Hike heads through rare Wis. sand prairie

The threatened red-shouldered hawks can be found in the sand prairies and
oak openings of Wisconsin's lower Chippewa River.

Topo map of  Lower Chippewa River State Natural
Area footpath.

Day hikers can explore a rare savanna and prairie in western Wisconsin at the Lower Chippewa River State Natural Area.

The state natural area actually consists of several disconnected sites along the Chippewa River, stretching across three counties. Many of those sites are inaccessible, but one interesting area than can be walked is northwest of Caryville and makes for an interesting 0.4-miles round trip hike.

To reach the trailhead, from Wis. Hwy. 85 in Caryville, take County Road H north. Turn left/west into the state natural area's parking lot; if you cross the Chippewa River bridge, you've driven too far.

While there’s no designated trail, an out-and-back footpath through the sand prairie and oak openings runs straight from the parking lot’s southwest corner to a small, sparse grove of trees; simply follow the line of the tallest trees in the grass to the grove about 0.2 miles from the lot.

When Europeans first arrived in Wisconsin, the state has more than 7.7 million acres of native prairie; most of it was plowed under for fields or built on for homes. Today, a mere 8000 acres remain.

The LCRSNAs aim to preserve Wisconsin’s few remaining prairies and savannas along the Lower Chippewa River. The collection along the river contains a full 25 percent of Wisconsin's existing prairies and savannas.

Such state natural areas protect a wide range of disappearing animals. In fact, six state-threatened species – the Acadian flycatcher, cerulean, hooded and Kentucky warblers, red-shouldered hawk, and yellow-crowned night heron – all can be found in the LCRSNA. It is one of three places remaining in the world where the endangered Pecatonica River mayfly still exists. Meanwhile, the rare blue suckers, crystal darters, goldeyes, and the paddlefish prefer sections of the Chippewa and Red Cedar rivers next to prairies and savannas.

Upon reaching the grove, turn back for the parking lot.

A segment of the Chippewa River State Trail also runs along the southern edge of the same state natural area.

Learn more about nearby day hiking trails in my Day Hiking Trails of the Chippewa Valley guidebook.

Day (er, Night) hike trail through Midwest’s most haunted swampland in Wisconsin

Bird's-eye view of Chippewa River bottoms
along Chippewa River State Trail northeast
of Meridean; photo courtesy of WI DNR.

Drowned girl seeks to lure you into
watery grave on Chippewa River

The spirits of children, a dead high school prom queen, and hellhounds await night hikers on a segment of the Chippewa River State Trail in west-central Wisconsin.

Tucked in the southwest corner of Dunn County may be among the Midwest’s most haunted regions. A 5-mile round trip hike through the Chippewa River swamps offers just a small sample of those specters.

To reach the trail, from Wis. Hwy. 85 between Eau Claire and Durand, turn north onto County Road O. Upon entering the crossroads town of Meridean, continue past 160th Avenue onto the dirt Ferry Road. Park at its terminus, the site of the former Meridean boat landing.

Mary Dean
The spirit of a young girl named Mary Dean, who the village is named after, allegedly haunts the landing. She died on a ship traversing the river and was buried nearby. These days, the girl’s ghost allegedly tries to encourage passersby to save her. Like the Greek Sirens of old, though, her goal is to lead you to a watery grave.

Topo map, Chippewa River State Trail, Meridean section.

Walk Ferry Road back to the Chippewa River State Trail, turning left/northeast into farmland. Should the local farmer have planted corn, listen closely for the sound of laughing children. Several stories have been told of ghosts of children playing in corn fields across the area.

And when entering wooded areas, keep a watch for hellhounds – ethereal, black dogs with glowing red dogs – whose snarls and howls allegedly have been heard here.

At the 1.7-mile mark, the trail veers east, paralleling a back channel of the river. Keep a lookout for headlights gazing up at you from the water. An intoxicated high school prom queen allegedly drowned in the river after driving her car into it.

Ghosts of running children
Atop the hill across the river is Sand Hill Cemetery. About 20 graves there is the last resting place of people who died on nearby Meridean Island. Ghosts of running children have been seen in the fields around the cemetery. Others have reported balls of light hovering over the cemetery or hearing their names called from it. And those hellhounds are there, too.

Among the other supernatural legends in the area are a schoolhouse haunted by a boy who allegedly froze to death there and of a haunted church in nearby Caryville where a priest hung himself. Both of those stories appear to be apocryphal, however.

At 2.5 mile mark, the trail comes to shoreline of backchannel for the Chippewa River. This marks a good spot to return back.

Be careful when driving back to civilization, though. Remember that drowned prom queen? Sometimes she plays chicken with drivers, her phantom headlights heading right for you then disappearing just before smashing into your vehicle.

Learn more about Chippewa Valley day hiking trails in my Day Hiking Trails of the Chippewa Valley guidebook.