Autumn hikes on Minn.-Wis. border, Part II

Brilliant fall colors can be seen along the Minnesota-Wisconsin
border from September and mid-October.

If living in a border

county or traveling near the Wisconsin-Minnesota state line, plenty of great autumn trails await.

Central and northern Minnesota border with Wisconsin mostly follows the St. Croix River from Prescott, Wis., to Lake Superior. Maple, basswood, oak, aspen and birch dominate.

Minnesota

Carlton County
Day hikers can cross a swinging bridge above a raging river running over nearly 2 billion-year old rock then enjoy incredible autumn colors at Jay Cooke State Park. The 1.5-mile round trip East Ridge Trail crosses and then partially follows the St. Louis river southeast of Duluth. A new $1.1 million swinging bridge opened in 2013. To the delight of most kids (and adults), the 219-foot pedestrian bridge bounces and sways. The rest of the trail heads through a hardwood forest whose green in summer rivals that of Oz’s Emerald City. The leaves turn an impressive array of yellows, reds and oranges as autumn sets in. From Interstate 35 take the exit for Minn. Hwy. 210, driving east through Carlton. The park is about five miles from the freeway. Turn right/south at the River Inn Visitor Center and park in the lot nearest the river. For more Carlton County trails, see Day Hiking Trails of Northeast Minnesota.

Chisago County
Hikers can follow some of the same footpaths and rail lines that the region’s first Swedish immigrants used to settle Minnesota on the Swedish Immigrant Trail. During the late 1800s, many Swedish immigrants took the ferry across the St. Croix River and then footpaths to their destinations. A spur off the St. Paul-Duluth rail route to Wyoming opened during 1880, helping speed the immigration inland. Perhaps the best of the trail’s completed portions is the Shafer Segment. Birch trees dominate in some sections, but the trail is mainly lined by mixed hardwoods that leave the path and its grass shoulders covered in an array of colorful leaves during autumn. Park on the street in downtown Shafer, off of Redwing Avenue near 303rd Street. The trailhead is near 303rd and heads for about two miles east of Redwing. Look for the white signs with the trail logo in the blue and yellow colors of Sweden’s flag. For more Chisago County trails, see Day Hiking Trails of Northeast Minnesota.

Pine County
Hikers can walk alongside pretty Tamarack River, where a variety of trees light up the trail in autumn. The 3.75-mile out and back Tamarack River Trail runs along the river’s west side before it flows into the St. Croix River. Rolling terrain features maple, basswood, ash, aspen, oak, tamarack along with the evergreens Norway, red and white pine. From Sandstone, take County Road 123 east then go straight-left/east on County Road 30. Turn right/south onto County Road 24 and then left/east onto County Road 25. After passing Markville Cemetery, take the next right/south. Park at the Tamarack horse camp and head south on the trail in the St. Croix State Forest. Note that the full trail actually is a loop but requires a river crossing, so that and the route on the river’s east side are not included here. For more Pine County trails, see Day Hiking Trails of Northeast Minnesota.

St. Louis County
A pair of picturesque waterfalls, footbridges, and a walk alongside Chester Creek await hikers on the Chester Park Loop in Duluth. Located near the University of Minnesota-Duluth campus, the 2.4-mile trail is particularly beautiful in autumn when the golden bronze of maple and basswood leaves form a canopy over the path and float upon the creek. In Duluth from West College Street take North 19th Avenue E southeast. Turn right/west onto W. Kent Road, then right/west onto East Skyline Parkway after the curve right/northwest onto Chester Park Drive. Park along the road then walk back alongside the road to E. Skyline Parkway and cross the bridge to the trailhead. For more St. Louis County trails, see Day Hiking Trails of Northeast Minnesota.

Washington County
The fresh scent of pine needles upon the pathway and the gentle rush of water along the river’s rock walls instantly lulls you into a feeling of serenity on the Riverside Trail at William O’Brien State Park. The 1.5-mile trail loops through a floodplain and typically is open during summer and autumn when water levels have gone down. Roughly half of the trail follows the river, mainly through a good mix of hardwoods common to a floodplain forest in this region. During autumn, their leaves turn gold, red, orange and brown. Across the water is Wisconsin, and with the two undeveloped shorelines, tranquility reigns. From Marine on St. Croix, Minn., take Minn. Hwy. 95 north into the park. Turn right/east onto O’Brien Trail North/County Road 33. The road curves south, dead ending in a parking area alongside Lake Alice. The trail begins at the picnic grounds immediately east of the parking lot.

Wisconsin

Burnett County
Day hikers can walk across an old railroad bridge over the St. Croix River at the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway and St. Croix State Forest on the Wisconsin-Minnesota border. The Gandy Dancer Trail, which starts dozens of miles south of the state forest in Polk County, at Danbury crosses the border into Minnesota. The trestle bridge segment is about two miles round trip. You’ll head through a forested area. The mix of trees near the riverfront yields a fantastic multi-colored leaf display in autumn. An added bonus for autumn hikers: You’ll probably spot a number of migrating waterfowl, including sandhill cranes. Also watch for bald eagles, osprey, northern harriers and hawks, all of which reside year-round in the area. In Danbury, parking for trail access is next to the walking route north of Hwy. 77 between and Hwy. 35 and North Glass Street. From the lot, take the trail north.

Douglas County
A walk along a pristine sand beach awaits day hikers of the Lake Superior shoreline in the Bear Beach State Natural Area. The unmarked trail runs for up to 3.4-miles round trip along narrow Bear Beach. Hiking the beach, you’ll get a good sense of what this area of the world looked like before Euro-Americans settled it. A thick woods hugs the sand’s southern side while the lake stretches wide beyond to the north. Though the forest this far north is heavy on the evergreens – especially balsam fir, white pine and white spruce – in autumn the yellowed-colored leaves of paper birch and trembling aspen and the spring green of speckled alder are well-represented. From Brule take U.S. Hwy. 2 west. In Maple, turn north onto County Road F. Next, go left/west onto Wis. Hwy. 13 then right/north onto Beck’s Road. Park in the dirt lot at the end of Beck’s Road near the Lake Superior shore.

Polk County
Day hikers can experience an autumn forest that looks almost like the one Native Americans and pioneers saw during the 1800s. The 2.9-mile Ridge View Trails near Osceola heads beneath a lush forest canopy in the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway and the Osceola State Fish Hatchery on a bluff overlooking a St. Croix River back channel. Sugar maple is the dominant tree. Each autumn, its leaves vary from yellow to orange or red. Basswood, whose leaves turn olive in fall, and white ash, which changes to a deep maroon, usually are mixed in the canopy. From Osceola, take Wis. Hwy. 35 north and turn north onto County Road S. The two trailheads are on the road’s left/west. Both trailheads have their own parking areas off of the road. Just beyond 93rd Avenue is the southernmost parking area, which is an excellent trailhead for either loop.

***

The splendor of fall colors combines with a vista of the St. Croix River and fasinating rock formations on the Summit Rock Trail at Interstate State Park. The 1-mile round trip trail heads to a bluff’s highest point. Moss and autumn leaves cover the surrounding rock and ground while maples, basswood and eastern white pines line the trail. At the top, prickly pear cactus can be spotted amid the outcroppings. The highlight of the hike without question is the incredible view of the riverway from the summit. Looking north, the Old Man of the Dalles rock formation is visible. From St. Croix Falls, take Wis. Hwy. 35 south. Turn right/west into the park and follow the entry road to the parking lot across from the Lake O’ the Dalles.

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.

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 Kinnicknnic 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 confleunce 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.

Top fall trails of northwest Wisconsin, Part I

Copper Falls State Park

There’s no better way

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

Ashland County
A river rapids over billion-year-old red-tinged rock, surrounded by a variety of autumn colors, awaits day hikers on the Red Granite Falls Trail in Copper Falls State Park. The set of two loops, loosely shaped in a figure 8, runs 2.5-miles round trip in the park’s southern corner. During autumn, you’ll find the brilliant yellows of ironwood, paper birch and aspen, the blazing orange of sugar maple, and the scarlet of red oak mixed with the evergreen of hemlock and white pine. From Mellen, take Wis. Hwy. 169 north. Enter the park by turning left onto Copper Falls Road, and park in the Loon Lake Beach lot. Head south to the beach and pick up the trailhead heading west.

***

Amber-leaved trees and evergreen conifers await hikers at Prentice Park in Ashland. A 1.25-mile round trip paved trail wends through a boreal forest and wetlands as well as crosses, via a bridge, Fish Creek Slough before ending at the Lake Superior beach in Maslowski Park. In all, Prentice Park is nearly 100 acres in size. From downtown Ashland, head west on U.S. Hwy. 2. Turn left/south onto Turner Road then right/southwest onto Park Road, which ends at a parking lot. The trail leaves from the lot’s west side.

Bayfield County
Massive trees from an old growth forest and vibrant autumn colors await day hikers on the Drummond Woods Trail in the Chequamegon National Forest. The 0.75-mile trail runs through the Drummond Woods, where a number of trees survived the 1800s lumberjacking of the Wisconsin Northwoods. Heading through a northern hardwood forest, the trail marks an excellent spot to enjoy fall colors: the yellows of basswood and birch; the oranges of sugar maples; and the scarlet of black ash and red maple. Evergreens dominate the canopy with towering white and red pines and hemlocks. From Drummond, take U.S. Hwy. 63 north. In one mile, turn left/west onto Old 63 N (aka Forest Road 235). About 150 feet from that intersection on the right is a small pull-off for parking.

Burnett County
Day hikers can walk across an old railroad bridge over the St. Croix River at the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway and St. Croix State Forest on the Wisconsin-Minnesota border. The Gandy Dancer Trail, which starts dozens of miles south of the state forest in Polk County, at Danbury crosses the border into Minnesota. The trestle bridge segment is about two miles round trip. You’ll head through a forested area. The mix of trees near the riverfront yields a fantastic multi-colored leaf display in autumn. An added bonus for autumn hikers: You’ll probably spot a number of migrating waterfowl, including sandhill cranes. Also watch for bald eagles, osprey, northern harriers and hawks, all of which reside year-round in the area. In Danbury, parking for trail access is next to the walking route north of Hwy. 77 between and Hwy. 35 and North Glass Street. From the lot, take the trail north.

Douglas County
A walk along a pristine sand beach awaits day hikers of the Lake Superior shoreline in the Bear Beach State Natural Area. The unmarked trail runs for up to 3.4-miles round trip along narrow Bear Beach. Hiking the beach, you’ll get a good sense of what this area of the world looked like before Euro-Americans settled it. A thick woods hugs the sand’s southern side while the lake stretches wide beyond to the north. Though the forest this far north is heavy on the evergreens – especially balsam fir, white pine and white spruce – in autumn the yellowed-colored leaves of paper birch and trembling aspen and the spring green of speckled alder are well-represented. From Brule take U.S. Hwy. 2 west. In Maple, turn north onto County Road F. Next, go left/west onto Wis. Hwy. 13 then right/north onto Beck’s Road. Park in the dirt lot at the end of Beck’s Road near the Lake Superior shore.

***

A boreal forest may not seem like the best place to enjoy autumn leaves. The Superior Municipal Forest, however, delivers, with its extensive growth of gold-leafed white birch and aspen amid evergreen white and red pine, balsam, cedar, and black spruce. A 1.6-mile segment of the Millennium Trail winds through the woods. In Superior, at the 28th Street and Wyoming Avenue intersection, turn south to the municipal parking lot. The trail goes both east and west; skip the eastern side, which leads to multiple railroad tracks in Superior’s industrial section.

Polk County
Day hikers can experience an autumn forest that looks almost like the one Native Americans and pioneers saw during the 1800s. The 2.9-mile Ridge View Trails near Osceola heads beneath a lush forest canopy in the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway and the Osceola State Fish Hatchery on a bluff overlooking a St. Croix River back channel. Sugar maple is the dominant tree. Each autumn, its leaves vary from yellow to orange or red. Basswood, whose leaves turn olive in fall, and white ash, which changes to a deep maroon, usually are mixed in the canopy. From Osceola, take Wis. Hwy. 35 north and turn north onto County Road S. The two trailheads are on the road’s left/west. Both trailheads have their own parking areas off of the road. Just beyond 93rd Avenue is the southernmost parking area, which is an excellent trailhead for either loop.

***

The splendor of fall colors combines with a vista of the St. Croix River and fasinating rock formations on the Summit Rock Trail at Interstate State Park. The 1-mile round trip trail heads to a bluff’s highest point. Moss and autumn leaves cover the surrounding rock and ground while maples, basswood and eastern white pines line the trail. At the top, prickly pear cactus can be spotted amid the outcroppings. The highlight of the hike without question is the incredible view of the riverway from the summit. Looking north, the Old Man of the Dalles rock formation is visible. From St. Croix Falls, take Wis. Hwy. 35 south. Turn right/west into the park and follow the entry road to the parking lot across from the Lake O’ the Dalles.

Maps of 5 great Burnett County day hikes

Visitors to Wisconsin’s Burnett 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:

Big Bear Lake Nature Trails
The Big Bear Lake Nature Trails offer three great day hiking opportunities for those in the lake country of Burnett County. All three trails are accessible from the same trailhead. The Grouse Walk Trail is the shortest at a half-mile.

Cedar Interpretive Trail
You can see trees that are more than 200 years old on the Cedar Interpretive Trail. You can’t get lost on the trail, as the 1-mile round trip is on a boardwalk. It partially crosses the 330-acre Norway Point Bottomlands State Natural Area, which adjoins the Governor Knowles State Forest.

Hay Creek Trail
A plethora of trails run through the Crex Meadows Wildlife Area, an expansive, 30,000-acre wetlands in southwest Burnett County. Among the most popular of them is the Hay Creek Trail, a 1.5-mile loop.

Namekagon Delta Trail
Families can day hike to a scenic delta at the confluence of the St. Croix and Namekagon rivers. A number of unnamed and non-maintained trails run near the delta in the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. A 2.7-mile out-and-back trail walks a ridge overlooking the delta.

Sandrock Cliffs Trail
Unique, imposing bluffs set above a lush river await hikers of the Sandrock Cliffs Trail. Up to five miles of trails run through the area in the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway along the Minnesota border. The southernmost trail – a three-mile loop – offers more than enough scenery, but an additional two miles of connecting trails are available for those with a little more energy to burn.

Learn about nearby trails in Hittin’ the Trail: Day Burnett County, Wisconsin.

Hike major bird habitat in Crex Meadows

Hay Creek Trail

A plethora of trails run through the Crex Meadows Wildlife Area, an expansive, 30,000-acre wetlands in southwest Burnett County, Wis. Among the most popular of those walking paths is Hay Creek Trail, a 1.5-mile loop.

To reach the trail, from Grantsburg, take the road north at the Hwys. 70. 87 and 48 intersection. Watch for and follow the yellow goose painted on the roadway, which winds you through town until reaching the intersection of County Roads D and F. Turn right onto County Road D then take the next left into the visitor center parking lot. The trailhead is behind the center.

Pine barrens
Take the trail clockwise. It heads through a forested area to the Lower Hay Creek Flowage. A flowage is a lake created when a river or creek is dammed, typically to prevent flooding, but when in an urban setting often for hydroelectric power.

The forested area is among the higher elevations of land in Crex Meadows. The wildlife area preserves sedge marshes and brush prairie habitats, and boasts the largest remaining section of Wisconsin’s endangered pine barrens ecosystem.

The pine barrens once stretched for about 1500 square miles across northwest Wisconsin. When the last ice age’s glacier retreated some 13,000 years ago, it left a sandy plain; the marshes in the area are all that remain of Glacial Lake Grantsburg. Red and jack pines along with prairie grasses dominate the barrens.

Migrating birds, butterflies
Today, the protected ecosystems ensure that Crex Meadows annually is a major stop for migrating birds. Indeed, more than 270 bird species – including sandhill cranes, whose wingspans can reach up to seven feet – inhabit the wildlife area. Their stop off here in October draws birdwatchers from around the world.

Nearly 100 types of butterflies can be found here as well. Otters, black bears, wolves and a number of other animals also call the wildlife area home.

If you have a family dog, Rover is welcome on the trail. From April 15 to July 31, dogs must be leashed, though.

On the way back to the parking lot, stop at the visitor center for displays of local animals. A warning if children are with you: There’s a gift shop at the center.

Read more about day hiking Crex Meadows in my Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking Crex Meadows Wildlife Area guidebook.

North Wisc. trail crosses jack pine forest

Loon Creek Trail

Snowmobile trail makes
for great summer walk

A plethora of snowmobile trails crosscross Wisconsin’s northern Burnett County, and during summer many of them can be day hiked.

One good hub for these trails is the Burnett County Forest’s Loon Creek Trailhead. From it, the Loon Creek Trail (so christened here for convenience’s sake) runs about 4-miles round trip over snowmobile/ATV routes.

Sand plains
To reach the trailhead, from Danbury go east on State Hwy. 77. Turn south/left onto Bear Lake Road. At Lake 26 Road, go right/west, then at the next intersection, left/south onto Loon Creek Trail. A large parking lot is on the road's left/east side just before Deerpath Road. The trail leaves from the lot’s southeast corner.

Wide and fairly flat, the trail immediately curves north as it loosely parallels Loon Creek from a distance. This route appears on maps as Wisconsin Corridor Trail 41, which is a summer ATV route. About 800 feet from the parking lot, the trail splits; stay on Corridor Trail 41 by going left/east.

The trail takes hikers across a sand plains, formed when sediment from melting ice age glaciers washed over the area about 8000 years ago. Jack pine dominates, accounting for about a third of the trees on the poor soil. Aspen with its flashing leaves follows at about three out of every 20 trees.

In about a mile, the trail intersects another ATV route, the gravel Loon Lake Dam Lane. Go right/east onto it for a walk down a country lane. Here, the trees begin to vary more.

Raptors and rare butterfly
As you gaze up at the incredibly tall trees along the route, don’t be surpised to spot eagles and osprey. Loon Creek is home to several nests for the majestic raptors. A little closer to eye level, watch for the delightful appearing Karner blue butterfly, which unfortunately is on the brink of extinction.

The trail in about a half-mile passes the gravel Whispering Pines Road and then come to the top of Loon Lake, which Loon Creek feeds. A small dam controls the creek’s flow and maintains Loon Lake’s water levels.

Be careful with matches and sparks while hiking the trail. Because of the conifer trees and sandy soils, the fire hazard is high; in fact, motorized vehicles are not allowed on the trail in April and May (Day hiking is permitted, though.).

Also, the best time to walk the trail is a nonholiday weekday. On weekends and during holidays, the trails are popular among ATVers and so can be loud.

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

Diverse day trails abound at Crex Meadows

Upper Phantom Cross Country Ski
and Hiking Trail from parking area
along East Refuge Road

Several walking paths and jeep trails run through Crex Meadows Wildlife Area north of Grantsburg, Wis. Among the more popular ones are:
g Abel Prairie Trail – Day hikers can discover what northwest Wisconsin’s grasslands looked like in pre-pioneer days with a walk along this easy half-mile (1-mile round trip) out-and-back trail. It follows the western and southern shores of Zulliger Flowage as skirting a restored prairie area.
g Hay Creek Trail – The 1.5-mile loop heads through a forested area to the Lower Hay Creek Flowage. The forested area is among the higher elevations of land in Crex Meadows.
g Reed Lake Meadow State Natural Area Trail – On James Road south of Reed Lake Road, take the jeep trail west to the parking lot at the edge of the Reed Lake Meadow State Natural Area, a wetlands between Reed Lake in the north and Dike 1 in the south. South of the trail is prime territory for spotting sharp-tailed grouse, who often dance here in mating displays from late March through May.
g Reed Lake Trail – From Reed Lake Road east of North Refuge Road Road, take the jeep trail south to the parking lot on the northshore of Reed Lake; walk the out-and-back trail back to Reed Lake Road. A pine-oak forest sits to the trail’s west while a sand blow with dunes is to the east.
g Phantom Trail – On East Refuge Road, take the jeep trail going west, just before reaching Lundquist Road. The out-and-back skirts a wetlands before reaching the southeast edge of Phantom Lake, which at 2000 acres is the largest waterbody at Crex Meadows.
g Upper Phantom Cross Country Ski and Hiking Trail – Day hikers can walk across what once the bottom of an Ice Age lake and now is a rare, vanishing ecosystem. The longest trail at the wildlife area reserved solely for walking (or cross country skiing in winter) actually is a 3.7-mile set of three loops with two stems linking it to parking areas.
g YCC Hiking Trail – The trail loops through the Rest Area Flowage north of Reisinger Lake. An observation platform at the loop’s southwest end looks out onto lake and the Crex Meadows State Wildlife Refuge. Park at the rest area on North Refuge Road east of Currey Road.

Read more about day hiking Crex Meadows in my Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking Crex Meadows Wildlife Area guidebook.

Crex Meadows birding opportunities abound

Erickson Flowage, Crex Meadows Wildlife Area

With spring’s arrival, tens of thousands of rare and endangered birds are gathering on their annual migration at Crex Meadows Wildlife Area. A plethora of trails run through the wildlife area, an expansive 30,000-acre wetlands in southwest Burnett County, Wisconsin.

The wildlife area owes its modern landscape to the last ice age. As glaciers melted some 13,000 years ago, Glacial Lake Grantsburg stretched from this region into central Minnesota. The result was a deposit of sandy sediment that covers the ground. As the meltwater lake drained away, it left wetlands and brush prairie in its wake – all territory that waterfowl and many other bird species particularly appreciate.

Crex Meadow is most recognized for the major role it plays during waterfowl migrations each spring and autumn. The National Bird Conservancy lists the area as among the 500 Globally Important Bird Areas in the United States of America. In all, 270 different bird species have been spotted in Crex Meadows.

A number of those species can be seen there during any time of the year. Among them are endangered eagles, ospreys, and trumpeter swans.

Other birds prefer to make Crex Meadows their seasonal home. They include Caspian terns, great egrets, and peregrine falcon.

Migrations mark the greatest abundance of waterfowl in Crex Meadows. Perhaps the most spectacular of the arrivals are sandhill cranes. They can grow up to four feet tall with wingspans of up to seven feet wide. Migration seasons vary from year to year, but sandhill cranes (and other traveling waterfowl) generally can be spotted from April through mid-May on their way north and mid-September through October on their way south.

Many of the wildlife area’s human visitors come primarily to see sandhill cranes. The cranes typically stay in the wildlife area’s wetlands at night and then feed in nearby farm fields during the day. Your best bet for spotting a one is to catch them on their flights to and from these locations about an hour to 90 minutes after sunrise or before sunset. Good trails for these sightings are those along East Refuge Road, Main Dike Road, and Phantom Lake Road.

Other intriguing birds you’re likely to spot in Crex Meadows includes blue-winged teal, green-winged teal, loons, mallards, prairie chickens, ring-necked ducks, sharp-tailed grouse, and wild turkeys.

Regular updates on which birds and other wildlife can be seen at Crex Meadows are available online.

How to Get There
From either Minneapolis-St. Paul or Duluth, Minn., take Interstate 35 to Pine County. Exit on Minn. Hwy. 70 south of Pine City and head east over the St. Croix River, where the road becomes Wis. Hwy. 70; continue on to Grantsburg.

For Chicago and southern Wisconsin residents, take Interstate 94 north to Hudson, Wis. Exit onto Hwy. 35 and head north. In Siren, go west on Hwy. 70 to Grantsburg.

From Grantsburg take the road going north at the Wis. Hwys. 70, 87 and 48 intersection. Watch for and follow the yellow goose painted on the roadway, which winds you through town until reaching the intersection of County Roads D and F. This is the wildlife area’s southwestern corner and the visitor center’s location.

When to Visit
The best months to day hike Crex Meadows are May through September. Depending on the year, April and October also can be pleasant.

Most migrating birds can be spotted from April through mid-May and from mid-September through October. Migration seasons vary from year to year.

As with the rest of the Midwest, summers can be humid, especially July and August. Rain also can occur during the afternoon even when the morning is sunny, so always check the weather forecast before heading on a hike.

Hours and Admission
The wildlife area always is open and there is no fee to enter, park your vehicle, or to hike. Various events and activities may require a fee, however.

The visitor center located at Crex Meadows’s southwest corner – the junction of County Roads F and D, does have limited hours:
g Monday-Friday: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. except major holidays
g Saturday-Sunday: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. April through October

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

Watch sharp-tailed grouse mating dances

Sharp-tailed grouse

Day hikers can see the elaborate dances of sharp-tailed grouse on the Reed Lake Meadow State Natural Area Trail in Wisconsin’s Crex Meadows Wildlife Area.

Late March through May provide ample opportunities to spot the birds during their morning mating displays.

Largest sedge meadow
To reach the trail, from the visitor center take County Road D east. Turn left/north onto Rylander Road then right/east onto North Fork Dike Road. North Fork Dike becomes Kylingstad Road. At the next junction, turn left/north onto Hildas Road, which becomes James Road. A jeep trail is about 0.4 miles north of Klotts Road on the left/east.

Take the jeep trail to the parking lot, which overlooks the largest sedge meadow in the wildlife area. Reed Lake is to the north with North Fork Flowage to the south. Much of the sedge meadow, including Reed Lake, is protected as part of the Reed Lake Meadow State Natural Area.

From the parking lot, hike to and from James Road for a 0.46-mile round trip.

As walking, watch the trail’s south side for sharp-tailed grouse. They like the mowed, brush-free areas, which allows females to more easily spot males and for both genders to more easily spot predators.

Courtship dance
Before sunrise, male grouse make their way to the mowed area, where each selects a small area in which other males are not allowed to enter. Then each male begins a mating dance with the aim of attracting a female. This mating arena is known as a lek.

Their courtship dance includes stamping feet 20 times a second, rattling tail feathers, and turning in circles or strutting forward while cooing. The males’ purple neck sacs also puff up and deflate.

The grouse live in the brush-prairie surrounding the mowed area. State environmental efforts restored much of this prairie ecosystem – which dominated the higher ground of Crex Meadows more than 150 years ago – during the past quarter century.

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

Diverse hiking opportunities await at Crex

Trailhead for Dike 6 South Trail

Migrating birds, rare plants await on number of great jeep trails

An array of short jeep trails at Crex Meadows Wildlife Area can be used for day hiking, offering the opportunity to see migrating birds and rare plant life.

Several of them can be found on Crex Meadow’s west side. To reach them, from Grantsburg, follow the signs and yellow goose painted on the roadway, to the wildlife area’s southwest corner. County Road F heads north along Crex’s western boundary while County Road D heads east, roughly paralleling Crex’s southern bounder for a few miles.

Jeep trails on west side of Crex Meadows that make great hiking trails include:
g Dike 3 Sedge Meadow Trail – Day hikers can walk near a wetlands once harvested to create carpet and furniture on this 1-mile round trip out-and-back-trail. The trailhead is on West Refuge Road. In less than a mile north of Main Dike Road, turn left/west onto a jeep trail; park in the lot at the end of the jeep trail. Walk it back to West Refuge Road.
g Dike 6 South Trail – A pleasant 0.8-mile walk along a jeep trail skirting a flowage’s shoreline awaits hikers on the Dike 6 South Trail. Park at the end of Abel Road just north of Main Dike Road; the trailhead is southwest of the parking area. The trail runs 0.4 miles to County Road F; at the highway, go back the way you came.
g Dike 6 Center Trail – From County Road F, take the second jeep trail on the right as heading north from Main Dike Road. The jeep trail heads to a parking lot near Dike 6’s narrow center. From there, walk the 0.2-mile out-and-back trail back to County Road F for a 0.4-mile round trip.
g Dike 6 North Trail – The jeep trail heads north from Dike 6, briefly skirting a dry run, to Larson Road for a 0.8-mile round trip out-and-back trail. To reach the trailhead, from County Road F turn onto Larson Road; where Larson Road veers north, take the jeep trail south to the parking lot alongside Dike 6.
g Furhman Lake West Trail – A sedge meadow along the west side of Furhman Lake await day hikers on this 0.6-mile round trip trail. To reach the trial, from North Refuge Road, east of Buggert Road, turn north on the trail. The trailhead is at the parking lot on Furhman Lake. An out-and-back trail, walk back to North Refuge Road. The trail can be extended by crossing North Refuge Road and following Rices Lake Road for an additional 0.4 miles.
g Furhman Lake North Trail – The 0.5-mile round trip out-and-back trail runs between Furhman Lake’s northwest shore and Buggert Road. To reach the trailhead, turn south from Buggert Road west of Murphys Road; the parking lot is near the lake’s shore.
g Rices Lake Trail – The trail runs to and from a sedge marsh southwest of Rices Lake. Reach the trailhead by taking the jeep trail heading south from North Refuge Road just east of Buggert Road. Park in the lot where the jeep trail reaches the marsh. Walk back to North Refuge Road then back to your vehicle for a 0.4-mile round trip.
g Whiskey Creek Flowage Trail – A jeep trail heads along the southern shore of Whiskey Creek Flowage for a 1.5-mile out-and-back walk. The trailhead is at Phantom Lake Road north of County Road D and heads to the southeast corner of Hay Creek Flowage. The hike can be extended by taking the intersecting Upper Hay Creek Flowage Trail.
g Upper Hay Creek Flowage Trail – This trail branching off the Whiskey Creek Flowage Trail can be reached in a couple of ways. The first option is to walk the Whiskey Creek Flowage Trail from its trailhead on Phantom Lake Road (north of County Road D) for about a half-mile to the Upper Hay Creek Flowage Trail junction. From there, head north another half-mile to the southern tip of the Upper Hay Creek Flowage for a two-mile round trip. A second option is to drive the jeep trails that make up these connecting paths. Rather than walk, drive the route described in the first option and park in the lot at the terminus next to the Upper Hay Creek Flowage. Treat the Upper Hay Creek Flowage Trail as an out-and-back trail, walking to and from its junction with the Whiskey Creek Flowage Trail for a one-mile round trip.

Read more about day hiking Crex Meadows in my Hittin the Trail: Day Hiking Crex Meadows Wildlife Area guidebook.

Hike heads past nearly 200-year-old trail

Sandhill cranes are a common sight at Crex Meadows during the spring and
autumn migrations.

Flowage and sedge meadow highlight walk

Day hikers can travel past one of the first pioneer-era trails in northwest Wisconsin on the Middle North Fork Flowage Trail at Crex Meadows Wildlife Area.

To reach the trailhead, from the County Roads F and D junction, take County Road D east. Turn left/north onto East Refuge Road. In a little more than two miles, go right/east onto Main Dike Road. In about a mile, turn right/south onto a jeep trail. Park at the end of the trail alongside Middle North Fork Flowage.

Controlling water levels
From the lot, walk to and then back from Main Dike Road for 1.5-mile round trip.

The first quarter mile heads between the Middle North Fork Flowage on the right and a sedge meadow on the left.

Hikers may notice a stream of water running through the sedge meadow’s center. This water transfer ditch is one of several running through Crex Meadows’ various marshes. The ditches play an important role in maintaining the area’s wetland habitats.

A diversion pump helps control water levels. The ditches, along with gates that can be raised or lowered, are used to control the amount of pumped water and where it goes. Up to 20,000 gallons of water can be redirected per minute. In one day, that amounts to flooding 100 acres a foot deep!

First established trail
As the Middle North Fork Flowage ends, a sedge meadow appears on the right while the higher ground to the left becomes wooded.

At Main Dike Road, you’re near the first trail established by the U.S. government in the area. The military trail and mail route, beginning in 1830, ran from Fort Anthony in St. Paul, Minn., to the village of La Pointe on Lake Superior’s Madeline Island.

As settlers from the east arrived, the trail became a “Tote Road.” Smith’s Stopping Place – a spot where travelers could rest for the night, was established in the open area to the right of the jeep’s trail junction with Main Dike Road.

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

Spot rare bird species nesting near Dike 1

LeConte’s Sparrow.
Photo courtesy Wisconsin DNR

Hikers can spot a plethora of rare and endangered birds on the Dike 1 Sedge Marsh Trail in Wisconsin’s Crex Meadows Wildlife Area.

To reach the trailhead, from the County Road F and D junction, take County Road D east. In about three miles, turn left/north onto East Refuge Road. In about 2.5 miles, turn right/east onto the jeep trail (If you’ve reached North Refuge Road, you’ve gone too far.). Park at the lot at the edge of a sedge meadow that a water transfer ditch runs through.

Take the out-and-back trail to East Refuge Road for a half-mile round trip.

Keep an eye to the north for flying ducks. Though Zalesky Pond can’t be seen through the trees, ducks love the potholes and the small wetlands surrounding that nearby waterbody.

During spring, you probably won’t see any female ducks in the air, as they’re tending nests in the grassy areas that they and their drakes have built. The drake defends the surrounding territory. After the eggs hatch, the pair lead their ducklings to larger bodies of water.

The massive sedge marsh east of the trail stretches from Dike 1 Flowage in the south to Reed Lake in the north. Several rare, endangered bird species reside in the marsh, including:
g LeConte’s sparrow – Among the smallest sparrow species in the United States, watch for it on the ground under the cover of tall grass.
g Nelson’s sharp-tailed sparrow – You may spy them probing in mud for insects to eat. They have a raspy trill.
g Yellow rail – A small, secretive bird, the yellow rail typically builds its nest on damp ground under the cover of dead grass. Birders often come to Crex Meadows each spring to spot these three species.

A variety of other, more common birds also can be spotted or heard on the trail near the sedge meadows, including American bitterns, bobolinks, sandhill cranes, sedge wrens, and Virginia rails.

Read more about day hiking Crex Meadows in my Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking Crex Meadows Wildlife Area guidebook.

Sedge meadow trail passes local history

Blanding's turtle at Crex Meadows Wildlife Area

Grass harvested
to make carpet,
wicker furniture

Day hikers can walk near a wetlands once harvested to create carpet and furniture on the Dike 3 Sedge Meadow Trail at Wisconsin’s Crex Meadows Wildlife Area.

To reach the trailhead, from the County Roads F and D intersection, take County Road F north. In about two miles, turn right/east onto Main Dike Road. Just past Dike 3 Flowage, turn left/north onto West Refuge Road. In less than a mile, turn left/west onto a jeep trail. Park in the lot at the end of the jeep trail.

Walk it back to West Refuge Road for a 1-mile round trip out-and-back-trail.

Camp Five
The trail crosses a narrow bit of dry land between the sedge meadow for Rices Lake to the north and the Dikes 3, 4 and 5 flowages to the south. It crosses a water transfer ditch running from the refuge east of the trail to the Dikes 4 and 5 Flowage.

Southwest of the trail once was the sight of one of three carpet camps that existed in the wildlife area from shortly before World War I to the Great Depression’s early years. At that time, the Crex Carpet Company owned much of what is now the wildlife area, harvesting the sedge to make grass carpets and wicker furniture.

In fact, Crex Meadows garnered its name from that entrepreneurial era. The carpet company took its appellation from sedge grass’ scientific name, Carex, shortening it to Crex. Local residents called the marshes “meadows,” so when the carpet company was there, the area became “Crex Meadows.”

Nothing remains of Camp Five south of the trail – or of any of the other camps in what is now the wildlife area. Building foundations for Camp 6 still exist at the Fish Lake Wildlife Area southwest of Grantsburg, however.

Potholes created for ducks
As the trail nears West Refuge Road, watch for ducks, herons and kingfishers in the skies. Wildlife area officials bulldozed potholes, or small ponds, for ducks to nest alongside the road. In all, about 300 potholes exist across Crex Meadows.

Logs can be seen floating in a number of the potholes. Ducks like these loafing logs for preening and sleeping, while herons and kingfishers – as well as turtles and frogs – feed or sunbathe on them.

Where the trail meets Wild Refuge Road, to the west lies a 2,400-acre wildlife refuge that is closed to people. Migrating waterfowl come to the refuge by the thousands during spring and autumn.

As the flowages are human constructions, water levels in the wildlife area can be raised and lowered. The management pool on the road’s opposite side is lowered during waterfowl migrations to create shallow ponds and mud flats; this makes feeding on aquatic insects and various other invertebrates easier for the migrating birds.

Read more about day hiking Crex Meadows in my Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking Crex Meadows Wildlife Area guidebook.

Observe waterfowl nesting islands on trail

Trumpeter swans take flight at Crex Meadows.

A number of flowages at Crex Meadows host islands perfect of nesting waterfowl. You can spot a few of those rookeries by hiking the North Fork Flowage Trail.

To reach the trailhead, from the County Roads F and D intersection, head east on County Road D. In about three miles, turn left onto East Refuge Road. Just north of the junction with N. Fork Dike Road, park at the lot on the road’s east side for the Upper Phantom Flowage Trail. Walk north on East Refuge Road and take the first jeep trail heading right/east to North Fork Flowage.

The out-and-back trail runs about 0.75 miles round trip to a boat landing on North Fork Flowage’s northwest shore. This mileage includes the walk along East Refuge Road to the trailhead.

From the boat landing, you’ll see islands to the southeast in the middle of the flowage. Crex Meadows regularly burns the islands’ vegetation to ensure they remains grassy rather than covered by woody brush. This creates a better environment for waterfowl nesting.

Predators such as raccoons, skunks and foxes will feed on eggs or hatchlings in rookeries. The islands, however, provide protection against such predators. Ducks and geese mainly use the habitats as rookeries.

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

Man’s effect on ecosystem visible on trail

A beautiful blue lake in front of a massive sedge meadow await day hikers on the brief Reed Lake Trail in Wisconsin’s Crex Meadows Wildlife Area.

The trail sits in Crex Meadow’s remote northeast corner. To reach it, from the visitor center take County Road F north. After passing Currey Pond, turn right/east onto Reed Lake Road. Past North Refuge Road, a jeep trail heads right/south to Reed Lake. Drive the trail to the lake’s northshore, where there’s a parking lot.

Hike the jeep trail back to Reed Lake Road then to the parking lot for an easy 0.45-mile round trip.

Pine-oak forest
On the trail’s west side is a pine-oak forest. That’s a much different habitat than existed here before pioneers arrived during the late 1800s.

At that time, the forest was a brush-prairie consisting mainly of brush grasses and forbs with a few scattered red and jack pines. Because settlers did not allow wildfires, the brush-prairie community that depended upon such blazes to maintain itself gave way to woodlands.

The sedge meadow south of the trail and Reed Lake stretches for more than three miles. In such wetlands, the soil is saturated with moisture with the water table very close to the surface.

While a variety of plants grow in these meadows, sedge often dominates. Though similar in appearance from a distance, sedge tends to be triangular and solid while grasses generally are hollow cylinders.

Sand blow
Following the hike, drive to the observation platform on the side of the sedge meadow east of the lake (Take Reed Lake Road east and turn south on James Road; the platform is less than a quarter mile on the right/west side.). The platform overlooks a sand blow.

The site sits atop about 80 feet of sand left by a glacial lake that covered Crex Meadows at the end of the last ice age. Pioneers tried to farm this area shortly after 1850, leaving behind asparagus, box elder trees, and the sand dune. Since pioneers disturbed the soil, wind whips up the sand granules, preventing mosses and grasses from taking root. A house once stood on the sand dune.

Read more about day hiking Crex Meadows in my Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking Crex Meadows Wildlife Area guidebook.

Trail offers view of migrating sandhill cranes

Sandhill crane. Photo courtesy of Wisconsin DNR.

YCC Hiking Trail loops through wildlife area

Day hikers can view waterfowl galore inhabiting Crex Meadow Wildlife Area’s vast wildlife reserve from an observation platform along the YCC Hiking Trail.

The YCC Trail runs 0.75 miles in a loop. Autumn marks the best time to visit, as sandhill cranes and other migrating waterfowl are plentiful in the reserve and the Rest Area Flowage the northern part of the trail passes through. Bug populations also are down as cooler temperatures take hold.

To reach the trail, from Grantsburg follow the signs and yellow crane painted on the roadway north to the intersection of County Roads F and D. Turn right onto County Road D. After about three miles, turn left/north onto East Refuge Road. In another four miles, turn left/west onto North Refuge Road. Past the Monson Road junction, look for the rest area on the right side. Parking is available there.

Observation platform
The trailhead begins near the restrooms. Head clockwise or west through the woods.

About a quarter of a mile in, at the trail’s southwestern corner, a short stem trail leads to an observation platform, which looks out onto Reisinger Lake and the Crex Meadows State Wildlife Refuge.

The refuge, which people aren’t allowed to enter, annually attracts an amazing number of migrating birds. During mid-October, thousands of ducks and geese and up to 10,000 cranes inhabit the refuge.

To help attract waterfowl and other wildlife to the refuge, the state plants about 120 acres of corn, rye, buckwheat and other plants east of Reisinger Lake.

The platform offers a great spot to see the migrating waterfowl. Be sure to bring binoculars.

Picnic lunch
Standing atop it also will give you a good sense of what the area looked like before pioneers arrived in the late 1800s. Much of this region was prairie and wetlands that has been restored during the past few decades.

From the stem to the platform, the trail loops through the southern end of the Rest Area Flowage. It returns to the rest area, where you can enjoy a picnic lunch; picnic tables and fire grates are available. Camping also is permitted at the rest area Sept. 1-Dec. 30 with registration required at the Visitor Center.

The trail is named for the Youth Conservation Corps, which provides high school students with hands-on outdoor experiences during the summer. A YCC camp is located outside of Grantsburg.

Read more about day hiking Crex Meadows in my Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking Crex Meadows Wildlife Area guidebook.

‘Hikes’ author’s sixth ‘Hittin’ the Trail’ guidebook released today

The sixth ebook in my Hittin’ the Trail guidebook series – Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking Crex Meadows Wildlife Area – went on sale today. The book describes more than two dozen trails in the northwest Wisconsin wildlife area that’s internationally recognized as a major stopover for migrating waterfowl, particularly the sandhill crane. The title is available in Kindle, Nook, iBook, Kobo, Sony Reader and other formats.

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

Begin (or end) Crex Meadows visit with walk

Birdhouses on Norm Stone Prairie Trail

A great way to begin – or end – any day hike at Northwest Wisconsin’s Crex Meadows Wildlife Area is with a stop at the visitor center. As part of that visit, enjoy a brief walk on the Norm Stone Prairie Trail.

To reach the center, turn onto County D at its junction with County Road F then take the very first left. It offers exhibits on Crex Meadows’ history and a gift shop as well as a library, auditorium and classrooms. The prairie trail sits in front of the center.

Only a couple of dozen yards in length, the handicapped accessible trail circles a garden of prairie plants. Throughout spring and summer, the varied wildflower blossoms make for spectacular displays and attract a number of butterflies from a variety of species, including some that migrate.

Most of the grasses and wildflowers are native to Wisconsin. Since the original seeding, some non-native species have taken root. Interpretive signs give names of the plants.

You’re also certain to notice the tall post of bird houses towering over the gardens. Bluebirds and flickers nest there.

Read more about day hiking Crex Meadows in my Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking Crex Meadows Wildlife Area guidebook.

Array of waterfowl await hikers on lake trail

Eastern trailhead, off of East Refuge Road,
for Phantom Lake Trail.

Day hikers can walk to the largest body of water – a 2,000 acre lake teeming with birds from spring through autumn – at Crex Meadows Wildlife Area via the Phantom Lake Trail.

A pleasant day in August or early September marks the best opportunity to see a variety of waterfowl and their spring chicks.

To reach the trailhead, from the County Roads F and D junction, take County Road D east. Turn left/north onto East Refuge Road. Just after Lundquist Road, park in the southern lot for the Upper Phantom Flowage Trail. Backtrack on East Refuge Road and take the jeep trail going west.

The 1.2-mile out-and-back trail (2.4-miles round trip) heads through a wooded area then skirts a wetlands before reaching the southeast edge of Phantom Lake, Crex Meadows’ largest waterbody.

Before the mid-1950s, no lake existed here. Instead, it was a shallow marsh until when farmers drained it to create fields in the early 1900s.

That changed in 1954, though, with the construction of a 2.6-mile long dike so that waterfowl would have a protected wetland to use. Phantom Lake Road on the flowage’s west side runs atop that dike.

Much of Crex Meadows follows the same history – a wetlands drained for farming then converted to a set of flowages. Since the end of World War II, earthmovers have constructed more than 23 miles of dikes, creating 30 flowages that total 8000 acres in size, at the wildlife area.

Today, Phantom Lake – like Crex Meadows’ other flowages – is the perfect spot to view waterfowl.

Beginning in spring, watch for red-necked grebes, which typically nest southeast of Phantom Lake. Marsh wrens, yellow-headed black birds, and even the least bittern nest in stands of cattails and bulrush near the flowage.

From May through August, you can expect to spot trumpeter swans, as well as baby geese and ducks with their parents. Be aware that the adult geese can squawk and chase to protect their young, so don’t too get too close to the brood.

During June through August, watch for swans, geese and ducks flying over the flowage’s northern half. What may be Wisconsin’s largest wild rice stand grows there and serves as a major food source for the three species and other birds.

By August, the wild rice stand spreads across the entire flowage. From then through autumn, the mature rice seeds attract large populations of blackbirds, coots, ducks and rails.

Upon reaching the lake’s southeastern edge, the jeep trail turns to a gravel road. Continue on to the boat landing, which marks a good turnaround spot.

Read more about day hiking Crex Meadows in my Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking Crex Meadows Wildlife Area guidebook.

Enjoy Northwoods day hike on Ice Age Trail

Only a few miles of the 1200-mile Ice Age National Scenic Trail cross Burnett County, Wisconsin, and then only in its very remote southeast corner. Still, it’s worth the drive, especially for those seeking a walk among Northwoods autumn leaves.

An accessible Burnett County section for a day hike runs south of the Clam River State Fishery Area from Horseshoe Lake to just north of Offers Lake. This segment can shortened into a roughly 3-mile round-trip day hike, though.

To reach the trailhead, from Siren, Wis., take County Road B east. After driving several miles, turn right/south onto County Road H. Then turn left/east onto Boyd Road. In about a mile, you'll come to the trail, which is on either side of the road. Park well off the shoulder; there is no parking lot, but the road is little traveled.

Head north onto a mixed hardwoods forest, which makes for a pretty walk in autumn. The trail gradually descends a couple of hundred feet over a half-mile.

The Ice Age National Scenic Trail essentially follows the edge of where the glacier last seen in these parts towered some 10,000 years ago. Much of Burnett County's terrain – from kettle lakes caused by melted glacier chunks to the flat sandy soil that is the remnant of Glacial Lake Grantsburg – were created during the last ice age.

After rounding a ridgeline, you'll begin traveling southeast on fairly level terrain.

In a little more than a half-mile from there, you’ll reach the South Fork Clam River, a Class I trout stream. This marks a good spot to turn back.

Be sure to bring insect repellent, as there are marshy areas along the way, especially near the river.

Read more about Wisconsin's family friendly day hiking trails in Headin' to the Cabin.