Top fall trails of central Wisconsin, Part II

Rib Mountain, Wausau, Wisconsin

There’s no better way

to experience autumn colors around central Wisconsin than a hike.

The brilliant yellows, oranges and red of maples to the scarlet

and russets of oaks...

the crisp, fresh autumn air and the last warm

rays of sunlight before winter arrives...the crunch of fallen leaves and acorns beneath your boots...stopping to enjoy a warm mug of apple cider or a caramel apple pulled from your backpack – it all calls for an afternoon on the trail.

Fortunately, there are plenty of great autumn trails around central Wisconsin to hike. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.

Green Lake County
Beautiful fall colors abound on a former Native American trail that runs on an slightly elevated shoreline over scenic Green lake. The 0.9-mile Winnebago Trail rambles through a southern oak forest and remnant prairie on land that used to be part of the Green Lake Conference Center. The 7 acres of protected land borders 1500-plus feet of the lake’s northern shore. From Green Lake, take Wis. Hwy. 23 west. Turn left/south on Lawson Drive, which eventually becomes Hillside Road. The trailhead is near the historic Lawson water tower and ends at the stone arch beneath Hillside Road.

Marathon County
As September comes to a close, trees for miles around Rib Mountain turn brilliant yellows, oranges and reds. The 1.2-mile Gray Trail at Rib Mountain State Park traverses the hill’s north and south slopes to the observation tower, from which you can view the world around at 722 feet above the surrounding countryside. For a bird’s eye view of the harvest colors across the hillside, consider taking a ski lift ride (at Granite Peak Ski Area) to the top then hiking around the summit and to the 60-foot tower before coming back down. From Interstate 39 in Wausau, exit onto Rib Mountain Drive, heading southwest. Go straight-right/west onto Park Road and ascend the hill. Park in the first lot on the road’s left/south side; the trail leaves from the lot’s southwest corner.

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Vibrant fall colors and fantastic, Rocky Mountain-style rock formations await at Dells of the Eau Claire County Park. A 1.5-mile trail loops around the river, crossing it at a high bridge and dam. The north side of the river is the Ice Age National Scenic Trail while the south side is a county park trail. Among the fall colors are yellow-orange-red sugar maples, amber yellow birch, orange-red mountain maples, and the evergreens hemlock and Canada yew. From Wausau, take County Road Z/Franklin Street east 14 miles. Turn left/north onto County Road Y. The park is in 1.5 miles. Cross the bridge over the river and take the first left/west into the park; follow the road to its end, where there’s a parking lot. A connector to the Ice Age National Scenic Trail heads south from the lot.

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Day hikers can enjoy a walk along the wooded shores of the Big Eau Pleine River at Cherokee County Park near Abbotsford. During autumn, tree leaves turn orange and several shades of yellow on the 1.5-mile round trip Indian Trail. Part of the trail also passes a rapids. From Abbotsford, take Wis. Hwy. 13 south. Go left/east onto County Road N. The park entrance is on the road’s left/north.

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An array of autumn colors can be seen along the Heritage Trail segment in Stratford’s Klemme Park. A little more than a mile of trails arranged in four stacked loops with a couple of stems head through the reserve. Along the way are the russets and oranges of oak, the gold through red of sugar maple, and the amber of yellow birch. Look for the bronze-leafed Kentucky coffeetree and sunburst honey locust planted there in 2017. From the junctions of Wis. Hwy. 152 and 97 in Stratford, take the latter north. Turn right/east onto East North Street. The park entry is on the street’s left/north.

Portage County
A tree house, pond and swing await on the Trail of Reflections at the Schmeeckle Reserve. The 0.5-mile loop on the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point campus is particularly beautiful in autumn when a stand of sugar maples turns yellow, orange and red and their leaves first settle on the trail’s boardwalks. From Division Street in Stevens Point, head east on Northpoint Drive. After Michigan Avenue, turn right/south into the reserve’s parking area. The trail can be accessed by connectors either from the Bird Viewing Area or through the Zimmerman Prairie.

Shawano County
Hikers can enjoy the fall colors of prairie grasses and hardwood leaves on the sand hills at Navarino Wildlife Area. From late September through early October, the wildlife area looks like it’s ablaze as bluestem turns a fiery red while on the sand hills maples turn yellow and orange, the birch gold, and the oak scarlet. The 1-mile lollipop Blue Trail heads along the sand hills. From Shawano, take County Road K south. Turn left/east on South Townline Road then right/south on McDonald Road and left/east onto Lindstein Road. The entry road and parking lot is on the next left/north.

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A gravel trail alongside the Wolf River offers an array of autumn colors at Waukechon Riverside Park south of Shawano. A 1.25-mile round trip trail rambles through the 68-acre site between the two county roads. On sunlit days, the floodplain forest’s leaves glow yellow, orange, tan and russet and reflect off the scenic river. From Shawano, head south on County Road K. Turn right/west onto County Road CCC. The park entry is on the road’s left/south side just before the Wolf River.

Waupaca County
Yellow birch, orange and red maples, and tan and brown oaks line Deer Path Trail, a 1-mile hike through Hartman Creek State Park. The trail circles spring-fed Allen Lake. On sunny days, the autumn leaves reflect off the crystal clear lake waters. From Waupaca, take Wis. Hwy. 54 west. Turn left/south onto Hartman Creek Road. Once in the park, take the first right/west to a parking lot for Allen Lake.

Great trails surround Wis.'s Adams County

Outcropping at Rocky Arbor Nature Park

Adams County sits at the center of outdoors activity in the Wisconsin’s Central Sands region.

Portage County, home to the Buena Vista Grasslands, sits to the northeast. The Ice Age National Scenic Trail runs through Waushara and Marquette counties to the east. Columbia County with the Wisconsin Dells tourist area is directly south. Sauk County to the southwest is home to Rocky Arbor State Park. Juneau County, on the other side of the Wisconsin River, boasts Buckhorn State Park. Wood County and the Wisconsin Rapids metro area is to the northwest.

Each of these counties offer a number of exceptional day hiking opportunities that easily can be reached from Adams County. Among them are:
• Chapel Gorge Trail (Columbia County)
• Buena Vista Grasslands Trail (Portage County)
• Castle Rock Trail (Juneau County)
• Ice Age Trail: Greenwood State Wildlife Refuge segment (Waushara County)
• Ice Age Trail: John Muir County Park segment (Marquette County)
• Rocky Arbor Nature Trail (Sauk County)
• First and Second Loops (Wood County)

Hike heads into prairie chicken grasslands

Male greater prairie chicken in Wisconsin grasslands.

Buena Vista Grasslands Trail map. Click for larger version.

Day hikers can walk through a grasslands sporting the largest population of greater prairie chickens in Wisconsin on the Buena Vista Grasslands Trail.

About a half-mile of old ATV-made paths run through the Buena Vista Grasslands Wildlife Area southwest of Plover. The wildlife area includes 12,700 acres of grasslands in scattered sections across southwest Portage County.

To reach the grasslands, from Adams-Frienship drive north on Wis. Hwy. 13. As nearing Wisconsin Rapids, turn right/east onto Townline Road. This road eventually becomes County Hwy. W. Next, turn left/north onto County Road F/North 120th Street. Then go right/east onto Griffith Avenue. In abou a half-mile, you’ll see old ATV trails on the right/south side of the road. Park on the shoulder.

Take the ATV trail south into the grasslands. The route heads about 600 feet straight south. Along the way, another trail branches off, looping about 0.4 miles back to the road.

Blue vervain, bromegrass, daisy fleabane, goldenrod, hoary alyssum, switchgrass, timothy, wheatgrass, yarrow, all grow across the mixed and managed grasslands. That’s a perfect environment for the greater prairie chicken.

The threatened bird really isn’t a chicken at all but one of four grouse species native to Wisconsin. About the size of its domestic cousin, plumage on the prairie chicken runs from olive- to pale-brown. Beige and white cross-bars runs along its back, belly, breast, wings and tail. The cocks boast orange “air sacs” on their necks. For nests, they line hollows in the ground with grasses, especially where vegetation can hide them.

Before pioneers arrived in Wisconsin, the greater prairie chicken primarily lived in the southern third of the state, where grasslands dominated. Unlike most native species, they initially benefited from the pioneers’ arrival. By the late 1800s when logging eliminated forests across the state, the greater prairie chicken spread to every county. The conversion of that land to farm fields, reforestation, and hunting, however, reduced and isolated the bird’s population. Today, the greater prairie chicken can be found in only six central Wisconsin counties.

Among the best times to hike the trail is April before the grasses have overgrown the trail. If arriving before dawn, you’ll likely witness spring territorial breeding displays if you stay behind an observation blind. The blinds are short wooden boxes with benches and covered viewing ports.

The right after sunrise display consists of the cock dancing about, as calling for a hen. Should another male come onto the scene, the two will fight for the breeding territory through false charges, stomping feet, and leaps.

To protect the great prairie chicken during nesting and the early weeks of their hatchlings’ lives, the grasslands is closed to hiking from May 10 to August 1.

Spot spring’s first flowers on trail segment

Marsh marigolds line the Plover River bottoms on the Green Circle Trail.

Green Circle Trail map. Click map for larger version.

Day hikers can check to see if spring truly has arrived via Wisconsin’s Plover River Trail.

The hike is a segment of the Green Circle Trail, which runs 27 miles around the city of Stevens Point. Offering multiple access points, the Green Circle Trail consists of several segments that carry their own names. The Plover River Trail runs 6.2-miles round trip and is the segment between Wis. Hwy. 66 and Maria Drive.

To reach the trailhead, take Wis. Hwy. 66 northeast out of Stevens Point. Once past the airport, turn right/southeast into the old farmhouse, which is now used a warming house. Between the parking lot and the warming house, take the wide connector trail heading northeast. Once at the Green Circle Trail, turn right/southeast onto the crushed granite trail.

The trail initially heads through an open area. Here you’ll find nest boxes. Though designed for bluebirds, a number of other birds – chickadees, swallows, wrens – use the boxes, making this a great spot for birdwatching. During spring and summer, keep an eye out for various sparrows, including chipping, field, and vesper; during winter, juncos can be spotted. Circling this open area are red-tailed hawks.

Mixed forest
At 0.25 miles, the trail enters a mixed deciduous forest and reaches a loop coming from the north. Continue south. Jack pines dominate the forest. This is another superb spot for birdwatching with cardinals, towhees, and a variety of woodpeckers – downy, hairy, red-bellied, and even a pileated – flitting about.

The trail next skirts Stevens Point Municipal Airport’s east side. Horned larks nest here, and during winter sometimes snow buntings can be seen.

At about a mile, you’ll enter another open area. If you’ve been on this trail many years ago, you’ll probably wonder what happened to the trees. Hundreds of them had to be removed here due to oak wilt.

The trail then enters a red pine plantation and comes to the north side of the City of Stevens Point well field.

Wildflowers
Next the trail arrives at the meandering Plover River. Among the most scenic parts of the entire Green Circle Trail – which is saying a lot, given that almost the entire route is beautiful – here is where wildflowers, especially marsh marigolds, galore can be found.

Preferring marshes, fens and wet woodlands, marsh marigolds are a harbinger of spring, blooming here April through May. The round, bright yellow flower can be up to 1.5 inches wide. Each flower has five to nine petals that turn upward to form a shallow cup. The marigold plant grows 1-2 feet high and can be found all across Wisconsin, though you may be surprised by the incredible number of them on this segment of the trail.

Another early blooming plant you’ll find in the river bottoms – though it’s hardly sweet like the marsh marigold – is skunk cabbage. One of the earliest wildflowers to bloom in spring, it can actually melt the surrounding snow and ice.

Its flower is shaped like a shell and usually brown to purple, though it also can be a quite attractive yellow, that grows 3-6 inches tall. Unfortunately, it gives off a strong odor of carrion, which attracts insects who then unwittingly pollinate its flowers.

Skunk cabbage prefers wet areas, so look for it in depressions. It mainly is found in the state’s southern half.

Hardwood forest
The trail leaves the river bottom after about a half mile and passes through a mature hardwood forest. Watch for beaver stumps along the river. Birds that can be seen in the area during spring and summer include barred and great-horned owls, red-shouldered hawk, and even sandhill cranes.

Next the trail arrives at a connector to a Green Circle trailhead parking lot off of East Maria Drive. Vireos, warblers, and other songbirds hang out in this cutback area during April and May.

The connector marks a good spot to turn back. You can add a half-mile one-way (1-mile round trip) by continuing on the Circle Trail to Hofmeister Drive. Be aware that you’re closing on Interstate 39, however, so the noise level rises.

In winter, the Plover River segment becomes a cross-country ski trail.

Other segments
Other exceptional segments of the Green Circle Trail include:
• Moses Creek segment – Running 2.4 miles, the trail heads through stands of mature hardwoods and white pine and offers an excellent opportunity to see pine warblers, red-eyed vireos and scarlet tanagers. It offers crushed granite surface and the Green Circle Trail’s longest boardwalk, at 0.5 miles long, which passes through wetlands.
• Riverfront segment – The 1.2 miles paved section follows the Wisconsin River from Bukolt Park south through Pfiffner Pioneer Park to the Hwy. 66 bridge. With its location near downtown and the UW-Stevens Point college campus, it’s among the trail’s most popular segments.

Leashed dogs are allowed on all segments of the Green Circle Trail except for the one heading through the Schmeekle Reserve.