Wildflowers, pines await at Jones Spring

The Yellow-Orange-White Trails at Jones Spring passes several lakes.

Jones Spring area map.
Click map for larger version.

Hikers can enjoy wildflowers and pine groves in the southern portion of Wisconsin’s Jones Spring area.

The 6.1-miles Yellow Trail – with two side trails, the Orange and White – loops through the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. This trail is best done in early spring as parts of it can be overgrown in summer or underwater.

To reach the trailhead, from Townsend, take County Road T south. Turn right/southwest onto Fanny Lake Road. A parking lot sits at the end of the road.

A wide stem trail runs southwest. At 0.2 miles, it reaches a trail heading right/north that goes around the east and north sides of Fanny Lake. A few feet west of it, at 0.3 miles, the loop for the Yellow Trail begins. Continue straight-right/southwest.

Fanny Lake
The trail passes Fanny Lake’s south shore. Birch trees line the small lake.

At the lake’s southwest corner, about 0.4 miles in, the Yellow Trail meets the looping Red Trail. Continue left/southwest onto the Yellow-Red Trail; the two trails share this leg to make their loops.

The trail crosses Mary Creek then heads through a wetlands. Mud can be deep in sections – be forewarned that at times of the year it can be impassable, at least not without sinking up to your knees into the mud. Because of that, you may need to turn back here and then do the trail in reverse from how it is described here, as well as treat it as an out-and-back hike.

On the other side of the wetlands, the Red and Yellow trails split at 1 mile. Go left/south onto the Yellow Trail.

Orange Trail
The route next comes to a side trail, the Orange Trail, at 1.1 miles. Take it right/southwest.

The Orange Trail heads between Upper Jones Lake and Lower Jones Lake. About half-way between them, a three-sided shelter sits on a knoll, nestled in pine and birch, to the left.

On the other side of the isthmus, the Orange Trail rejoins the Yellow Trail at 2.1 miles. Go right/south onto it.

After crossing Mary Creek, the trail comes to a four-way junction, at 2.8 miles, where the White Trail loop connects with the Yellow Trail. Turn right/southwest onto the White Trail.

Pine groves and open fields dominate the White Trail.

Wildflowers
Several wildflowers also can be seen along the trail. Among them are butterfly milkweed, Indian pipe, Northern blue iris (usually in June or July), and partridge berry.

Upon completing the White Trail loop, you’re back to the four-way junction at 4.5 miles. Go right/northeast onto the Yellow Trail.

Pine and birch dominate this part of the trail. A wetlands appears on the trail’s left/west.

The next junction, at 5.7 miles, brings you to the stem trail on Fanny Lake’s south shore. Go right/northeast onto it back to the parking lot

Dogs are allowed to use the trail but must be leashed. Be sure to bring insect repellent.

Great trails abound at Kinnickinnic S.P.

Kinnickinnic River Delta, from the Purple Trail. Photo courtesy Wis. DNR.

For residents of the eastern Twin Cities and west-central Wisconsin, Kinnickinnic State Park offers a convenient central location to escape back to nature for a day.

The park is located on the St. Croix and Kinnickinnic rivers, almost equidistant from River Falls, Hudson, and Prescott, Wis. The latter two communities offer bridge access into Minnesota.

Among the trails at the state park (going from east to west):
g Red Trail – The 1.6-mile hike heads through prairie alongside a forest’s edge. Among the highlights is the Vulture’s Peak area. Near the park entrance, the set of two loops can be accessed from the park’s first two parking lot.
g Blue Trail – The 0.7-mile out-and-back trail (1.4-miles round trip) gives hikers the opportunity to explore gorges and coulees into the Kinnickinnic River Valley. Access the wooded trail from the second parking area past the park entrance. Add the 0.1-mile (0.2-miles round trip) Brown Trail, which serves as a sledding hill in winter, to extend the hike.
g Yellow Trail – The 1.2-mile loop edges a forest and prairie area. Watch for deer, pheasants and turkeys along the trail. The Kinni Overlook Lot is a good place to start; the trail can be extended by adding the Green, Orange or Purple trails.
g Orange Trail – A wooded out-and-back trail atop the Kinnickinnic River bluffs, it runs for 0.5 miles (1-mile round trip). Park at the Kinni Overlook Lot and access it via the Yellow Trail; add the Purple and Yellow trails for a longer walk.
g Green Trail – The trail loops about the outside of a prairie area under restoration and is an excellent place to spot partridge, pheasants and other birds. Access it via the Yellow Trail; from the Kinnic Overlook Lot, go left/north on the Yellow for a 1.6-mile round trip (The Green Trail itself is 1.1-miles long).
g Purple Trail – The 1.2-mile loop (when combined with a segment of the Yellow Trail), offers great views of the Kinnickinnic River Delta and the St. Croix River, as well as access to a swimming beach along the St. Croix. Park in the St. Croix Picnic Area Lot.

Read more about day hiking the scenic riverway in my guidebook Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway.

Knapweed Trail skirts prairie restoration

Knapweed (Orange) Trail

Knapweed (Orange) Trail map

State park path rambles nearly
2 miles alongside meadow

Say “Wisconsin” and one usually doesn’t think “prairie.” But much of the southern portion of the state actually is part of the Great Plains, as are segments of three counties along the Minnesota border. Most of the state’s grasslands were quickly plowed under and converted to agriculture when pioneers arrived, however.

At Willow River State Park, just four miles from the Minnesota borders, day hikers can head alongside a project aimed at restoring some of that missing prairie. The Knapweed Trail, also known as the Orange Trail because of its color on park maps, runs for 0.9 miles one way.

Close to metro area
To reach the trail, from Interstate 94’s Exit 4 take County Road U north. In about two miles, County Road U ends at County Road A; go right/northeast at this junction. The park entrance road is another two miles on the left/west. After entering park, take the entry road past the park office, the roads to 100 Campground and 200 Campground, and one to the service building. At the Group Camp, turn left/south into the asphalt parking lot; if full, there is a gravel overflow lot on the road’s north side (If taking the Pioneer Trail loop option, at the hike’s end, you'll return to the gravel lot.).

The trailhead is immediately to the east of the parking lot road. A set of three trails are on the road’s south side; take the center one.

The trail heads through about 200 feet of woodland. In another 200 feet or so, you’ll reach a T-intersection. Turn left/east.

Restored prairie
From there, the trail skirts an old field being restored as prairie. Once returned to grassland, a variety of plants native to Wisconsin will dominate, including big and little bluestem, Canada wild rye, Indiangrass, junegrass, needlegrass, northern prairie dropseed, sideoats, switchgrass, and woolgrass. You’ll also be able to see a number of forbs, or flowering plants that aren’t grasses.

Among the plants you may notice – especially in late June to early July when it blossoms - is the purple knapweed, the trail’s namesake. Unfortunately, knapweed is an invasive species that actually threatens the prairie and other ecosystems.

Native to Eastern European, knapweed probably came to North America in the 1800s via alfalfa shipments. In 1980, it was found in a mere 26 Pacific Northwest counties – but just 20 years later it was in 45 states, including Wisconsin.

Knapweed likes dry areas, such as prairies, and usually takes roots in disturbed areas such as former farm fields. Its roots exude chemicals that prevent other plants from growing.

Owl calls
After a little more than a third of a mile walking alongside the prairie restoration area, the trail veers north back through woodlands between a service building and the park headquarters. If hiking near sunset, listen for great horned owls calling in the pine trees.

In a little more than a quarter mile, the trail crosses the park entry road, so watch for traffic. Then, about a fifth of a mile later, you’ll reach the trail’s end at the Pioneer (Yellow) Trail junction. The 100 Campground is to your right/east.

You have two options here: Go back the way you came or make a loop of it by taking the Pioneer Trail left/west. The Pioneer Trail is the shorter way to go by about a third of a mile; it heads through woodland, edges the north and west sides of 200 Campground, and then comes to the gravel parking lot immediately north of the lot containing your vehicle.

If treating the Knapweed as an out-and-back trail, the hike runs 1.8 miles round trip. The Knapweed-Pioneer loop is about 1.5 miles.

Learn more about nearby day hiking trails in my Day Hiking Trails of St. Croix County.

Enjoy lake, woods in Wisc. northwoods

Town of Hayward Recreational Forest in autumn

Among the Northwoods’ newest hiking trails can be found at the Town of Hayward Recreational Forest in Sawyer County, Wisconsin. The 160-acre facility opened in spring 2011 and is quickly becoming a popular cross country skiing and snowshoeing destination. In spring, summer and fall, it’s also a great place for day hiking.

Combining the rec forest’s Blue and Orange trails into a 1.6-mile walk takes you through a woods past a wetland and then a scenic lake where wildlife is abundant.

Dry periods are the best time to visit the forest, as deer ticks can be a problem in the wet grass that makes up the trail surface; when the grass is mowed, though, this isn’t a issue. In addition, the forest is closed to hiking during Wisconsin’s annual gun deer hunting season, which runs the Saturday before to the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

To reach the rec forest, from U.S. Hwy. 63 at Hayward’s south end, take Vermont Street north. The road curves west, becoming Johnson Street and upon leaving the Hayward city limits turns into County Hill Road. Drive for about two miles. Past N. Gomey Road, the entrance to the park will be on your left, just beyond the gravel pit. The entry road takes you to the parking lot.

Wooded land
From there, hikers have choice of two trails, which in turn lead to several loops. Take the one on the lot’s south side and to the right; it’s nicknamed the Blue Trail because of its color on the rec forest map.

The Blue Trail’s first segment runs straight and leads to a loop. When you come to the T-intersection, you’ve reached that circle.

At that junction, go right. Another straight section runs for a third of a mile. You’ll pass through an oak, aspen and pine forest. The terrain is rolling to hilly.

When coming to the next trail junction, go right onto the Orange Trail, a short 0.49-mile loop. You’ll pass a wetlands and then curve away from it.

On the next sharp curve, you’ll reach the Konieczny Lake shore. It’s named for the property owner from who the land for the rec forest was purchased in 2007.

At the next trail junction, you’ll rejoin the Blue Trail. Go right. The path continues briefly alongside the lake, and then trail and shoreline veer away from another.

More amenities coming
You’ll pass three more junctions as you round back toward your starting point. These are connecting trails that run through the forest’s southeast corner.

At the fourth junction, you’ve reached the segment of the Blue Trail that you came in on before reaching the very first loop. Take this segment by going right and head back to parking lot.

While the forest is underdeveloped compared to the typical state or county park – there are no bathrooms or water – this does makes for a stronger back-to-nature experience. Plans are underway to improve amenities; in fact, a warming house was recently added.

One other benefit: Pets are allowed at the rec forest.

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