who owns or rents a cabin in Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Polk, St. Croix, Sawyer and Washburn counties. It’ll be out in paperback within a week.
book,

Read more about family friendly day hiking trails in my Headin' to the Cabin guidebooks.

Quaint country walk awaits on Wild Rivers

A walk through pleasant woodlands and scenic farmland await users of the Wild Rivers State Trail near Rice Lake, Wis. The trail runs for around 100 miles across three counties on an old Omaha and Soo Line Railroads rail line connecting the city to Superior.

A good place to experience the trail is at its southern end. Park north of the Rice Lake city limits at the Tuscobia State Trail junction on County Road SS, near its intersection with U.S. Hwy. 53. You can head south for about four miles into Rice Lake at West Knapp Street. Arrange to have someone bring you back to where you parked, or turn around at any time on the trail.

Great autumn walk
The parking lot sits east of County Road SS, and you’ll need to take the Tuscobia Trail west across the highway to reach the Wild Rivers Trail. Turn left or south onto the Wild Rivers Trail, which parallels County Road SS into Rice Lake. Turn right, and the trail heads to Haugen, Spooner, Trego, Minong, Gordon, Solon Springs and ends in Superior.

In addition to plenty of parking and its proximity to a major town for an enjoyable meal or shopping afterward, the part of the trail heading south is in excellent shape with compacted gravel making up the surface.

The first half mile or so heads through a typical deciduous forest that Wisconsin is famous for. In autumn, the trail’s varied trees alight in an array of crimson, amber and burnt orange leaves. Upon crossing County Road BB, however, the woods gives way to pretty farm fields that look best when green in August.

Bridge over stream
A little more than two miles later, you can glimpse through the deepening treeline a tributary that ultimately flows into nearby Stump Lake. As the region becomes more wooded, you’ll actually cross the serpentine waterway over a quaint bridge.

Expect to spot white-tailed deer, rabbits, squirrels and chipmunks – and if lucky, fox – along the way. Songbirds are plentiful, and hawks soar overhead.

On weekends, anticipate a variety of other users. Mountain bikers, horseback riders and ATVers also frequent the trail. In winter, snowmobilers, cross country skiers and snowshoers all use the route.

The trail grows increasingly urban as reaching 22-1/2 Street with a good end spot at Knapp Street, where you can park your vehicle. Pit toilets are available at the trailhead.

Read more about day hiking Barron County in my Hittin’ the Trail: Day Barron County, Wisconsin guidebook.

Cattail State Trail rambles along old rail line

Cattail State Trail in autumn

Active railroad lines once crisscrossed northwestern Wisconsin’s beautiful countryside, but the advent of highways made many of them obsolete. A number of those old tracks fortunately have been converted to hiking trails so that modern day walkers can enjoy a plethora of scenery from woodlands to rolling pastures.

Among them is the Cattail State Trail, which runs for nearly 18 miles on an old Soo Line rail line between Amery and Almena with access in Turtle Lake. Its location is perfect for a number of cabin-goers in Polk and Barron counties.

To reach the trail, take U.S. Hwy. 8 to any of the above mentioned communities. The trailhead is on Keller Avenue South (Wis. Hwy. 46) near Baker Street West at Soo Lake Park’s trailhead pavilion in Amery, behind the village hall (where you can park) in Turtle Lake, and on Alma Street in Almena.

As a point along the trial, Turtle Lake serves as a great starting point, since you can break the trail into smaller sections by going either toward Amery or Almena. The Turtle Lake access also is a block from Railway Park, which includes a picnic shelter. Head west toward Amery for wetlands and a thick woods, both of which teem with wildlife, including white-tailed deer, otter, mink, fox, eagles, osprey, a couple of hundred bird species, and even black bear. This five-mile section of the trail running to the village of Joel also is open to horses.

If starting in Amery, the trail begins in woodland then passes through farmland and prairie. Beaver Creek runs alongside the trail as closing on Joel.

In Almena, a 16-mile extension heads east to Cameron. Though pretty, this direction generally is not great for hikers, as three miles into the extension is an expansive area popular with ATVers. The extension also closes around mid-October for hunting and then becomes a snowmobile trail in winter.

Crushed stone covers the main trail, and the old rail line is smooth with the most gradual of elevation gains. The trail boasts six bridges. It does cross several roads, however, so be careful at these intersections, especially if with children.

The trail also is open to dogs, which is great for many families. Dogs must be on a leash 8 feet or shorter at all times, however.

Read more about day hiking Barron County in my Hittin’ the Trail: Day Barron County, Wisconsin guidebook.