Top fall trails in east-central Wisconsin, Pt. I

Potawatomi State Park, Wisconsin

There’s no better way to experience autumn colors around east-central 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 east-central Wisconsin to hike. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.

Brown County
A grove of cottonwoods awaits hikers on the Woodcock (Blue) Trail at Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve in Suamico. The 0.75-mile trail heads north from the interpretive center and curves around a small pond in the preserve’s northwest corner. During autumn, it’s a gloriously beautiful walk, as the tall eastern cottonwoods – which are largely absent in this part of Wisconsin – turn a bright yellow. From U.S. Hwy. 141 in Suamico, take Lineville Road east. Turn left/north onto County Road J/Lakeview Drive and then right/east into the preserve. Park at the center.

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Hikers can head through a remnant of the great oak forests that once covered all of Brown County. The 1.15-mile round trip McMahon Woods Trail sits in the Cofrin Memorial Arboretum, which surrounds the UW-Green Bay campus. The trail runs alongside McMahon Creek, which flows into nearby Green Bay. Russet-colored oaks dominate the McMahon Woods' uplands while colorful sugar maples can be found in the understory. Fifty-nine different trees and shrubs can be seen along the trail. From Wis. Hwy. 57, take Nicolet Drive north. Turn right/southeast onto South Circle Drive. Roadside parking is available along the road’s first curve.

Calumet County
Day hikers can enjoy great views of Lake Winnebago atop a ridge on the Red Bird Trail at High Cliff State Park. The mostly level 3.4-mile trail runs along the ancient Niagara Escarpment’s western edge. Autumn offers the opportunity to see the lake through a northern wet-mesic forest, which offers the evergreen of northern white-cedar, Balsam fir and spruce, the yellows of black ash, the light orange of speckled alder, and the reds of mountain maple. A bonus is an observation tower you can climb to see the canopy and lake from above. From the park’s entrance road (State Park Road) turn left/southeast onto Lower Cliff Road. Next, go left/northeast on High Cliff Road. Park in the observation tower lot.

Door County
Day hikers can enjoy great autumn colors on the Tower Trail at Potawatomi State Park in scenic Door County. The 3.5-miles loop traverses the state park’s northern end. Part of the trail is the eastern terminus of the nearly 1200-mile Ice Age National Scenic Trail that crosses Wisconsin. The trail is among the best in Wisconsin to see fall leaves. The reds, oranges and yellows of maple, the amber and oranges of beech, and the olive of American basswood all light the trail with the brilliant blue waters of Sturgeon Bay in the background at vistas. From Wis. Hwys. 42/57 on Sturgeon Bay’s west side, head north on Park Road. The park is in a little over a mile; turn right/east into it on Entrance Road. At North Norway Road, turn left/north. After passing the North Camp Area, the park road intersects with Shoreline Road. A parking lot is at the intersection. From the lot, hike north alongside Shoreline Road. The Tower Trail crosses the road in about 330 feet.

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Hikers can enjoy majestic views of blue Green Bay and the yellow and orange leaves of a blufftop forest at Ellison Bay Bluff County Park. An unnamed 1-mile trail loops through a woods of sugar maple, white ash, red oak, birch and beech. A spur trail leads to an observation deck at the edge of the 100-foot high limestone bluff. An enclosed catwalk extends outward from the bluff; walking on it will make you feel like you’re flying. From Ellison Bay, take Wis. Hwy. 42 south. Turn right/west onto Porcupine Bay Road then right/north onto Ellison Bluff Road. The road loops through the park; leave your vehicle in the lot on the loops’ southwest side.

Fond Du Lac County
Golden tamaracks circle the shores of Mauthe Lake in the Kettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit every October and November. The 2-mile Tamarack Nature Trail hugs the lake’s northweastern shore and then rambles over the nearby ice age-shaped terrain. Though tamaracks look like pine trees, their needles turn color and fall off like leaves on deciduous trees. From Campbellsport, take Wis. Hwy. 67 east. Turn right south on County Road SS then right/south on County Road GGG. Take the first right/west into the Mauthe Lake Recreation Area. The trail begins near the Mauthe Lake Beach and loops around the waterbody via the Ice Age National Scenic Trail and the Lake to Lake Bike Trail.

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Hikers can explore the autumn beauty of a creek along the bottom of a deep ravine at Hobbs Woods Nature Area. The Main Trail Loop plus the access trail to it runs 1.31 miles on both sides of Parsons Creek, crossing it twice and a tributary once along the way. The autumn canopy casts a yellow and orange glow over the trail and creek in the 60-acre, thickly wooded county park. From Fond du Lac, take Interstate 41 south. Exit onto County Road B (exit 92), going right/west. Turn right/north onto Wis. Hwy. 175 then left/west onto Hamilton Road and finally left/south onto Hickory Road. The entry to Hobbs Woods is on the left/east.

Kewaunee County
A pretty fall hike along a river awaits on a segment of the Ahnapee State Trail. The 2.25-mile round trip rail-trail between County Road M and Washington Road sits in the Ahnapee River’s wetlands cooridor where migrating birds gather each autumn amid the bronze grasses. On higher ground, look for the willows’ shimmering gold leaves in the breeze, dogwoods’ deep scarlet leaves and berries, and bog birch’s amber. From Algoma, take County Road M north. The parking lot is on the northeast corner of where the the road and trail meet.

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A perfect spot for taking young children to see autumn leaves is a segment of Ice Age National Scenic Trail at the Bruemmer County Park and Zoo near Kewaunee. The trail skirts the park’s northern side, from where it crosses County Road F in the west to the zoo in the east. The trail – including the small zoo’s exhibits – runs about a mile total. Leaves along the trail and at the zoo turn orange, crimson and various yellows. From Kewaunee, head west on Wis. Hwy. 29. Turn right/northwest onto County Road C/Ellis Street. Enter the park by going left/southwest onto County Road F and park at the zoo.

Wis. autumn hikes abound on Lake Michigan

Seven Bridges Trail in Milwaukee.

If living in or traveling 

to a Wisconsin county

along Lake Michigan, plenty of great autumn trails await.

Eleven Wisconsin counties border Lake Michigan – including Green Bay. Maple and beech dominate most forests near the lake,

but several other trees can be found as well. Here are some solid autumn leaf hikes in those counties from south to north:

Kenosha County
Among the best places to see fall colors are streams, where the leaves reflect beautifully against the blue water or brighten a gray sky. Such is the case at Petrifying Springs Park, where an unnamed trail traverses 2 miles (round trip) through a woods and alongside Pike River in the park’s southwest corner. Be sure to take the side trails with footbridges crossing the river, where you can enjoy orange and yellow leaves on trees and shrubs, some of them falling into the water and slowly gliding downstream. In Kenosha, from Wis. Hwy. 31 exit east onto Berryville Road/7th Street. Take the second right/south. Drive 0.17 miles to the second parking lot. Pick up the hiking trail from the paved sidewalk on the lot’s west side, going southwest into the woods.

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Hikers can experience the richly colored orange-red leaves of the hawthorn tree that grows along Pike Creek near Kenosha. The 0.4-mile looping Hawthorn Trail runs in the Hawthorn Hollow Nature Sanctuary and Arboretum. Hawthorns grow from 16 to 49 feet tall, and when more shrub than tree-like, their leaves branch out all around the trunk from the ground to its top. A bonus in autumn: The woods is a major stopover for migrating songbirds. From Kenosha, head north on Wis. Hwy. 31. After crossing Somers Road, turn left/west into the nature sanctuary. Park at the nature center; the trail begins west of it.

Racine County
Day hikers can walk across what used to be a terrace of ancient Lake Michigan and now is a wonderland of harvest colors in autumn. A 1-mile nature trail loops through Sanders Park Hardwoods State Natural Area, which is located within Sanders County Park. Among the highlights are gold-leaved basswood, wine-red white oak, bright-yellow black walnut, russet-colored red oak, lemony white ash, and a brilliant yellow elm-ash stand. From Racine, take Taylor Avenue south. Turn left/southwest onto Wood Avenue then right/east onto Exculpating Road where there’s a parking lot.

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Hikers can enjoy a bird sanctuary undergoing a major transformation at Colonial Park in Racine. The 1-mile round trip Root River Pathway makes two crossings over the waterway on its way to Lincoln Park. Many rare warblers stop in the park during the fall migration. An extensive effort is underway in the park to eliminate invasive species, such as buckthorn, reed canary grass, and garlic mustard, and to restore wetlands as well as replace ash trees ravaged by emerald ash borer. In 2019, a total of 175 small trees – birch and oak – and shrubs – elderberry, hazelnut, chokeberry and nannyberry – were planted in the park’s southern section, making for a great walk in which fall colors are at eye level. From downtown, take State Street west. Turn left/west onto West High Street. The road ends in the park.

Milwaukee County
Day hikers can traverse a wooded ravine with great views of Lake Michigan at Seven Bridges in Grant Park on Milwaukee's South Shore. The 0.4-mile round trip Seven Bridges Trail, with its stone steps and footbridges, makes for a great autumn hike. Along the way are yellow-leafed American beech and birch, amber-, orange- and red-colored maples, and gold to maroon white ash. From the junction of Interstates 94/41 and College Avenue, take the latter east. Go right/south onto South Lake Drive then left/east onto Grant Park Drive. Park in the spaces off the road at the Seven Bridges Trailhead.

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An observation tower offers great views of Lake Michigan and 185 acres of forest right in the Milwaukee metro area. The 0.26-mile Green Tree Accessible Loop at the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center heads through a woods of beech, sugar maple, basswood and red and white oak. On the loop’s northeast side is a 60-foot high tower that you can go to the top of. From Interstate 43, head east on E. Brown Deer Road. Turn right/south onto E. Bay Road and into the center. Park in the lot at the road’s end. Walk east from the road to the trailhead.

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Autumn colors with a view of Lake Michigan awaits at Big Bay Park in Whitefish Bay. A short 0.44-mile round trip path heads along the tree line, atop the bluff, while another heads to the Lake Michigan shore, where there's a concrete pier. In fall, yellow-, olive- and russet-colored leaves brighten the walk. From the intersection of Interstate 43 and West Hampton Road, take the latter east. Turn left/north onto North Lake Drive then right/north onto North Palisades Road. Park on the street.

Ozaukee County
Migrating raptors and fall colors set against the backdrop of beautiful Lake Michigan await at Lion’s Den Gorge Nature Preserve. After passing a wetlands popular with waterfowl, the 2-mile round trip Lion’s Den Trail enters a deep, verdant gorge. Aspen stands and mature white birch with their fluttering yellow leaves abound. The trail then delivers you to a long, secluded beach. From Port Washington, drive south on County Road C/Lake Shore Road. Turn left/east onto High Bluff Drive, which enters the park. When the road becomes a roundabout, park in the first/southern lot.

Sheboygan County
The brilliant colors of sugar maples await hikers at the Maywood-Ellwood H. May Environmental Park in Sheboygan. The 0.25-mile Maple Forest Loop runs through the 135-acre city-owned park. each autumn, the maples' leaves turn amber, orange and crimson. Watch for whitetail deer and the many songbirds that call the park home. From Interstate 43, take exit 128 onto Wis. Hwy 42 and go southeast. Turn right/west onto Mueller Road. Park entrance is on the left/south. The trail leaves from the sugar house next to the Ecology Center.

Manitowoc County
Yellow and orange leaves along a pretty river await hikers on the Henry Schuette Park segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail in Manitowoc. Half of a 1.2-mile loop runs along the wooded Manitowoc River before the waterway spills into Lake Michigan. From U.S. Hwy. 151 in Manitowoc, go north on South 35th Street. Turn left/west onto Meadow Lane, which becomes Broadway Street when it curves north. Park at the playground then take the sidewalk along Broadway north. The trailhead is on the street’s right/east side. Check ahead to ensure the trail is not closed due to high water levels.

Kewaunee County
A pretty fall hike along a river awaits on a segment of the Ahnapee State Trail. The 2.25-mile round trip rail-trail between County Road M and Washington Road sits in the Ahnapee River’s wetlands cooridor where migrating birds gather each autumn amid the bronze grasses. On higher ground, look for the willows’ shimmering gold leaves in the breeze, dogwoods’ deep scarlet leaves and berries, and bog birch’s amber. From Algoma, take County Road M north. The parking lot is on the northeast corner of where the the road and trail meet.

Door County
Hikers can enjoy majestic views of blue Green Bay and the yellow and orange leaves of a blufftop forest at Ellison Bay Bluff County Park. An unnamed 1-mile trail loops through a woods of sugar maple, white ash, red oak, birch and beech. A spur trail leads to an observation deck at the edge of the 100-foot high limestone bluff. An enclosed catwalk extends outward from the bluff; walking on it will make you feel like you’re flying. From Ellison Bay, take Wis. Hwy. 42 south. Turn right/west onto Porcupine Bay Road then right/north onto Ellison Bluff Road. The road loops through the park; leave your vehicle in the lot on the loops’ southwest side.

Brown County
Hikers can head through a remnant of the great oak forests that once covered all of Brown County. The 1.15-mile round trip McMahon Woods Trail sits in the Cofrin Memorial Arboretum, which surrounds the UW-Green Bay campus. The trail runs alongside McMahon Creek, which flows into nearby Green Bay. Russet-colored oaks dominate the McMahon Woods' uplands while colorful sugar maples can be found in the understory. Fifty-nine different trees and shrubs can be seen along the trail. From Wis. Hwy. 57, take Nicolet Drive north. Turn right/southeast onto South Circle Drive. Roadside parking is available along the road’s first curve.

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A grove of cottonwoods awaits hikers on the Woodcock (Blue) Trail at Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve in Suamico. The 0.75-mile trail heads north from the interpretive center and curves around a small pond in the preserve’s northwest corner. During autumn, it’s a gloriously beautiful walk, as the tall eastern cottonwoods – which are largely absent in this part of Wisconsin – turn a bright yellow. From U.S. Hwy. 141 in Suamico, take Lineville Road east. Turn left/north onto County Road J/Lakeview Drive and then right/east into the preserve. Park at the center.

Oconto County
Hikers can head to the county’s highest point for great views of the surrounding forest. The 1.3-mile Butler Rock Trail climbs 160 feet to 1093 feet above sea level. It includes a 0.7-mile spur trail that stays at ground level as circling to the face of Butler Rock in Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. The newly developed trail crosses a forest whose canopy in autumn turns orange, red and yellow-green. From Wis. Hwy. 64 south of Mountain, take Old Hwy. 64/Forest Road 2308 east. Turn left/north onto Butler Rock Road then left/northwest onto Butler Lookout Lane. The trail starts where the road ends.

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Day hikers not bothered by heights can enjoy a spectacular vista of autumn leaves from Mountain Lookout Tower. The 0.26-miles round trip hike sits in the vast Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. The tower is at an elevation of 1,254 feet. The road heads through a classic Northwoods setting that is beautiful any time of the year but particularly so in autumn. A September walk takes you past sugar, red and mountain maples, white, red and black oaks, paper, yellow and river birch, aspen, beech, basswood, and sumac. Various green conifers – including pine, spruce, fir, and juniper – dot the hardwood forest. From the village of Mountain on County Road W just east of Wis. Hwy. 32, take National Forest Road 2106 (Old 32) north. In about 2.25 miles, turn right/southeast onto Mountain Tower Road. Pull off to the side of the road so you’re not blocking traffic. Hike the road up to the tower.

Marinette County
A walk through a forest in the state’s rare Northeast Sands eco landscape awaits hikers at Governor Thompson State Park. The 3.5-mile Forest View Trail loops through a forest of yellow-leafed aspen, orange and red maples, and marigold scrub oak dotted with evergreen jack pine and hemlock. Less than 3 percent of Wisconsin falls into the sands eco landscape. From Crivitz, take County Road W west. Turn right/north onto Parkway Road then left/west onto Ranch Road. Enter the parking by going right/north on Paust Lane. Park in the lot for Woods Lake and walk north alongside Paust Road to the trailhead.

Hike to 150-year-old Great Lakes lighthouse

The Cana Island Lighthouse overlooks Lake Michigan.

Cana Island Lighthouse Walk map. Click for larger version.

Day hikers can explore a lighthouse that has stood sentinel over Lake Michigan for more than 150 years.

The 0.5-mile round trip Cana Island Lighthouse Walk heads to the Cana Island Light on Wisconsin’s scenic Door County. It is among the most photographed of Door County’s lighthouses.

To reach the trailhead, from Baileys Harbor take Wis. Hwy. 57 north. Turn right/east onto County Road Q. After passing Moonlight Bay, go right/south on W. Cana Island Light Road then left/northeast onto E. Cana Island Light Road. Park in the lot just past the Cana Cover Road intersection. Walk the E. Cana Island Light Road – which after the parking lot vehicles cannot use – southeast toward Lake Michigan.

After passing through a grove of mixed hardwoods, the road reaches a small beach and a rocky causeway, about 300 feet from the lot. Thanks to high Lake Michigan levels, about 18 inches of water flows over the rocky causeway connecting the peninsula to the island. At times, the cold water can be up to three feet deep. You’ll want to wear boots or appropriate footwear as you cross.

The causeway runs a little more than 300 feet long before reaching Cana Island. Once there, the trail enters another small forest of mixed hardwoods.

In about 450 feet from the causeway, the trail opens onto the lighthouse grounds.

The Cana Island lighthouse stands 89 feet high. It was erected in 1869 to replace the Baileys Harbor Lighthouse and lit the following spring. Built of Milwaukee Cream City brick, lake storms and icy winters soon caused the thick stone to deteriorate, so steel cladding was placed around the tower’s exterior in 1902.

The lighthouse is positioned in a particularly dangerous stretch of the lake. On Oct. 15, 1880, even with the lighthouse in operation, the Alpena Gale storm destroyed seven ships nearby.

Atop the lighthouse is a Fresnel lens made in France. When the lighthouse first opened, every day the keeper carried lard up the tower to fuel the light. Later kerosene and acetylene were used. Since 1945, electricity keeps the line shining. It can be seen up to 19.5 miles away.

The lighthouse still is used as an active navigational aide while also serving as a museum. Tourists can climb the lighthouse’s 97 steps up a spiral staircase to the gallery level. Fantastic views of Lake Michigan and the Door Peninsula await, especially in autumn when leaves change color.

Also at the light station is the keeper’s residence, a hexagon-shaped oil house where fuel for the light was stored, a privy, and a storage building.

The lighthouse is open May through October daily from 10 am-5 pm, though sometimes bad weather closes it. Tours are operated by the Door County Maritime Museum. There is a fee to enter the lighthouse.

After taking in the lighthouse and its grounds, retrace your steps across the island and causeway to the parking lot.

Hike walks above Lake Michigan sea caves

Sometimes the pool below the Cave Point County Park sea caves is calm.

Cave Point Trail map. Click for larger version.

Day hikers can hike above sea caves etched into the side of a 430-million-year-old limestone bluff at Wisconsin’s Cave Point County Park.

The trail runs just under a mile on the beautiful Door Peninsula, the thumb in the mitten that is Wisconsin. A small park, Cave Point is a 19-acre square surrounded by Whitefish Dunes State Park, both of which are free to enter (though you’ll need a state pass to park at the latter).

To reach the trail, from Sturgeon Bay take Wis. Hwy. 42 north. Turn right/east onto Wis. Hwy. 57. Before entering Jacksonport, turn right/south onto N. Cave Point Drive. Next, turn left/east onto Schauer Road. Once in the park, leave your vehicle at the second lot on the right.

Cave Point Trail heads southeast from the lot’s center. After crossing a green, the trail jogs northeast, enters the woods, and comes to the cedar-lined cliff.

Niagara Escarpment
You’re standing atop the Niagara Escarpment, a shelf of dense dolomite that stretches south to Milwaukee then north into Michigan, southward to Ontario and finally to Niagara, New York. The escarpment formed as shells from marine animals that died floated to the bottom of their ancient, tropical sea, piling up and hardening about 415 million years ago.

Locally, the shelf extends about a quarter of a mile offshore just beneath Lake Michigan’s surface. Because of this, the wind-driven waves break in the lake and then speed up as approaching Cave Point. Upon hitting the bluff, lake spray flies some 30 feet into the air, hitting the cedars and clifftop. The impacts are loud, and you’ll feel like you’re at the ocean.

Sea caves sit below your feet. The pounding waves have been carving cavities in the hard limestone since the end of the last ice age. The freezing and thawing cycle have further fractured the holes, speeding up the erosion.

Indeed, winter is a particularly beautiful time at the park as icicles hang from the many outcroppings.

As the caverns are in the cliffside and largely underwater, they can’t be entered from land. Kayakers and scuba divers can get close to them, however, and a number of private businesses offer excursions to the caves or rent gear so you can do your own adventure.

Beach and immense trees
The trail continues northeast down to a small beach. Several fascinating rock outcroppings and formations can be seen along the way. The trees here also are fantastic, with the larger of them more than a century old.

Retrace your steps back up the cliff but rather than take the trail to parking lot, follow it southwest to the top of the rocky headland rising 10 to 20 feet above Lake Michigan.

After taking in the great view from the headlands, follow the trail back into the woods. It quickly reaches the park road; once there, go right/northeast and walk along the road’s shoulder to the parking lot.

Be extremely careful when walking the cliffside – there are no railings, and with the wet surfaces, slipping is easy.

Hike to Lake Michigan’s oldest light station

The Pottawatomie Light Station combines the lighthouse with the keeper's
house in a unique design.

Map to Pottawatomie Lighthouse.
Click image for larger version.

Day hikers can head to Lake Michigan’s oldest light station at Wisconsin’s Rock Island State Park.

The 2.1-mile round trip hike to the Pottawatomie Lighthouse largely uses a segment of the Thordarson Trail Loop. A lighthouse was erected at the site in 1836 but demolished and replaced with the taller, current station in 1858.

Reaching the lighthouse requires two ferry rides and a hike. Begin by driving Wis. Hwy. 42 to Northport at Door County’s northern tip. From there, take your vehicle by ferry for a 30-minute ride to Washington County. Upon disembarking, go north on Lobdell Point Road then turn left/north onto Main Road. Next, go right/east onto Jackson Harbor Road. After the road curves north, go straight/north onto Indian Point Road. Turn right/northeast onto Rock Island State Park Road. At the road’s end is a ferry to Rock Island; vehicles are not allowed on Rock Island, and the ride lasts about 15 minutes.

Once on Rock Island, walk northwest on the jeep trail intersecting the road leading up from the dock. After passing the ranger’s residence, the jeep trail runs out about 0.12 miles from the dock, and you’ve reached the trailhead for the Thordarson Trail Loop. Head onto the trail.

The trail soon leaves a meadow for a mixed hardwood forest. Lake Michigan sits on the trail’s left/west, and for the next half-mile sometimes can be glimpsed between the trees.

After about a mile, the trail enters a blufftop clearing that sports the Pottawatomie Lighthouse and keeper’s house. The tower and house are uniquely combined as one structure. The lighthouse itself rises 41 feet high and is constructed of limestone.

Among the first lighthouses built on the Great Lakes, the station helped steamships carrying new settlers to the Territory of Wisconsin, speeding up the process for it to become a state. Later, it guided ships carrying food and raw materials from the state past the rocky shoreline. Positioned atop the 137-foot bluff, the light could be seen up to 14 miles away.

The lighthouse was named for the Native Americans who inhabited the island and nearby Wisconsin mainland before settlers arrived. Appropriately enough, “Pottawatomie” means “keepers of the fire.”

Civilian light keepers managed the station until the 1940s when the U.S. Coast Guard took over. It remained in service until 1988 – a full 130 years – when a new metal tower took over as a navigational aide.

Today, hikers can tour the lighthouse daily from Memorial Day through early October during the late mornings and early afternoons. The lighthouse and keepers house have been restored to appear as they did between 1882-1910.

Just east of the lighthouse grounds are steps that head to Lake Michigan. A thin beach spearates the bluff from the water. A small cemetery sits southeast of the light station.

After taking in the lighthouse and grounds, retrace your steps back to the ferry dock. Alternately, you can head east on the trail and hike around the island’s edge for a 5.2-mile loop to the dock.

Hike heads to haunted Midwest lighthouse

Eagle Bluff Lighthouse and keeper's quarters.

Trail map to lighthouse. Click for larger version.

Day hikers can walk to a haunted lighthouse in Wisconsin’s scenic Door County.

The 1.5-mile round trip Trail Tramper's Delight heads to the famous Eagle Bluff Lighthouse at Peninsula State Park. Many lighthouse aficionados consider it the best in the state.

To reach the trailhead, from Wis. Hwy. 42 enter Peninsula State Park on Shore Road. At about 2.75 miles, turn right/east into the boat launch/fishing pier for Nicolet Bay. Park there. Walk back to Shore Road and go left/south, walking just off the street. In short order, you'll reach the trailhead on the right/west side. Go onto it.

The trail soon crosses the Nicolet Bay Trail. Continue straight/west on Trail Tramper's Delight.

When crossing the Sunset Bike Route, you’re almost there. Continue straight and cross the looping Shore Road into the parking lot for the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse. (Sure, you could drive right up to the lighthouse, but then it wouldn't be a hike, would it?) The lighthouse is to the right/north of the lot.

Constructed of cream-colored Milwaukee brick, the lighthouse rises 43 feet atop a cliff overlooking shimmering Green Bay – the water body not the city – with islands in the distance. A tower built at an angle into the lighthouse boasts a spiral, cast-iron stairwell that heads to the lighthouse’s three floors and ten-sided lantern room.

The neighboring two-story keeper’s quarters is 26 x 30 feet with an adjoining kitchen. Also on the 1.21-acre site is an oil house. With a beautiful vista, the grounds is a perfect site for a picnic.

Constructed for $12,000 following the Civil War, the lighthouse guided ships past the Door County Peninsula and Strawberry Islands for decades. Other structures, such as a barn, were added during the half-century after the lighthouse was erected, but after falling into ruin were torn down.

The lighthouse was automated in 1926. Except for Fruit Growers Union Cooperative’s brief rental of the keeper’s quarters as office space in the 1930s, the light station largely went unoccupied after automation.

Well, at least not occupied by the living.

A number of visitors to the site over the years have reported seeing the ghost of a young boy playing on the lighthouse grounds. For believers in the spirit world, this was quite the mystery, as no children have died in or near the lighthouse.

Once theory is that the ghost is of Huey Melvin who lived in nearby Fish Creek at the beginning of the 20th century. Just before his sixth birthday, Huey died of tetanus and was buried in Pioneer Cemetery, which also sits in the state park. In fact, you can visit his grave today – a stone lamb tops the tombstone, which includes the epitaph, “Our darlig [sic] one has gone before, to greet us on the blissful shore.”

When healthy, Huey loved to visit the lighthouse. The thought is that the young boy, taken too early from this world, still goes there to play to this day.

Unlike Huey’s ghost, modern visitors can only go inside the lighthouse if on a tour, which typically run mid-May through mid-October for a fee.

Once you've taken in the lighthouse and grounds, retrace your steps back to your parked vehicle.

Day trail offers great vista of Sturgeon Bay

View of Sawyer Harbor, Cabot Point and Sturgeon Bay from near the lookout
tower at Potawatomi State Park in Wisconsin.

Tower Trail map. Click for larger version.

Day hikers can enjoy great autumn colors on the Tower Trail at Potawatomi State Park in Wisconsin’s scenic Door County.

The 3.5-miles loop traverses the state park’s northern end. Part of the trail is the eastern terminus of the nearly 1200-mile Ice Age National Scenic Trail that crosses Wisconsin.

The trail is among the best in Wisconsin to see fall leaves. The reds, oranges and yellows of maple, the amber and oranges of beech, and the copper of American basswood all light the trail with the brilliant blue waters of Sturgeon Bays in the background at vistas.

To reach the trailhead, from Wis. Hwys. 42/57 on Sturgeon Bay’s west side, head north on Park Road. The park is in a little over a mile; turn right/east into it on Entrance Road. At North Norway Road, turn left/north. After passing the North Camp Area, the park road intersects with Shoreline Road. A parking lot is at the intersection. From the lot, hike north alongside Shoreline Road. The Tower Trail crosses the road in about 330 feet.

Go left/west onto the trail. The trail bisects the North Camp Area then soon heads up a steep hill.

American basswood
Among the native Wisconsin trees that is common along the trail is the American basswood, also known as the American linden. The tree grows across the upper Midwest through New England as well as southern Ontario and Quebec. It’s easy to spot; the domed crown consists of spreading branches, the bark ranges from gray to light brown with narrow fissures, and the 4-6 inch long leaves alternate with the larger ones on the side nearest the branch.

About a half-mile in, the trail levels and passes through forest with an understory of ferns. A connector trail runs right/northeast to the the other side of the loop, then at 0.9 miles a north-south bike intersects the route. As the trail curves southwest, it parallels the road you drove in on.

The American basswood lives for about 200 years and reaches maturity quite quickly. It grows at twice the rate of the American beech and most birch species, topping out between 60 to 120 feet tall with a trunk diameter of 3-5 feet.

At 1.2 miles, the trail crosses another point on the bike trail. Continue straight. Next the trail curls away from the park road and heads northeast, twice intersecting other spots on the bike trail you just crossed.

The American basswood often is used as an ornamental tree because it offers excellent shade. Horticulturalists also plant it as a windbreak to protect to young trees in orchards.

After several curves, the trail at 1.4 miles heads alongside a field. During summer, it’s alit with wildflowers. Turkeys can be seen here and sometimes whitetail deer. Unfortunately, the trail also heads beneath a powerline along the way, but it’s a brief run.

Lookout tower
In autumn, the basswood brightens the forest with chartreuse to yellow-green leaves. Depending on the the temperature and sunlight received, sometimes the leaves will turn a deep yellow with hints of orange. The edges usually brown before the leaves drop.

The footpath again intersects the bike trail then crosses North Norway Road at 2 miles from the trailhead. There it reaches the Old Ski Hill Overlook, which offers a nice view of the valley below, especially when it’s painted in autumn’s harvest colors.

Next the trail parallels North Norway Road before reaching the observation tower at 2.4 miles. You can’t go into the tower, though; it was found unsafe and closed in late 2017. The 75-foot tall tower was completed in 1932 and over the decades has suffered severe wood decay. The tower gave great views of Sawyer Harbor at the base of the cliff below with Cabot Point in the distance. Plans call for tearing down the tower and eventually replacing it.

The tower marks the Ice Age Trail’s eastern terminus. Running across 30 counties, the trail roughly marks the farthest advance of ice during the last ice age about 12,000 years ago.

Sturgeon Bay
From the tower, the trail crosses the park road and runs southeast. A bike trail goes southwest from it. The Tower Trail here heads along a rolling ridgeline, passing through stands of maple and beech.

At 2.6 miles, it crosses Shore Road. The hill there overlooks the waters of Sturgeon Bay, an arm of Green Bay that cuts into the Door Peninsula. A canal connects the inner bay to Lake Michigan. Just 0.2 miles from the road is a steel tower that boats use as a navigation marker on the way to the city of Sturgeon Bay’s docks.

Cedar dominates for the next half-mile or so. The sweet scent of their fallen needles permeates the air.

At 3.2 miles is the connector trail leading to the loop’s other side. Continue left-straight/southeast. When the trail crosses Shore Road, follow the park street left/south to your parking lot.

Hiking boots are a must on the trail, which heads over exposed roots, mud, and flagstone at various points. Autumn leaves often cover those hazards.

Wisconsin state flower flourishes on loop

The wood violet is Wisconsin's state flower.

Upper-Lower Trails Loop.
Click map for larger version.

Day hikers can see carpets of wild violets – Wisconsin’s state flower – at Door County’s Logan Creek State Natural Area.

The 1.2-mile Upper-Lower Trails Loop runs through the 170-acre site. Though a state natural area, the Ridges Sanctuary owns and manages the property, which is open to the public.

The trail is several miles south of the Ridges Sanctuary’s main site near Baileys Harbor. To reach the trailhead, from Jacksonport, take Wis. Hwy. 57 south. Turn left/south onto Loritz Road. An entrance to a gravel parking lot is on the road’s right/east side. Park there and take the trail at the lot’s northeast corner.

Three stacked loops make up the trail. The Ridges Sanctuary’s map splits the loops into four trails. Heading east, you’re on the Middle Trail. At the first trail junction, go north and begin the Upper Trail loop.

The trail heads through an upland beech-sugar maple forest. Visit in spring – especially mid- to late May – and you’ll be blown away by the number of wildflowers here. It’s especially a great place to see violets, which cover the forest floor.

Wood violet
Among them is the wood violet, also known as a common blue violet, which is Wisconsin’s state flower. Ranging in color from deep violet to lavender, (though sometimes they can be white), the flower consists of five distinct petals with three veined lower petals, and measures about an inch wide.

The flowers usually grow on their own stalk and stay beneath the plant’s heart-shaped leaves. The latter is high in vitamins A and C, and should you ever be lost in the woods with no food, know that they can be eaten raw. If you ever see violet-flavored jelly and candy, it was made from the flowers.

Wisconsin’s school children in 1908 selected the wood violet to represent the state’s scenic beauty for Arbor Day, and years later the legislature officially declared it the state flower. Three other states, including neighboring Illinois, have the wood violet as its state flower as well.

The wood violet is found throughout Wisconsin.

Also at the state natural area is the bird’s-foot violet. Colored pale to deep purplish blue, it is about 1.5-inches across and has five petals with the lower ones wider than the top ones. The flower’s center is orange. Unlike the wood violet, the bird’s-foot’s flower stands above its leaves. Bird’s-foot is a host plant for the Fritillary butterfly and mainly found in the southern part of the state.

Non-purple violets
Not all violets are purple, as is the case with two of those found at Logan’s Creek.

The downy yellow violet bears a five petaled sun-yellow flower about three-quarters of an inch wide. Violet veins on the petals act as guidelines for pollinating insects. Its stalks and leaves are downy. The plant grows all across Wisconsin.

Violets also can be white. Such is the case with the Canada violet. Its five-petaled flower has a yellow center, and it measures anywhere from one-fourth to an inch wide. As the flower ages, it can take on a pink hue. The blossom is one of the few violets that emits a fragrance. It grows throughout the state.

The trail next enters a wetland forest dominated by white cedar and black ash along with hemlock. Because of the different forest types that appear in the state nature area, its range of wildflowers is impressive. In late May, you’ll find spring-beauty, Dutchman’s-breeches, toothwort, large-flowered trillium, and trout-lily in bloom. During early June, look for orchids; more than 25 species grow on the site.

The varied forests also make this an excellent location for birdwatching, so bring your binoculars. Black-throated green warbler, eastern wood-pewee, great crested flycatcher, hermit thrush, ovenbird, red-eyed vireo, and rose-breasted grosbeak all can be found here.

Clark Lake
Upon re-entering an upland beech-maple forest, a spur trail runs north toward Logan Creek; stay right/east and circle to the south, where you the trail comes upon another wetland forest.

In the wetlands, another of the stacked loops begins with a trail heading left/east. This is the Lake Trail and goes to Clark Lake, adding about 0.4 miles to the hike. More than 4500 feet of the lake’s shoreline sits in the state natural area.

If you skip the Lake Trail or when coming back on it to the Upper Trail, you have the option of going on the third stacked loop, the Lower Trail. Take it straight-right/south.

Initially the Lower Trail heads through a wetland forest but as curling west rejoins the beech-maple forest. This affords the opportunity to see more violets.

The Lower Trail takes you to the parking lot’s southeast corner.

Trail heads along 430-million-year-old cliff

Peninsula State Park's Eagle Trail winds along the Niagara Escarpment and makes
for some spectacular view. Photo courtesy Wisconsin DNR.

Day hikers can explore ancient 150-foot cliffs that offer fantastic views of Lake Michigan at Wisconsin’s Peninsula State Park.

The 2-mile looping Eagle Trail sits on the beautiful Door Peninsula at the edge of the state’s second most visited state park. A popular trail, it will be busy during the park’s peak season.

Map of Eagle Trail, courtesy Wisconsin DNR.

To reach the trailhead, from Sturgeon Bay take Wis. Hwys. 42 and 57 north onto Door Peninsula. When the roads split, take Hwy. 42 to the peninsula’s northeast side. Once past County Road A (northeast of Fish Creek), turn left/north onto Shore Drive for the park entrance. The road passes through a golf course and then a beech forest. After the entrance station, park in the Eagle Panorama lot.

The trail begins a steep descent from the lot atop Eagle Bluff down to the cliff’s base. When you reach the bottom, go right/east.

Niagara Escarpment
Stretching beyond the rocky shoreline is Green Bay, a narrow triangle of water that on a map looks like the empty space between a thumb and the main part of a mitten. The bay is part of Lake Michigan.

Equally impressive is the limestone cliff to the trail’s right/south. Part of the Niagara Escarpment, the massive bedrock formation forms the Door Peninsula as well as cliffs in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and even Niagara Falls hundreds of miles to the east.

The bluffs began to form about 430 million years ago as sediment from the surrounding land settled as mud, trapped beneath algal mats, on the tidal flats of a saltwater sea. Over the eons, this sediment tuned into limestone piled more than 150 feet high. The cliffs along the trail are so high that as afternoon arrives, they cast a shadow over the forest and waters below.

We can see the erosion-resistant cliff thanks to the power of glaciers during the last ice age, which dug out softer sediment in the basin that now forms Lake Michigan. Wave action from a much higher lake, swollen with glacial meltwater, cut caves into the cliff wall.

As walking, watch for springs that come out of the cliff walls. The water finds fractures leading to the cliff’s side are easier to flow through than the hard limestone below it.

These springs help nourish a vertical forest of northern white cedar trees. Common in eastern Canada, these fragrant trees can grow up to 50 feet tall and two feet around.

Eagle Tower
The shady cliffs harbor a number of microhabitats alive with rare crustaceans and snails. Some of the snail species are rare. Because of this, you’ll want to stay on the trail, even though at times it is narrow, rocky, or laced with tree roots.

In addition to the white cedars, ferns, thimbleberry, and several flowers, especially trilliums, can be found trailside. You’ll also spot cranberry viburnum.

As the trail near Eagle Harbor, it begins a steep ascent back to the clifftop. Once there, it runs north a little off of Shore Road then turns west as it crosses the park road just in front of the entrance station.

Next it runs through the beech forest, crossing the Sentinel Tail along the way. Taking the Sentinel Trail right/north heads to Eagle Tower, a 75-foot observation post atop Eagle Bluff. As of 2015, the tower was closed to the public.

Continuing straight on the Eagle Trail heads to Shore Road. Cross it, and you’re back at your parking lot.

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