Fall colors await on trail to Lapham Peak

Colorful leaves surround Lapham Peak in autumn.

Plantation Path map.
Click for larger version.

Hikers can head through a colorful oak woods and to the top of an observation tower on the county’s highest point at Kettle Moraine State Forest-Lapham Peak Unit.

The ADA accessible 1.8-mile Plantation Path loops past prairie and through a woods of red and white oak, quaking aspen, and black cherry. A connector trail to the Ice Age National Scenic Trail leads to the observation tower atop Lapham Peak, which rises to an elevation of 1,233 feet.

To reach the trail, from Delafield, take County Road C south. Turn left/east toward the park office. Park in the Homestead lot.

The paved trail leaves from the lot’s eastern side. In short order, the trail splits from the Kame Terrace and Kettle View trails. Go right/south.

Fall leaves along the trail range from the cinnamon of northern red and yellow of white oaks to the reds of black cherry and golds of quaking aspen. But for the white oak, the trees make up a classic southern dry-mesic forest.

At intersection marker E21, the trail divides, beginning a set of three loops. Head right/northwest. The route described here follows the three loops’ eastern sides.

Red and white oak
Found on the trail’s uplands is the northern red oak. The third most common tree in Wisconsin – nearly 1 in 11 of the state’s trees is a red oak – it’s also enormous. Growing quite straight and very tall, the red oak can reach up to 92 feet high with a trunk diameter of 39 inches. In old growth forests, the red oak soars even taller, and some even have been measured at 141 feet high. Red oaks grown in open areas, such as lawns, tend to be stouter, though, but can have a trunk diameter of up to 6.6 feet.

A XXL tree like the red oak also produces big acorns; in fact, the acorns are the largest of all Wisconsin’s oaks, measuring 1-1/8 inches long. With acorns that size, the tree is fairly easy to spot in autumn. The thoroughly fissured bark on mature red oaks is another giveaway.

The trail soon reaches a T-intersection, which marks the beginning of the second loop. Continue straight-left/south.

Also look for the white oak on the trail. White oaks primarily grow in the western and central parts of Wisconsin, so it’s a rare sight in this area of the state. You easily can spot the tree because of its scaly, ash gray bark. They grow up to 80 feet tall with a massive canopy.

The tree is extremely long-lived, lasting for around 200-300 years. One white oak in New Jersey was known to be more than 600 years old before dying.

At the trail’s next T-intersection, you’ve come to the beginning of the third loop. Continue straight-left/southwest.

Black cherry, quaking aspen
Watch for the black cherry tree on the trail’s higher ground. Eleven species of cherries grow in Wisconsin, and all are shrubs or small trees with the exception of the black cherry, which can grow quite tall. It’s easy to identify in a woods, as the bark is smooth and highly colored with small broken lines; it looks somewhat like the old punch cards used to store computer data.

The black cherry delights hikers during two seasons – autumn when its edible cherries ripen and its leaves turn color, and spring when its sweet-scented white flowers open.

At intersection marker E25, a connector trail leaves the Plantation Path and heads left/west. Take it to the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, where you’ll turn right/west.

Another tree you’ll see plenty of on the Plantation and the Ice Age trails is the quaking aspen. It’s the most common of the 35 populus tree species – which includes poplar, aspen, and cottonwood – across North America. A pioneer species, it quickly replaced the continent’s many forests when they were logged off in the 1800s. Prevention of forest fires has allowed the quaking aspen to maintain its hold. It is the most abundant and widespread tree in neighboring Minnesota.

The quaking aspen’s flat, spade-like leaves flap at the slightest breeze. In autumn when the leaves turn amber, that makes for quite a show, especially so on trees that grow at least six stories tall and that under ideal conditions can reach 10 stories.

Observation tower
At the next trail junction, turn right/north for the observation tower. Lapham Peak is the highest point in Waukesha County. The observation tower rises 45 above that. On a clear day, from the tower’s top you can see all the way to the Illinois border.

Upon coming down from the tower, head north. Walk along the edge of the Tower Parking Lot and the road. Enter the parking lot for the Hausmann Nature Center. Spend some time taking in the exhibits and if with the kids the children’s interactive area at the center. Then take the connector at the building’s back to the Plantation Trail. Go left/north.

Other trees in the woods include black oak, shagbark hickory, red maple, basswood, paper birch, and white pine.

At intersection marker E21, turn left/southwest. This is the stem trail that heads back to your parking lot.

Fire tower offers great view of autumn colors

The Parnell Observation Tower sits at the highest point in Wisconsin's
Kettle Moraine State Forest.

Parnell Tower Trail map. Click for larger version.

Day hikers can head to an observation tower on Wisconsin’s Kettle Moraine State Forest highest point via a short trail. During autumn, the walk through the surrounding forest and the view of it from the tower is a fantastic sight.

The 0.7-mile out and back Parnell Tower Trail heads to the 60-foot wooden Parnell Observation Tower. The hike can be lengthened, though, by adding a loop, known as the Parnell Tower Trail Loop, which runs 2.9 miles.

To reach the trailhead, from Plymouth take Wis. Hwy. 67 west. Turn left/south onto County Road A (aka Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive). County Road U joins County A from the east; in just under 2 miles when County Road U goes right/west, turn onto it. In about 0.15 miles, turn right/north into the parking lot for the trail. A gravel trail – the short stem leading to the loop – heads north from the lot’s northern side.

The stem immediately ascends beneath a canopy of maple trees. Half of the path up the hill consists of log steps. At 0.2 miles is a bench for resting.

Northern red oak, basswood, sugar maple and white ash dominate the dry mesic forest on this part of the hill.

Across southern Wisconsin, Northern red is the most common oak species. They grow quite tall – up at 75 feet high – and have a deeply ridged black bark. During the autumn, their leaves range from russet to bright red, and they drop lots of large acorns, each one up to an inch round.

Observation tower
Slightly taller at up to 80 feet high, basswood has heart-shaped leaves. The tree likes the same rich soils as sugar maples so they often are found together in Wisconsin forests. In autumn, their leaves range from light yellow to dark gold or tan.

Sugar maple with its rounded dense crown can grow up to 75 feet high. The younger trees have smooth bark, but as the trunk ages, it turns shaggy. In fall, the leaves change to yellow, orange or red depending on exposure to sunlight.

White ash grows to a height of 80 feet and perhaps is best known as the wood used to make baseball bats. Its autumn leaves range from yellow to deep purple and maroon. Unfortunately, the white ash is a favorite of the emerald ash borer, and so is in danger across the state.

At 0.3 miles, the trail reaches the observation tower. The top offers 360 degree views, and the autumn leaves and quilt of farmland below seems to stretch forever. Long Lake and 1,230-foot Dundee Mountain can be spotted to the southwest. On clear days when views reach up to 45 miles, look for Lake Michigan to the east and Lake Winnebago in the northwest.

Longer hike
If interested in just a short hike, after descending the tower retrace your steps back to the parking lot. If you’re up for some exploring, though, take the trail the left/east and begin the loop.

From 0.7 to 0.9 miles, several rocks can be seen alongside the trail, which heads down the Kettle (Interlobate) Moraine that the tower sits on. The moraine was formed during the last ice age when sediment pushed forward by advancing glaciers was left behind, as the ice sheet melted. The rock show ends as the trail reaches a gully.

The trail enters a stand of birch at 1.1 miles. Yellow birch reaches a height of 75 feet. It’s easy to spot, as its bark, which ranges from shiny yellow to gray-silver, curls into strips. During autumn, its leaves turn bright yellow and gold.

You’re certain to see at least signs of the forest wildlife if not spotting some of them. Among the forest’s denizens are whitetail deer, foxes, skunks and chipmunks.

Kettle bog
At 1.2 miles, the trail arrives at a glade surrounded by oaks. A kettle bog is to the right.

Kettle bogs formed at the end of the last age. As the glaciers melted and retreated, large chunks of ice were left behind. Glacial sediment surrounding the ice check dammed the meltwater in place, forming lakes. At the edge of the lakes were swampy flats layered with peat, or decomposed sphagnum moss, creating a bog.

The trail turns rocky as going to the bottom of ravine and then is hilly, with a lot of ups and downs, the rest of the way.

You’ll enter a stand of birch, as curving onto the loop’s north side, about 1.6 miles in.

Ice Age Trail
A downside of the trail is that it runs under a high-tension line starting at 1.8 miles. This unfortunately lasts for much of the loop’s northern leg. Upon reaching a small glade, the trail then swings onto the loop’s western side.

A backpackers shelter that sleeps 10 sits at 2.5 miles in. This is near where the Ice Age National Scenic Trail connects with the loop. The IAT runs concurrent with the trail for about a quarter mile; when they split, go left/east to stay on the tower trail loop.

From there, you’ll head up a steep hill. At the top is the observation tower. Look for the stem trail’s steps and descend them back to the parking lot.

Hiking boots are a must on the trail. Slopes can be steep while roots and rocks sit on sections of the trail, and after rain those inclines can be muddy. Insect repellent also is a must.