Trail heads to Wisconsin’s third highest hill

Autumn view from Rib Mountain.

Gray Trail map. Click for larger version.

Day hikers can see the world from 741 feet above the surrounding countryside at Wisconsin’s Rib Mountain State Park.

The 1.8-mile round trip Gray Trail traverses Rib Mountains’ north and south slopes. A brief side trip on the Blue Trail leads to the observation tower.

To reach the trailhead, from Interstate 39 in Wausau, exit onto Rib Mountain Drive, heading southwest. Go straight-right/west onto Park Road and ascend the hill. Park in the first lot on the road’s left/south side. The trail leaves from the lot’s southwest corner.

The first junction is at 0.1 miles. The Yellow Trail splits left/south. Continue right/west. You’re at 1700 feet above sea level.

Ancient volcanoes
About 1.45 billion years ago, a string of volcanoes stretched along what is now the west side of Interstate 39. Rib Mountain’s current location was at about the center of the volcanic region, known as the Wolf River Batholith.

The trail gradually climbs until reaching Cobler’s Nob. The Yellow and Gray trails split here at 1750 feet elevation and then rejoin. Stay on the Gray Trail be going left/west.

Deep below the volcanoes, magma that fed them cooled and hardened into rock. Over time, erosion reduced these craters to just their roots, which is what remains today between Rib Mountain south to Mosinee. Those roots are still impressive – Rib Mountain is a four mile-long ridge of ancient, hard quartzite that at 1924 feet is Wisconsin’s third highest point.

The trail rejoins at 0.41 miles and 1840 feet elevation and then splits. Go left/southwest. Along the way, you pass Sunrise Lookout.

Autumn glory
As September comes to a close, trees for miles around and on Rib Mountain turn brilliant yellows, oranges and reds. For a bird’s eye view of the harvest colors across the mountainside, consider taking a ski lift ride (at Granite Peak Ski Area) to the top then hiking around the summit and to the 60-foot tower before coming back down.

At the next junction, the trail meets the Lower West Yellow Trail from the left/southeast. Continue right/northwest. The CCC Gazebo is to the trail’s left/west.

The mountain got its name from the Ojibwe, who called the nearby Rib River O-pic-wun-a-se-be. The first part of the word means rib.

The Gray Trail crosses the park road at 0.68 miles and 1880 feet elevation. From there, leave the Gray Trail and walk straight-northwest alongside the road.

Observation tower
On the left side, pick up the Blue Trail at about 0.78 miles and go west. This leads to directly to the observation tower, which sits at 0.88 miles and 1920 feet elevation.

From the 60-foot tower’s top, you can see about 30 miles on a clear day. To the northeast is Wausau and the Wisconsin River, the latter of which runs to the southeast. Big Rib River is immediately north. Marathon City and a vast patchwork of farmland and tiny woods is to the west and Mosinee to the south.

Spend some time as well enjoying and scrambling over the ancient rocks at the summit. One of them – the Queen’s Chair – is perfect for a selfie.

After taking in the sights, retrace your steps back to the parking lot.

Great trails abound at Kinnickinnic S.P.

Kinnickinnic River Delta, from the Purple Trail. Photo courtesy Wis. DNR.

For residents of the eastern Twin Cities and west-central Wisconsin, Kinnickinnic State Park offers a convenient central location to escape back to nature for a day.

The park is located on the St. Croix and Kinnickinnic rivers, almost equidistant from River Falls, Hudson, and Prescott, Wis. The latter two communities offer bridge access into Minnesota.

Among the trails at the state park (going from east to west):
g Red Trail – The 1.6-mile hike heads through prairie alongside a forest’s edge. Among the highlights is the Vulture’s Peak area. Near the park entrance, the set of two loops can be accessed from the park’s first two parking lot.
g Blue Trail – The 0.7-mile out-and-back trail (1.4-miles round trip) gives hikers the opportunity to explore gorges and coulees into the Kinnickinnic River Valley. Access the wooded trail from the second parking area past the park entrance. Add the 0.1-mile (0.2-miles round trip) Brown Trail, which serves as a sledding hill in winter, to extend the hike.
g Yellow Trail – The 1.2-mile loop edges a forest and prairie area. Watch for deer, pheasants and turkeys along the trail. The Kinni Overlook Lot is a good place to start; the trail can be extended by adding the Green, Orange or Purple trails.
g Orange Trail – A wooded out-and-back trail atop the Kinnickinnic River bluffs, it runs for 0.5 miles (1-mile round trip). Park at the Kinni Overlook Lot and access it via the Yellow Trail; add the Purple and Yellow trails for a longer walk.
g Green Trail – The trail loops about the outside of a prairie area under restoration and is an excellent place to spot partridge, pheasants and other birds. Access it via the Yellow Trail; from the Kinnic Overlook Lot, go left/north on the Yellow for a 1.6-mile round trip (The Green Trail itself is 1.1-miles long).
g Purple Trail – The 1.2-mile loop (when combined with a segment of the Yellow Trail), offers great views of the Kinnickinnic River Delta and the St. Croix River, as well as access to a swimming beach along the St. Croix. Park in the St. Croix Picnic Area Lot.

Read more about day hiking the scenic riverway in my guidebook Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway.

Blue Trail offers scenic day hike thru woods

Balsam Branch Cross Country Ski Trails

Balsam Branch trails beautiful during autumn as leaves color

Cabin-goers can truly get back to nature by hiking the Blue Trail of Balsam Branch Cross Country Ski Trails.

Located south of Balsam Lake, Wis., but conveniently close to the nearby towns of St. Croix Falls and Amery, Balsam Branch’s trails can be used for day hiking once the snow disappears. The area is virtually all forested with Northern hardwoods and so is quite beautiful in autumn during when leaves change color.

The trails cross three recreational areas – the D.D. Kennedy Environmental Area, Lake Wapogasset Bible Camp, and the Garfield Recreation Area. Nordic Ski Club of Amery manages the trails in winter.

Good shade
The ski trails consist of a number of meandering loops of varying lengths and grades. Of the three general trails that the loops break into, the Blue Trail is in middle as far as difficulty is concerned.

To reach the trail, from U.S. Hwy. 8 in Polk County turn south onto 150th Street then east onto 120th Avenue. East of Kennedy Mill Avenue, take the next right to the parking lot.

From the lot, head straight south for 0.37 miles. You’ll notice right away that the trail is nicely shaded. Maple and oak predominate, but as the terrain closes on lower-lying, wetter areas in Balsam Branch, you’ll see birch and tamarack.

At the first junction, go left for 0.12 miles, beneath a power line. Large and small game abound in Balsam Branch. You’re very likely to spot white-tailed deer here, as well as squirrels, chipmunks and rabbits.

Upon reaching the next trail junction, go right, then wind south and west for 0.68 miles. At the next T-intersection, go left for 0.5 miles.

Add trail length
As recent as 12,000 BC, Balsam Branch sat under the front edge of a massive glacier. As the glacier melted and retreated, outwash covered this region.

At the next trail junction, beneath the power line, go right/north for 0.25 miles. Many of the boulders and stones covering the ground in this area were carried and left here by that glacier.

Upon reaching the next trail junction, the route rejoins the Green Trail; go left for 0.19 miles. At the T-intersection, go right for 0.25 miles to parking lot.

The Blue Trail runs about 2.36 miles. Different loops and connectors can be combined to add to the trail length.

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

Excellent trails await at Balsam Lake, Wis.

View from footbridge on D.D. Kennedy Environmental Area trails.

Visitors to Balsam Lake, Wis., won’t be disappointed by the quality of trails that this community in the northwestern part of the state offer. Among the pickings:
g Black Trail – This 3.4-mile trail that is one of the Balsam Branch Cross Country Ski Trails passes Ox Lake and a couple of ponds as winding its way through a hardwood forest. The paths are wide.
g Blue Trail – Also at the Balsam Branch Cross Country Ski Trails, the Blue Trail is a bit shorter at 2.4 miles. It takes you through the heart of three adjacent parks that the ski trails run through.
g D.D. Kennedy Environmental Area trails – The 1.25 miles of unnamed trails west of the Balsam Branch Cross Country Ski Trails form two loops. Part of one loop circles Balsam Branch, where a river widens into a lake, and includes two footbridges.
g Gandy Dancer Trail – West of town, the old railbed turned hiking trail passes between Centuria and Miltown. This section of the Gandy Dancer also is part of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail.

Read more about day hiking this and nearby trails in my Hittin’ the Trail: Day Polk County, Wisconsin guidebook.