Forty-inch around trees await day hikers

Moss grows on an old-growth forest tree along the
Drummond Woods Ttrail.

National forest route links
to North Country Trail

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 logging of the Wisconsin Northwoods. The route sometimes is referred to on maps and in literature as the “Drummond Woods Trail.”

Autumn leaves
To reach the trailhead, from Drummond, Wis., 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.

From the lot, take the stem trail northwest into the Drummond Woods. Coming to the loop, go left/west or clockwise. The loop is flat and fairly easy for children.

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.

The hemlocks are particularly impressive. Some of them measure 40 inches around.

Carnivorous plant
The ground cover also offers a show, especially in spring. Violets, trillium and humble bellwort grow amid princess pine. When reaching wetter areas, blue flag iris flourishes in clumps.

A little more than halfway through the hike, the trail runs alongside a tamarack-black spruce swamp. On the ground, look for Labrador tea, leatherleaf, and pink lady slippers. One other surprise is the carnivorous pitcher plant, which traps insects in its blossom and then digests them.

Along the loop’s north side, you can extend the hike by taking the intersecting North Country Trail into the backcountry.

If visiting the region during winter, the trail is popular among snowshoers.

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

Great trails abound in Drummond WI area

Drummond Woods Trail

Several picturesque day hiking trails await visitors to the Drummond, Wis. Among the routes:
g Anderson Grade Trail – The 4-mile trail crosses the Rainbow Lake Wilderness Area from east to west over rolling terrain. Balsam fir, Northern hardwoods, paper birch and pines line the trail.
g Antler Trail – Six trails make up the Drummond Ski Trail system southeast of town. This 2-mile route heads over gentle terrain through a Northern hardwood forest.
g Drummond Woods Trail – Northeast of town in the Chequamegon National Forest, this 0.75-mile trial offers interpretive stops for those wishing to learn about the local forest. A segment of the North Country National Scenic Trail, it’s a great route for seeing fall colors.
g Lake Owen Loop – Also a segment of the North Country National Scenic Trail in the Chequamegon, the Lake Owen Loop is about 5 miles long. It's best done in autumn when the bug count is down and the trees ablaze with color.
g North Country Scenic Trail segment in Porcupine Lake Wilderness – Over a mix of rolling hills and fairly flat terrain, the trail cuts through a forest of hemlock, maple, oak and white pine. Expect to see whitetail deer, loons, and songbirds galore, as well as signs of bear, coyote and fox.
g North Country Scenic Trail segment in Rainbow Lake Wilderness Area – Six miles of the trail crosses the wilderness area from northwest to southwest. Built on an old narrow gauge logging bed, it passes four lakes.
g Two Lakes Campground Trail – A 1.5-mile trail loops around Bass Lake near the campground in the national forest. Northern hardwoods and pines tower over the trail.

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