Woods, ponds await Superior, Wis., hikers

A pond off the Gandy Dancer Trail in Douglas County.
Photo courtesy of Wisconsin DNR.

Trail segment
rambles to
Gandy Dancer's
northern end

A rustic walk on a former rail line awaits day hikers on the Gandy Dancer State Trail near Superior, Wis.

The Gandy Dancer heads roughly north-south for 98 miles with a number of accessible points in Wisconsin and Minnesota cabin country, making it ideal for a day hike. It runs from St. Croix Falls, Wis., and enters Minnesota via a picturesque crossing of the St. Croix River in Danbury. It then re-enters Wisconsin in Douglas County south of Superior. The northernmost 15 miles of the trail (if including a connector with the Saunders State Trail) runs through Douglas County.

Accessible
In Douglas County and Minnesota, the route sometimes is referred to as the North Gandy Dancer Trail, and for good reason. The northern section possesses a distinct sense of remoteness that the southern section, which passes through farmland and several small towns, sometimes lacks.

Still, access to the trail in Douglas County is plentiful. A 1.7-miles round trip section of the trail makes for a great day hike, taking walkers to the northern terminus.

To reach this segment’s trailhead, drive Wis. Hwy. 35 south from the Superior. At Interfalls Lake, turn right/east onto County Road B. Shortly after Point of Rocks Road, the trail crosses the rural highway. Park well off the side of County Road B.

Take the trail north. Though in farm country, a thick band of trees lines the wide path’s western side. Fields are visible through tree breaks on the eastern side.

Long pond
About 0.4 miles into the walk, the Gandy Dancer passes a long, narrow pond on its east side. The route shortly thereafter enters a small woodlands.

Built atop an old Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie railroad grade, the trail is named for the Gandy Tool Company workers who built the route back in the 1880s. Grade changes always are gradual, a necessity to accommodate the heavy trains.

As the pond gives out, the trail exits the woods and reaches a working rail line. This marks the northern terminus of the Gandy Dancer. Turn back here and retrace your steps back to your vehicle.

If interested in day hiking a more remote section of the trail in Douglas County, to the south a pleasant 2.85-mile stretch runs from South Foxboro-Chaffey Road over Balsam Creek to Drolson Road.

Read more about Douglas County day hiking trails in my Day Hiking Trails of Douglas County guidebook.

Old rail line turned country trail offers pastoral getaway in Wisconsin

King Creek along Saunders State Trail. Photo courtesy of Wisconsin DNR.

A pleasant stroll through the country awaits hikers on a segment of the Saunders State Trail in northwest Wisconsin.

The Saunders State Trail runs more than 8 miles long but need not be hiked in its entirety to be enjoyed. A 4.2-miles round trip segment between the unincorporated towns of Borea and Boylston works well for day hiking.

To reach this segment’s trailhead, from Superior take Wis. Hwy. 35 south. Go west on County Road C. In Borea, turn right/north onto Irondale Road. After crossing the railroad tracks, you’ll come to the trail. Park off the side of the road, and go west on the trail, as if heading back to Superior.

A former Soo Line rail bed, the trail is flat and wide. The first section of the trail heads past farmland, but just enough trees line the route to offer a sense of walking down a wooded country lane.

In late summer, wild raspberries grow alongside the trail. A number of wildflowers also can be spotted from spring through summer.

At 2.1 miles, the trail reaches the gravel Mertes Road. This marks a good spot to turn back.

If you’ve got the energy, continue another 0.7 miles to Boylston, where the trail curves north and then another 1.4 miles to its terminus just beyond Boylston Junction. Between these two communities, the trail borders a county forest.

Alternately, rather than head east from the trailhead, you can walk up to 5.7 miles west to the trail’s terminus in Minnesota. Along the way, the trail crosses first the Pokegama River and then Clear Creek. The 3.3-mile segment from County Road W north of Dewey to the bridge at Clear Creek is particularly scenic and includes a bridge over the Pokegama.

Multiple uses for trail, including off-road vehicles, mountain bicyclists, and horses, are allowed.

Learn about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

Several superb day hiking trails await visitors to Superior, Wis., area

Big Manitou Falls

Superior stands among one of the few challengers in northwest Wisconsin to St. Croix Falls as “the city of trails.” In addition to scenic municipal trails, no less than four state trails find their terminus here. Among the Wisconsin offerings:
g Big Manitou Falls overlook trails – Just a few miles south of the largest metro area of northern Minnesota and Wisconsin flows the highest waterfall in either state. Short overlook trails in Pattison State Park offer a variety of impressive views of Big Manitou Falls.
g Gandy Dancer State Trail – This interstate trail re-enters Wisconsin from Minnesota south of Superior and runs for 15 minutes until joining the Saunders State Trail. A pleasant 2.85-mile stretch runs from South Foxboro-Chaffey Road over Balsam Creek to Drolson Road.
g Millennium Trail – The 1.6-mile trail runs from Billings Drive to Elmira Avenue in the Superior Municipal Forest on the city’s southwest side. The trailhead is at the 28th Street and Wyoming Avenue intersection.
g Osaugie Trail – Beautiful views of Superior Bay, a marina and city piers abound on this urban trail, which runs for five miles from Marina Drive at the U.S. Hwy 2/53 junction south to Moccasin Mike Road. It is wheelchair accessible.
g Pokegama Trail – Also in the municipal forest, this 6.14-mile trail is popular with cyclists (a local cycling club actually maintains the trail). The trailhead is north of Central Avenues east of the Cemetery Access Road intersection.
g Saunders State Trail segment – The 8-mile trail runs southwest of town through several small communities. Try the 3.3-mile segment from County Road W north of Dewey to the bridge at Clear Creek; the route crosses the Pokegama River.
g Tri-County Corridor Trail segment – The well-maintained trail with a crushed limestone surface links Superior to Ashland. Pick up the trail on 57th Avenue at the Osaugie Trail terminus and turn around at the second stream crossing for a 2.3-mile round trip.
g Wild Rivers State Trail-Amnicon River segment – The 104-mile trail from Rice Lake finds its terminus here (or depending on your perspective, it’s beginning). Head southeast of the city to Swamp Road for a 5.4-mile out-and-back hike across the Amnicon River and two other waterways to Mikrot Road.

Read more about family friendly day hiking trails in my Headin' to the Cabin guidebooks.