Peaceful northern Wisconsin trail circles evergreen-lined lake

Interfalls Lake, Pattison State Park.
Photo courtesy of Wisconsin DNR.

Beaver Slide Nature Trail runs 2 miles

A pleasant walk alongside a northern lake and a rapids-filled river awaits day hikers on the Beaver Slide Nature Trail in Wisconsin.

The 2-mile trail in Pattison State Park often is overshadowed by its sister trails that lead to waterfalls, including impressive Big Manitou Falls, Wisconsin’s highest and the fourth tallest east of the Rockies. But this is a peaceful walk worth making the time for.

To reach the park, take Wis. Hwy. 35 south about 13 miles from Superior, Wis. The entrance and parking lot is on the left. For the trailhead, from Pattison's main parking lot head toward the 300-foot sand beach and follow it south along Interfalls Lake.

Perfect for kids
This is an easy route for families with children. Almost all of the trail consists of packed gravel and dirt and averages about 3 to 5 feet wide. The exception is a section running along a marsh, in which boardwalks make up the surface. Seasonal creeks flow into the river, so there also are several small wooden bridges along the way. But while there are plenty of dips and rises, the trail avoids any hills.

The best views of Interfalls Lake are on the segment of the trail heading south from the beach. About 23 acres in size with a maximum depth of 13 feet, Interfalls Lake is home to largemouth bass, northern pike, panfish and trout.

Next, the trail intersects the Logging Camp Trail. Continue straight/right as the Beaver Slide begins to parallel the Black River.

The river in this stretch is about 30 feet wide and offers a number of rapids that provide a backing track of rushing water. Cedar, spruce and a variety of pines hug the river’s rocky banks.

West side of river, lake
As the trail reaches its southern end, you’ll take a bridge over the Black River. Once across, go right/west; the Little Falls Hiking Trail heads the other direction

The trail next rambles roughly northwest along the other side of Black River through a boreal northern forest, which primarily consists of evergreens. Large patches of ferns also can be spotted along the trail.

The trail then comes back to shoreline of Interfalls Lake. Upon reaching the lake’s northwest corner, you’ll arrive at a small dam that backs up Black River into Interfalls Lake. Continue curving around lake to the beach and your parking lot.

Before driving off, you might consider stopping at the Gitche Gumee Nature Center. It features a few exhibits about the park’s wildlife, geology and cultural history.

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

Day hike heads along Northwoods river past logging camp

Interfalls Lake and beach on way to Logging Camp Trail.

Pattison park trail
runs 4.7 miles

The remains of a historic logging camp await day hikers on a popular trail in Wisconsin’s Pattison State Park.

The 4.7-mile Logging Camp Trail runs up and down wooded hills and along the Black River. Autumn marks a great tune to hike the trail as the northern hardwood trees will be alive with color while the bug population will be nil in the bogs.

To reach the park, from Superior, Wis., travel south on Wis. Hwy. 35. The highway splits the park in two sections; parking is available in the section of Pattison east of Hwy. 35.

From the main lot, walk southwest toward the beach on Interfalls Lake. Pick up Beaver Slide Nature Trail that heads along the lake’s east side.

In about 0.27 miles, the trail splits. Go left/southeast onto Logging Camp Trail.

Scenic summit
The first portion of the trail is a stem leading to the loop. The stem rises steeply through a woods for about 0.27 miles to an overlook of Beaver Slide Trail’s footbridge over the Black River. A bench is there, making this a good rest spot.

At the summit, the trail passes through an upland hardwoods forest. Bunchberries, ferns, wild rose and sarsaparalla grow beneath tree canopy.

The trail then gradually descends to the Black River, crossing a fairly boggy area. Black ash, red maple, yellow birch and alder grow in the lowland boreal forest. Footbridges head over bogs at some points along trail, which soon heads northwest and parallels the river.

The Black River rises out of Black Lake on the Wisconsin-Minnesota border, and meanders its way through the park until flowing into the Nemadji River to the north. Alongside the Logging Camp Trail, the river is shallow and rocky; at some spots during autumn, hikers even can walk across the rocks, though they will be slick and so this is unadvisable for younger children.

Along the way, the trail passes a connector that shortens the hike by not quite a mile.

Martin Pattison
Take the connector trail, though, and you'll miss the site of the historic Martin Pattison lumber camp. For three years in the 1880s, Pattison and his crew logged along this section of the Black River. Pattison – the park’s namesake – later was instrumental in saving the park’s Big Manitou Falls from destruction by secretly purchasing land to prevent construction of a dam for generating electricity.

In short order, the trail makes a hairpin turn to the northeast. Along the curve is a spur trail that leads to three backpack campsites. Little Manitou Falls can be enjoyed from the campsites, but you'll get a better, up close and personal view by taking the Little Manitou Falls Hiking Trail that is across the river.

Upon passing a trail shelter, you’ve almost completed the curve, and the forest turns back to stands of mixed hardwoods.

The trail then angles away from the Black River, reaching the other end of the previously passed connector trail and then the stem. Go left/north onto the stem and back onto Beaver Slide Nature Trail to the beach and parking lot.

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