Autumn hikes abound on Wis.-Mich. border

Black River Harbor, Michigan

If living in a border

county or traveling near the Wisconsin-Michigan state line, plenty of great autumn trails await.

National and state

forests cover the region of second-growth forest, which is rich in colorful maples, basswood, oaks, aspen, birch and more.

Michigan

Gogebic County
Day hikers can enjoy splendid autumn colors on a Lake Superior beach at Black River Harbor in the Ottawa National Forest. The 0.75-mile round trip hike to and along the beach includes crossing a suspended footbridge over the Black River. The beach stretches between the blue great lake and a forest of basswoods, ash, birch, aspen, sumac, elder, oaks and maple mixed amid stately white pines. Colors range from yellows and golds to scarlet and burgundy, from tans and browns to crimson and orange. From U.S. Hwy. 2 west of Bessemer, take County Road 511/Powderhorn Road north. Turn left/northwest onto Black River Road, which naturally becomes the Black River National Forest Scenic Byway. Park in the lot at the end of the byway. The trail heads northeast from the lot’s center to the bridge.

Iron County
A beautiful fall scene at a rapids awaits in Copper Country State Forest. The 1.2-mile round trip Horse Race Rapids Trail heads to a Paint River canyon boasting 80-foot high rock walls. As gliding through the canyon, the river drops more than 20 feet over several yards. The forest surrounding the river in autumn is a colorful mix of oak, birch, basswood, ash, aspen, sumac, elder, and maple with many evergreens. From Crystal Falls, Michigan, take U.S. Hwy. 2, south. Turn left/east onto Horserace Rapids Road. A parking lot and the trailhead is at the road’s end.

Dickinson County
A pretty autumn setting awaits at Fumee Falls near the Wisconsin-Michigan border. The 0.13-mile round trip Fumee Falls Trail includes a bridge over a creek below the falls and a brief walk to an overlook above it. The falls drops 25 feet over three ledges, with the highest one at 10 feet. Ash, aspen, basswood, birch, elder, oak, sumac and a number of evergreens line the trail and falls. From Quinnesec, take U.S. Hwy. 2 east. Look for the pullout on the road’s left/north side at the edge of town.

Menominee County
Day hikers can head to a stunning rapids over ancient volcanic rock in the Menominee River State Recreation Area. The 0.2-mile round trip Pemene Falls Trail heads to a Menomonee River rapids. The rapids drops 10 feet over a 30 yards and offers plenty of rocky shoreline to walk up and down. It’s particularly pretty in autumn when basswood, ash, birch, aspen, oak and sumac along with evergreens cast the shoreline and river in harvest hues. From Carney, Michigan, take Hwy. G-18 west toward Wisconsin. Before reaching the border, turn right/north onto State Road. In a little more than a mile, a turnoff to the falls is on the left/west; park at the end of the road.

Wisconsin

Florence County
Yellow-leaved birch and evergreen cedar and pine line a waterfall at the end of the LaSalle Falls Trail. The 1.9-miles round trip partially heads along the Pine River to the 20-foot high waterfalls, which slides down a long rock ledge. LaSalle Falls is the highest waterfall in this part of the state. From Florence, take County Road N south. Turn right/west on County Road C then right/north onto LaSalle Falls Road. After crossing Halls Creek, park in the lot on the right/north side of the road. Leashed dogs are allowed on the trail.

Forest County
The 1-mile Franklin Nature Trail loops through varied sights that are particularly splendid in autumn. The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest trail begins in mixed hardwoods full of yellow and orange leaves then passes stands of towering white pines and huge hemlocks. A boardwalk winds 400 feet over a bog where tamaracks turn the color of brass. From Eagle River, take Wis. Hwy. 70 east. Turn right/south onto Military Road/FR 2178 then left/east onto Butternut Lake Road/FR 2181. Stay on Butternut Lake Road/FR 2181. The parking lot is in 4.4 miles on the right/south.

Iron County
An impressive waterfalls surrounded by a gorge of fall colors awaits on the Potato River Falls Trails. Three paths for a combined 0.5-mile round trip heads to a series of cascades and falls that drop about 90 feet over the Potato River. One trail heads to the 40-foot drop over the Upper Falls, a second trail to the-50 foot Lower Falls, and another to a lookout. Red, yellow and orange leaves line the gorge below the falls, and fallen leaves float and swirl upon the flowing river. From Hurley, take U.S. Hwy. 2 west. Turn left/south on Wis. Hwy. 169. Go right/west on Falls Road. The trail leaves from the Potato River Falls Campground.

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.

Vilas County
Among the best spots to enjoy fall colors is a lakeshore, especially deep in a wooded area. The 0.55-mile ADA accessible Tom Roberts Nature Trail in Northern Highland American Legion State Forest fits the bill, heading through a mixed forest of sugar maple, white birch, and large-toothed and trembling aspen, balsam, and red and white pine with great views of Muskellunge Lake. Whitetail deer, ruffed grouse, coyote and fisher tracks often are spotted on the trail. From Woodruff, take U.S. Hwy. 51 north. Turn right/northeast onto County Road M and then right/east on County Road N. Go left/northeast on the road to Crystal Lake Campground then left/north on Crystal Lake Road. Park at the Nature Center.

Upper Peninsula hike leads to 40-foot falls

6 Great Day Hikes in Northern Michigan

Isle Royal National Park

Windigo Nature Trail
Isle Royale National Park
A rarely visited island full of moose and wolves awaits day hikers at Isle Royale National Park. Isle Royale, a 45-mile long island in the chilly waters of Lake Superior, requires a 3-hour ferry trip, or a shorter but more expensive journey via sea plane, to reach. The national park's Windigo Nature Trail is best reached from the ferry in Grand Portage, Minn. Alternatively, a sea plane can be taken from Houghton. In either case, advance reservations are recommended.

Best trails to see Isle Royale NP's highlights
Though Isle Royale National Park often is thought of as an overnight destination due to its remoteness, there are a number of day hiking trails available to enjoy its highlights.

Discover haunted Upper Peninsula lighthouse on day hike
Does the former keeper of an Upper Peninsula lighthouse haunt his old abode? Day hikers can find out with a short walk about the grounds. The Seul Choix Point Lighthouse near Gulliver overlooks a particularly treacherous stretch of Lake Michigan. About 0.3 miles of meandering lakeside trails surround the long-time fixture. 

Learn more about national park day hiking trails in my Best Sights to See at America’s National Parks series.

Ten haunted Midwestern hikes to take this Halloween

This Halloween, day hike a haunted trail…if you dare. Allegedly haunted trails – sporting ghosts, monsters and extraterrestrial visitors – abound throughout the Midwest.

Among the trails you might day (er, night) hike are:
g Try spotting Wisconsin’s most famous ghost on Military Ridge State Trail: see trail
g Look for Bigfoot while day hiking Minnesota state forest trail: see trail
g Search for ghosts of orphans on Charley Western Trail in Iowa: see trail
g Walk atop alleged secret UFO base in Wisconsin recreational park: see trail
g Look for sea monster on Minnesota-Wisconsin border lake see trail
g Avoid hell hounds and girl’s spirit in Midwest’s most haunted swampland: see trail
g Share Upper Peninsula lighthouse with dead keeper’s ghost: see trail
g Frolic with murdered woman’s spirit on haunted sand dunes: see trail
g Keep eye out for human-eating demon on Lost River State Forest trail: see trail
g Head to ancient crater that attracts aliens in western Wisconsin see trail

Happy Halloween!

Find out about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

Hike traverses island park on Lake Superior

Moose at Isle Royale National Park.

Map of Windigo Nature Trail, courtesy of Isle Royale NPS.

A rarely visited island full of moose and wolves awaits day hikers at Isle Royale National Park.

Isle Royale, a 45-mile long island in the chilly waters of Lake Superior, requires a 3-hour ferry trip, or a shorter but more expensive journey via sea plane, to reach. Because of this and the island’s remoteness, the park sees only about 17,000 visitors annually.

Ferry or sea plane
It’s also closed in winter when Lake Superior freezes over. June through September mark the best time to visit the park.

The national park's Windigo Nature Trail is best reached from the ferry in Grand Portage. Alternatively, a sea plane can be taken from Houghton, Mich. In either case, advance reservations are recommended.

Once the ferry docks or the plane lands in Isle Royale’s Washington Harbor, head up to the visitor center then to the Windigo Park Store, where the trailhead is located.

The 1.2-mile loop rambles over a gently rolling landscape. You’ll pass through a a fern-filled cedar lowlands and a hardwood forest of maple and birch.

Moose, wolves and osprey
While on the trail, watch for evidence of the boreal forest’s wildlife. About 2400 moose typically live on the island, though that population rises and falls annually. Wolves also call the island home, though you’re unlikely to see the reclusive creatures this close to the harbor. Keep an eye to the sky for osprey, however.

One highlight of the trail is the moose enclosure, a small fenced-in area that keeps out the area’s moose population to show the affect they have on the island’s vegetation.

Watch the trail for rusty nails, rotted timbers and broken clay pipes all – they’re leftovers from a mining community that existed on the island during the 1800s. In fact, the nature trail is the remains of an old road built by the miners.

Leaving on the outgoing ferry the same day as you arrive is possible, but time will be tight, so frequently check your watch. Alternately, camping and a lodge are available for overnight stays.

Though closer to Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ontario proper, the island actually is part of the state of Michigan.

Read more about day hiking Northeast Minnesota in my Headin’ to the Cabin: Day Hiking Trails of Northeast Minnesota guidebook.

Best trails to see Isle Royale NP's highlights

Moose at Isle Royale National Park.
Photo courtesy Michigan DNR.

Though Isle Royale National Park often is thought of as an overnight destination due to its remoteness, there are a number of day hiking trails available to enjoy its highlights.

Each Grand Portage, Minn., ferry stays four hours at the island, which allows time for most day hikes from the Windigo region, though you may have to hurry (Unless noted, all trails described here are from Windigo.). An International Biosphere Reserve consisting of 209 square miles of islands in Lake Superior, Isle Royale is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and depending on the weather, a few days on either side of the holiday.

Moose and wolves
At any given time, about 25 wolves and a thousand moose inhabit the island, though these numbers swing greatly each year. The first two miles of the Greenstone Ridge Trail, which runs from the Isle Royale’s western harbor at Windigo to the eastern harbor at Rock Harbor, offers the best chance of spotting these shy, reclusive creatures.

Copper mining site
For centuries, Native Americans and later European settlers mined copper on the island. The 19th century Wendigo Mine ruins are about 6-miles round trip along the East Huginnin Cove Trail.

Lake Superior view
Though not the highest point on the main island, the Minong Ridge Overlook offers a better view year-round. The Minong Ridge Trail with connecting paths runs 6 miles round trip. The overlook provides views of the main island’s north shore looking toward Minnesota and Ontario on the mainland.

Suzy’s Cave
How’s this for spunk: More than a century ago when the family of a young girl named Suzy Tooker summered on nearby Tooker Island (Her father was a fisherman.), she’d canoe to the main island to play in a cave. Today, you can hike the Rock Harbor Trail from Rock Harbor (accessible from either Houghton or Copper Harbor, Mich.) to that cave on a 6-mile round trip.

Read more about day hiking Northeast Minnesota in my Headin’ to the Cabin: Day Hiking Trails of Northeast Minnesota guidebook.

Ten real haunted trails to day hike this Halloween

This Halloween, test your courage by hiking a haunted trail.

This Halloween, day hike a haunted trail…if you dare. Allegedly haunted trails – sporting ghosts, monsters and extraterrestrial visitors – abound throughout the United States.

Among the trails you might day (er, night) hike are:
g Try spotting Wisconsin’s most famous ghost on Military Ridge State Trail: see trail
g Watch for UFOs atop North America’s highest sand dunes: see trail
g Look for Bigfoot while day hiking Minnesota state forest trail: see trail
g Search for ghosts of orphans on Charley Western Trail in Iowa: see trail
g Walk atop alleged secret UFO base in Wisconsin recreational park: see trail
g See lake haunted by drowned boy in Yosemite National Park: see trail
g Avoid hell hounds and girl’s spirit in Midwest’s most haunted swampland: see trail
g Share Upper Peninsula lighthouse with dead keeper’s ghost: see trail
g Frolic with murdered woman’s spirit on haunted sand dunes: see trail
g Keep eye out for human-eating demon on Lost River State Forest trail: see trail

Happy Halloween!

Find out about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

Discover haunted Upper Peninsula lighthouse on day hike

Seul Choix Point Lighthouse

Footsteps of former keeper allegedly
heard at point on 'only choice' bay

Does the former keeper of an Upper Peninsula lighthouse haunt his old abode? Day hikers can find out with a short walk about the grounds.

The Seul Choix Point Lighthouse near Gulliver, Michigan, overlooks a particularly treacherous stretch of Lake Michigan. About 0.3 miles of meandering lakeside trails surround the long-time fixture.

Still at work?
To reach the lighthouse, from U.S. Hwy. 2 in Gulliver, head south on County Road 432 (also known as Gulliver Point Inland Road). Turn right/west onto the gravel County Road 431. The lighthouse is in four miles.

Tours are offered of the lighthouse, and there’s a small museum on site. Should you catch a whiff of cigar smoke while inside, you may very well have the pleasure of a visit by Captain Joseph Willie Townsend.

Townsend served as the lighthouse’s keeper from 1902-10 and died in the upstairs bedroom. He enjoyed cigars, but his wife forbade him from smoking in the house. According to legend, his ghost now does just what his wife would not allow.

Others have reported moved silverware and hearing footsteps, as if someone were climbing the lighthouse steps. Perhaps Townsend’s spirit is still at work.

Dead fishermen or sailors?
From the lighthouse, a trail leads to the lakeshore, which can be walked in a crescent moon shape around the point atop a limestone shoal that runs 100 yards into the lake. Breaking waves and their white foam demonstrate the shoal’s danger to passing ships.

If Townsend’s ghost doesn’t haunt the point, perhaps it’s one of the fishermen or sailors who lost his life in nearby waters. French fur traders discovered it was the only harbor in this segment of Lake Michigan and so named the bay northwest of the lighthouse “Seul Choix” – or “only choice.”

A light was placed at the point in 1892 with the current tower opening in 1895. The tower reaches 78 feet, 9 inches tall, and its light can be seen 13 miles away. It’s a National Historic Landmark.

The museum is open each day 10 a.m.-6 p.m. from Memorial Day through mid-October. A picnic area, barbecue pits and restrooms are in the area surrounding the lighthouse. The Gulliver Historical Society operates the lighthouse museum and grounds in cooperation with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Find out about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.