Hike features Wisconsin’s only columbine

The red columbine grows on slopes in wooded areas.

Eagle Peak Trail topo map.
Click map for larger version.

Day hikers can see the only columbine that grows in Wisconsin on an Interstate State Park hill.

The Eagle Peak Trail takes you to the park’s highest point. Though short at 0.8-miles round trip, it climbs 120 feet in elevation, including up stone stairs.

To reach the trailhead, from the junction of U.S. Hwy 8 and Wis. Hwy. 35 east of St. Croix Falls, take the latter south. Turn right/west onto Park Road and head into Interstate. Drive past the Lake O' the Dalles. When the road curls west, turn left/south onto a spur road to the Silverbrook Trailhead. A small parking lot is at the end of the spur road; use the southernmost of the two parking lots.

The hard-packed dirt trail begins at the Pines Group Camp. A short side trail passes a traprock quarry built by the CCC during the 1930s on its way to South Campground.

Interesting volcanic rock formations line the path. They formed 1.1 billion years ago when this part of North America was splitting apart, much like Africa's Great Rift Valley is today.

Red columbine
Standing out amid the blue-gray rock during May and June is red columbine. Also known as Canadian, Canada, wild and eastern red columbine, it's the only native version of this much beloved lower found in the state.

The striking blossom has yellow petals with red sepals and spur-shaped petals. It is about 1–2 inches long and nods on a stem above the leaves. Nectar sits in the spur's round end, attracting butterflies, ruby-throated hummingbirds, and bumblebees.

During early summer, the caterpillars of Columbine Duskywing feed on the leaves, which are fern-like and grouped in threes. They grow from the plant's base and off the flower stems.

Eagle Peak provides an ideal environment for the red columbine. The plant thrives on slopes as well as woodlands and meadows, all of which are found on the trail. Drought-resistant, the plant does well on rocky soil, and much of Eagle Peak is covered in eroding volcanic rock.

Wild geranium
The European columbine - also known as the garden columbine - grows in Wisconsin as well but is not native. It appears wild in just five of the state's counties. The red columbine, however, is found throughout Wisconsin.

More than 60 species of columbine call North America home. All of them are new to the continent, having come from Asia over the Bering Land Bridge about 10,000 to 40,000 years ago. Many of the species in North America have evolved variously shaped and colored flowers as adapting to new habitats and pollinators.

Another pretty spring wildflower found along the trail is wild geranium. Lavender to purple in color, it has heavily veined five petals about 1-2 inches wide. Colonies in natural woodland openings are formed from long-lived clones of an individual plant. Wild geranium grows all across the state.

The highlights of the trail definitely are the columbines and ancient rock formations, as trees block much of the view at the peak's top. Once you reach the summit, though, there's room on exposed rock for a picnic or at least to rest a bit. After taking a break, retrace your steps back to the parking lot.

Kid-friendly trails start at Ice Age Center

The Ice Age Interpretive Center is a great place to begin
(or end!) a day hike at Wisconsin Interstate State Park.

Two day hiking trails can be taken from Wisconsin Interstate State Park’s Ice Age Interpretive Center, offering impressive sites.

After heading through the entrance gates, park at the interpretive center, which is on the left. One trail heads away from the center while the other begins at the building.

The westernmost steps of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail end with the park’s 0.5-mile Horizon Rock Trail, which runs from the Ice Age Visitor Center to Pothole Trail. From the center, you’ll pass a historic stone shelter, known as Historic Rock, offering a panoramic view of the river gorge below. From there, the trail descends the forested bluff to a creek bed that instantly will cool you on humid days.

Horizon Rock Trail can be extended by taking a couple of different trails:
g Talus Slope Trail-Meadow Valley Trail – A steep switchback, the Talus Slope Trail links the Horizon Rock Trail to the 0.3-mile Meadow Valley Trail. Meadow Valley crosses through ferns, mosses and various wildflowers on what is now an extinct riverbed carved by glacial meltwaters during the last ice age. The trail ends at the beach party parking lot.
g Pothole Trail – When floodwaters from melting glaciers swept through at the end of the last ice age, swirling water literally drilled holes into the basalt rock underlying this region. The 0.4-mile loop takes you past a number of these interesting geological features.

The Skyline Trail runs for 1.6 miles (3.2 miles round trip) southwest from the center to the Pines Group Camp. It first passes the Skyline Nature Trail and then the Ravine Trail. From there, the trail ascends rock-covered ravines to the valley’s forested rim. Wooden benches are along the way.

The Skyline Trail can be extended by taking a couple of spur trails:
g Skyline Nature Trail –The 0.75-mile trail loops though several plant communities. Interpretive signs describe how the plant communities differ as the landscape changes. The Ice Age National Scenic Trail runs east from the loop behind the visitor center toward the park entrance.
g Ravine Trail – The 0.5 mile trail climbs 260 feet from the valley rim to a shelter, the amphitheater, and a picnic area at the beach parking lot.

The Skyline Trail also can be extended at its southern terminus by taking two connecting trails:
g Eagle Peak Trail – The trail takes you to the park’s highest point, Eagle Peak. Though short at 0.8 miles, it climbs 120 feet in elevation, including up stone stairs. The trailhead begins at the Pines Group Camp. A short side trail passes a traprock quarry built by the CCC during the 1930s on its way to South Campground.
g Silverbrook Trail – To get away from the park crowds, take this 1.2-mile (2.4 miles round trip) trail to the remote, forested southern end. The trail in part follows the original road that connected the village of Osceola to the south with St. Croix Falls to the north. It passes an abandoned copper mine, the Silverbrook Mansion grounds, then reaches the trail’s highlight: 18-foot Silverbrook Falls. There’s an observation point and bench at the falls.

Read more about day hiking Interstate State Park in my Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking Wisconsin and Minnesota Interstate State Parks guidebook.

Family-friendly day hiking trails explore remote section of Wisconsin Interstate Park

You can explore Wisconsin Interstate State Park’s southern section via three day hiking trails. After entering Interstate via Park Road, follow it to the Pines Group Camp parking lots. The trailheads are at the road’s end and the southernmost of the two parking lots.

Eagle Peak Trail takes you to the park’s highest point, Eagle Peak. Though short at 0.8 miles, it climbs 120 feet in elevation, including up stone stairs. The trailhead begins at the Pines Group Camp. A short side trail passes a traprock quarry built by the CCC during the 1930s on its way to South Campground.

To get away from the park crowds, hike the 1.2-mile trail (2.4 miles round trip) Silverbook Trail. It runs to the park’s remote, forested southern end. The trail in part follows the original road that connected the village of Osceola to the south with St. Croix Falls to the north. It passes an abandoned copper mine, the Silverbrook Mansion grounds, then reaches the trail’s highlight: 18-foot Silverbrook Falls. There’s an observation point and bench at the falls.

The Skyline Trail runs for 1.6 miles (3.2 miles round trip) northeast to the Ice Age Visitor Center. From the valley’s forested rim, the trail descends through rock-covered ravines. It first passes the Ravine Trail and then the Skyline Nature Trail junctions. Wooden benches are along the way.

The Skyline Trail can be extended by taking a couple of spur trails:
• Skyline Nature Trail –The 0.75-mile trail loops though several plant communities. Interpretive signs describe how the plant communities differ as the landscape changes. The Ice Age National Scenic Trail runs east from the loop behind the visitor center toward the park entrance.
• Ravine Trail – The extremely short trail runs to a shelter, the amphitheater, and a picnic area at the beach parking lot.

Read more about day hiking Interstate State Park in my Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking Wisconsin and Minnesota Interstate State Parks guidebook.