See carnivorous plants, old forest on trail

Thick evergreen groves line a segment of the Forest Lodge Nature Trail.

Route heads through several ecosystems

Among the best hikes to learn about the Wisconsin Northwoods is the Forest Lodge Nature Trail, east of Cable in southern Bayfield County. Located in the Chequamegon National Forest, the 1.5-mile loop is maintained in cooperation with the Cable Natural History Museum.

Any dry summer day is excellent for hiking the trail, and fall colors are spectacular with trees usually remaining golden until the third week in October.

To reach the trail, take County Road M for about 8.6 miles east of Cable. Turn left/north on Garmish Road. The trailhead is a mile later on the road’s right/south side.

From the parking lot, head straight south into an old field. If you turn left, you’ll end up on the neighboring Conservancy Trail.

Spruce, bog, white pine
While fairly flat, the trail does narrow from four- to two-feet wide upon reaching the woods. The forested section of the trail sports some rough tread as well.

The trail rambles through a number of ecosystems, offering a mini-walk through the region’s natural history.

Among the ecosystems is a lowland bog, surrounded by spruce and slender-stemmed cotton grass. Here you’ll also find the carnivorous bog-dwelling pitcher plant.

Another ecosystem – now rare for northern Wisconsin – is of old-growth white pines. During the 1880s when pioneers settled the area, the white pine dominated; after being logged off, hardwoods replaced them.

A good portion of the trail is a newer upland hardwood forest. Chipmunks are abundant there.

Giant boulders
One element of the landscape hasn’t changed, though: glacial erratics. These are boulders and rocks brought here during the last ice age that are different in color and composition than those “native” to the area.

Hikers also will walk through a grove of hemlocks, which looks like a scene out of a fairy tale, and an experimental prairie.

An excellent way to identify and learn more about these sights is the interpretive booklet available at the Cable Natural History Museum, located in Cable at 13470 County Road M (check ahead for hours).

If time and energy permits, consider adding the two-mile Conservancy Trail to your hike. That trail is more varied in terrain with some hill climbing.

Read more about nearby hikes in my Day Hiking Trails of Bayfield County guidebook.

7 great day hikes in Cable, Wis., region

View from atop St. Peter's Dome.

Imagine a place where you can hike sandy beaches and enjoy fantastic vistas of the world’s largest freshwater lake, a place of towering pines that bald eagles fly over and black bears scamper beneath, a place where you can explore sea caves or hike across billion-year-old red rock. The place is real – it’s called Bayfield County, Wisconsin.

If Wisconsin were a mitten, Bayfield County would be the peak of the four fingers. With much of it a peninsula, it boasts more shoreline on Lake Superior than any other Wisconsin county. It also offers dozens of miles of trails for those who love hiking.

A gateway to Bayfield County, many traveling to points north pass through this village. A number of travelers make the village their destination as well, and for good reason. The Chequamegon National Forest stretches to the north and east while the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway heads to the southwest into Saywer and Washburn counties.

Among the village’s highlights is the Birkebeiner Trail, which though mainly used for skiing, also can be hiked during other seasons.

Popular day hiking trails in the Cable area include:
g Birkebeiner Trail
g Forest Lodge Nature Trail
g Morgan Falls St. Peter’s Dome Trail
g Namekagon Dam Landing Trail
g Roundup of Cable area trails
g Site of Wisconsin’s first Thanksgiving
g West Torch Trail

Read more about day hiking Bayfield County, Wisconsin, in my Day Hiking Trails of Bayfield County guidebook.

Great day hiking trails surround Cable, Wis.

Forest Road 1919B, route to site of Wisconsin's first Thanksgiving.

Bayfield County ranks among Wisconsin’s most popular tourism destinations, attracting skiers, boaters, campers and sightseers. It also offers dozens of miles of trails for those who love hiking.

Consisting mainly of forestland and lakeshore, each Bayfield County village feels like a quaint throwback to years past. Only one of them boasts a population close to 3000 people.

Ten villages can be found there, with the majority of them hugging the lakeshore or a county line. Among them is Cable.

In southern Bayfield County sits this village of some 800-plus people, which the American Hiking Society named a charter “Trail Town USA” and for good reason: To Cable’s north and east is the Chequamegon National Forest while to the south and east is the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway along the Namekagon River tributary, making the community a major gateway to outdoors activities in Bayfield County.

Among those activities is the American Birkebeiner cross-country skiing race, which starts here and ends in nearby Hayward. Cable also is the finish line for the annual Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival mountain bike race.

Popular day hiking trails in the Cable area include:
g Forest Lodge Nature Trail
g Morgan Falls St. Peter’s Dome Trail
g Namekagon Dam Landing Trail
g Roundup of Cable area rails
g Site of Wisconsin’s first Thanksgiving
g West Torch Trail

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

Opening section of famous north Wisconsin ski route makes for great summer hike

Birkebeiner Trail system (Note: Map is missing the recently
added Birkie Ridge Trail and trailhead north of Norrthern
Lights Road.).

Birkebeiner Trail system runs for 66 miles between Cable and Hayward

Though known primarily for the annual ski race held on it, Wisconsin’s massive Birkebeiner Trail system also makes a great hiking route in summer.

With more than 66 miles of trails, all maintained by the nonprofit American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation, “The Birkie Trail,” as its fans affectionately call it, offers multiple trailheads, loops and variations between Cable and Hayward. One segment that’s easy to locate and hike is the Birkie’s opening section, a 2.6-mile round trip when treated as an out-and-back trail.

Classic Northern hardwoods
To reach the trailhead, in Cable from County Road M go south onto Randysek Road. After crossing the Namekagon River, turn left/east onto McNaught Road. Drive about 1.7 miles then park to the side of one of the mowed paths on the road’s left/north side.

After walking through the treeline, the Cable Union Airport comes into the view. The trail heads west from the airport.

Built for bicycling and cross-country skiing races, Birkie Ridge is wide and void of roots and stones.

The entire opening segment of the trail runs through a classic Northern hardwoods forest of sugar maple, basswood, beech, white ash, and yellow birch, making for a colorful autumn walk. Hemlock and fir also appear in the mix.

The opening segment also sits inside the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. The Namekagon River, protected by the National Park Service unit, flows north of the trail on its way to Hayward.

Forty-plus years in the making
The entire Birkie trail system is a 40-plus year project in the making. The first cross-country ski race was held on it in 1973; today, it’s the largest race of its kind in North America, attracting about 10,000 participants and 15,000 spectators.

Northwoods promoter Tony Wise is largely credited with starting the race and helping to popularize modern-day cross-country skiing. In 1972, he built cross-country trails at his Telemark Ski Area near Cable then a year later started the Birkie race.

The Birkie trail system gets its name from Norway’s Birkebeinerrennet cross-country event, which commemorates when skiers in 1206 AD smuggled the king’s illegitimate son to safety during a civil war. The skiers were soldiers in the Birkebiener party.

Upon reaching the power line, the trail veers southeast and crosses McNaught Road. The power line marks a good point to turn back.

Be aware that mountain bikers and joggers also use the Birkie. There’s plenty of space for both, but on race days the trail system will be closed to hikers; check www.birkie.com/trail to see when events are planned.

Read more about day hiking Bayfield County, Wisconsin, in my Day Hiking Trails of Bayfield County guidebook.

Latest Hittin’ the Trail guidebooks to premiere at Authors’ Market

I’ll unveil my latest two Hittin’ the Trail guidebooks, Day Hiking Trails of Bayfield County and Day Hiking Trails of Sawyer County at Redbery Books in Cable, Wis., on Sunday, Dec. 7.

Each book describes more than a hundred day hiking trails in their respective counties and the communities surrounding them. They mark the eighth and ninth books in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

The unveiling will be held during Redbery Books’ Authors’ Market, which features eight authors from, or who have written about, the Cable area. The market runs from 1 to 3 p.m.; Redbery Books is located at 43455 Kavanaugh Road, in scenic downtown Cable.

Both new hiking guidebook, as well as my other titles, will be available for sale at Redbery Books during the event.

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

Newest segment of Birkie heads through classic northern woods

Birkie Ridge Trail makes
for colorful autumn day hike

Though known primarily for the annual ski race held on it, Wisconsin’s massive Birkebeiner Trail system also makes a great hiking route in summer.

With more than 66 miles of trails, all maintained by the nonprofit American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation, “The Birkie Trail,” as its fans affectionately call it, offers multiple trailheads, loops and variations. One segment that’s easy to locate and hike is the 2.9-mile round trip Birkie Ridge Trail.

A new trail in the system, Birkie Ridge opened in August 2013. The Birkie system runs between Hayward and Cable with this segment in Sawyer County just south of the Bayfield County line.

To reach a trailhead in Sawyer County, from Hayward take U.S Hwy. 63 north. After passing the Northern Lights Road junction, the trailhead with parking lot is on the left/east.

Trail system decades in the making
The trail heads south from the lot then quickly turns east. Built for cross-country skiing and bicycling races, Birkie Ridge is wide and boasts erosion mats beneath its surface.

All of Birkie Ridge sits in a classic Northern hardwoods forest of sugar maple, basswood, beech, white ash, and yellow birch, making for a colorful autumn walk. During the first 0.3 miles of the hike, hemlock and fir is more common in the tree mix.

About 1.2 miles in, the trail reaches a loop. Go right/southeast on a route that meanders through the woods.

The entire Birkie trail system is a 40-plus year project in the making. The first cross-country ski race was held on it in 1973; today, it’s the largest race of its kind in North America, attracting about 10,000 participants and 15,000 spectators.

At 1.9 miles, the loop reaches a stem trail that connects to the Birkie Trail, which leads to other routes in the system. Upon reaching the stem’s end, turn back. The stem trail runs 0.15 miles.

How the trail got its name
Northwoods promoter Tony Wise is largely credited with starting the race and helping to popularize modern-day cross-country skiing. In 1972, he built cross-country trails at his Telemark Ski Area near Cable then started the Birkie race a year later.

Upon reaching the loop’s eastern terminus, go right/northwest to add a little variety to the hike.

The Birkie trail system gets its name from Norway’s Birkebeinerrennet cross-country event, which commemorates when skiers in 1206 AD smuggled the king’s illegitimate son to safety during a civil war. The skiers were soldiers in the Birkebiener Party.

About two-thirds of a mile later, the loop reaches its western terminus. Go straight/west and retrace your steps back to the parking lot.

Be aware that the Birkie also is used by mountain bikers and joggers. There’s plenty of space for both, but on race days the trail system will be closed to hikers; check www.birkie.com/trail to see when events are planned.

Read more about day hiking Sawyer County, Wisconsin, in my Day Hiking Trails of Sawyer County guidebook.

Walk along bluff overlooking Namekagon

Though Lake Namakagon is known for its trophy muskies
(above), the Namekagon River is a popular sturgeon habitat.
Illustration courtesy of WI Legislative Reference Bureau.

Day hikers can walk along the headwaters of Wisconsin’s Namekagon River on a trail in the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway easternmost tip.

The 1.3-mile round trip Namekagon Dam Landing Trail is located in the southwest corner of the Chequamegon National Forest. June through September mark the best months to hike the trail.

To reach the trailhead, from Cable, Wis., take County Road M east. In about eight miles and after entering the national forest, turn left/north onto Dam Road/Forest Road 211. After crossing the Namekagon, take the first right, which heads to a small dam. A parking lot is located there.

The dam backs up the river into a flowage that heads east to Lake Namakagon (note the different spelling from the river). The 2,897-acre glacial lake in southern Bayfield County boasts 43.67 miles of shoreline. One of only three managed trophy muskie lakes in Wisconsin, it reaches a depth of 38 feet and even has islands.

From the dam, hike back up to Dam Road, go left, and walk alongside the asphalt back across the bridge. The bridge’s corner offers a great view of the dam to the east and the narrow river to the west, which runs for 101 miles to the St. Croix River.

Continue walking south on Dam Road. In about a thousand feet from the bridge, turn right/northwest onto Forest Road 1730. The jeep trail follows the top of the bluff overlooking the Namekagon. The bluff line runs anywhere from 20 to 40 feet higher than the river, which sits at a fairly even 1400 feet above sea level.

The trail heads beneath a canopy of mixed Northern hardwoods. During autumn, it makes for a fantastic display of golds and oranges accented with reds and dark evergreens.

The river below, nestled in a fen forest, is popular with canoeists and kayakers during summer. A series of small rapids can be found about two miles below the dam; after the rapids, the river widens, and the fen forest gives way to open marsh.

On the bluff line trail, in about 350 feet from Dam Road, you’ll cross a creek that flows into the Namekagon. Watch for beaver, which create ponds out of the stream and wetlands. Sometimes on the main river, beaver dams even will stop the paddlers.

In about a thousand feet from the creek, the trail ends at a high point of 1439 feet. From there, go back the way you came.

During early to mid-summer, be sure to carry insect repellent. Also, note that official maps do not call this the Namekagon Dam Landing Trail; the name is a convention for this site.

Read more about day hiking Sawyer County, Wisconsin, in my Day Hiking Trails of Sawyer County guidebook.

‘Hikes’ author wraps up summer book tour at Redbery Books

Reading at Redbery Books

Thanks to Redbery Books for hosting Meet the Author on Sunday in Cable, Wis. During the event – which featured 10 Northwoods authors – I read from my forthcoming book of hiking essays, “Trails and Trials: Journeys of a Father and Son.” The event wraps up my summer book promotional tour for Headin’ to the Cabin: Day Hiking Trails of Northwest Wisconsin. Here are photos from the event.

Read more about day hiking Northwest Wisconsin in my Headin’ to the Cabin guidebook.

'Hikes' author speaking at Redbery's Annual Authors’ Market

I’ll be reading from one of my books at Redbery's Annual Authors’ Market in Cable, Wis., on Sunday, Sept. 29, from 1 to 3 p.m. Several regional Wisconsin authors will be on hand to meet with fans and readers, including:
g Jim Brakken, “Thor Loken & the Death of Chief Namakagon”
g Cheri Olson, “Surviving the Teen Driving Years”
g Julie Buckles, “Paddling to Winter”
g Anne Miller, “Mashkiki Rapids”
g Rob Bignell (Yours truly!), Headin' to the Cabin
g Jay Thurston, “Following in the Footsteps of Ernest Hemingway”
g Darby Nelson, “For Love of Lakes”
g Gary Nei and Ros Nelson, “Cow in the Road, Bear in the House”
g John Leighton, “Paradise View: Collected Poems”
The event will be held at the Rivers Eatery, 43455 Kavanaugh Road.

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

Day hikers will find plenty to like in ‘Trail Town USA’

Birkie Ridge Trail, south of Cable, Wis.

There’s good reason that the American Hiking Society named the Cable, Wis., area a charter “Trail Town USA.” Several excellent trials can be found in the region:
g Birkebeiner Trail – Known primarily for the annual ski race held on the trail, the Birkie also makes a great hiking route in summer and can be accessed at either the Telemark Resort or the North End Cabin. A pass is needed to use the trail.
g Forest Lodge Nature Trail – The trail established by the Cable Natural History Museum runs 1.5 miles but can be extended to 2 miles. Pick up the excellent interpretive booklet to learn about the forest and its past.
g Namekagon Trail East Loop – Located northeast of town in the Chequamegon National Forest, the 1-mile East Loop of this three-loop trail can be hiked in summer. You’re very likely to hear and possibly even spot Northwoods wildlife along the walk.
g North End Trail – South of town, this ski trail in winter is often day hiked the other seasons. Consisting of several crisscrossing routes, combine the Ridge and Bear Paw loops for a 1.6-mile walk.
g Rock Lake Trail – Narrow loops of varying lengths run through the Chequamegon around Rock, Frels and Hildebrand lakes. Hiking is best on the segments running from Forest Road 207 to any of these waterbodies.

Read more about day hiking Bayfield County, Wisconsin, in my Day Hiking Trails of Bayfield County guidebook.

Redbery Books in Cable, Wis., carrying variety of my hiking books

Redbery Books in Cable, Wis., is carrying three of my hiking books, Headin’ to the Cabin: Day Hiking Trails of Northwest Wisconsin, Hikes with Tykes: A Practical Guide to Day Hiking with Kids, and Hikes with Tykes: Games and Activities. My most recent of the three books, Headin’ to the Cabin describes more than a 100 day hiking trails in Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Polk, St. Croix, Sawyer and Washburn counties, including more than two dozen in the Cable area. Redbery Books is an independently owned store located at 43455 Kavanaugh Road in Cable.

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