Top fall trails of northwest Wisconsin, Part II

View from top of Timms Hill

There’s no better way

to experience autumn colors around Northwest 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 Northwest Wisconsin to hike. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.

Price County
An array of autumn colors await day hikers on the trail to Wisconsin’s highest point. The 0.5-mile round trip Timms Hill Trail heads to the summit and a wooden observation tower on Timm’s Hill. The drumlin rises to 1,951.5 feet. Northern hardwoods – mostly maples of yellow and red leaves with a few oaks and other trees mixed it, resulting in a cornucopia of harvest colors – cover and surround the hill at Timms Hill County Park. To reach the trailhead, from Ogema take Wis. Hwy. 87 east. Turn right/south onto County Road C then straight-left/east onto County Road RR. Watch for the signed entrance to the park and turn left/northeast onto that road. Use the parking lot for the Timms Hill Trail. From the parking lot, go north on the Timms Hill Lake Trail. Then take the first left and head west to the hill. A wide dirt path, the trail is shaded until reaching the summit.

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Northern hardwoods and pines await hikers on the Wintergreen Trail in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. The 5.6-mile trail consists of four loops that head over rolling terrain. A perfect autumn hike, the forest is diverse, consisting of pine and balsam fir mixed with plenty of yellow-leaved aspen and birch in the bogs and orange-red maple, buttery basswood, and russet-colored oaks on the higher ground. From Fifield, drive five miles east on Wis. Hwy. 70. The parking lot for the trailhead is on the left/north; a national forest pass is required to park your vehicle.

Sawyer County
A beautiful forest walk with an array of autumn leaf colors awaits day hikers of the 4.9-mile Rim Creek Loop in Flambeau River State Forest. Sugar and red maples dominate the state forest but quaking aspen, birch and white ash also can be found here. From the village of Winter, take County Road W east into the state forest. After crossing the Flambeau River, turn at the first left/north into a parking lot.

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Hikers can enjoy a variety of autumn colors on the Namekagon-Laccourt Oreilles Portage Trail in the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway near Hayward. The easy, 0.8-mile loop memorializes a famous 18th century route where fur traders and explorers carried their canoes between rivers. Each fall, the second-growth forest here brightens with the amber, oranges and reds of sugar maples, the yellow of birch, and the russet and tans of oaks while red pine and spruce offer green accents. From Hayward, travel south on Wis. Hwy. 27. Turn left/west onto Rainbow Road then right/north onto Rolf Road. The trailhead is at a parking lot at the first left/west.

Taylor County
Day hikers can enjoy a hemlock and aspen grove and a panoramic view of a forest on the East Lake segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. The 13-mile round trip makes for a spectacular fall hike. The trail heads east from a wayside into the Taylor County Forest. The hilly forest mainly consists of mixed hardwoods with maples and oaks, resulting in a show of yellow, orange, red and brown leaves throughout autumn. Signs along the trail identify types of trees in the forest. A hemlock grove, aspen regeneration project, and 1780-foot high Moose Mountain are other highlights of the trail. From Medford, take Wis. Hwy. 13 north about 15 miles. After crossing the Black River, look for a wayside on the road’s right/east side. Park there.

Washburn County
A pleasant walk through the woods along a wild river await hikers on the Trego Nature Trail in the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. Early autumn is a good time for those who enjoy fall colors. The trail parallels the Namekagon River through a woods of pine, yellow-leaved aspen and white birch, and russet-colored oaks, with views of the waterway. Hikers are likely to see a variety of wildlife or at least signs of it. White-tailed deer, turtles, fox, muskrat, bobcats, squirrels, snowshoe hares, and great blue heron abound in the riverway. Watch for otters and their slides, muddy paths cleared in the river’s bank in which they move from land to water. From Trego village, take U.S. Hwy. 63 north. About 1.3 miles from visitor center and after crossing the bridge over the Namekagon River, take the first right. The parking lot is at end of this entrance road. Look for the trailhead on the parking lot’s east side. The trail is fairly well-maintained.

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A pretty autumn hike through a Northwoods forest awaits hikers on the Trego Lake Trail. The 1.9-mile trail loops through the forest next to Trego Lake in the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. The comely trail presents the yellow of birch trees leaves and orange and browns of various oaks amid the mixed hardwood and pine forest. You stand a good chance of spotting white-tailed deer and ruffed grouse along the way. From Trego, drive north on U.S. Hwy. 53. Go left/west on North River Road. In two miles, turn left/south into a parking lot. Take the stem trail from the lot’s southern side to the main trail, where you’ll go left/east.

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Day hikers can enjoy a pleasant walk along a classic trout stream during autumn at the Beaver Brook Wildlife Area south of Spooner. The East Trail, with its many side trails, goes for a little more than two miles. Most of the trail runs beneath amber- and red-leafed maple, tan- and russet-colored oak, yellow aspen, and tamarack, whose needles turn a bright orange. From Spooner head south on U.S. Hwy. 53. Turn left/south onto Cranberry Drive. After about a mile, just before road curves southeast away from Beaver Brook, turn right into the parking lot.

Maps of 5 great Sawyer County day hikes

Visitors to Wisconsin’s Sawyer County can enjoy a number of major recreational areas, many of which contain great day hiking trails.

Five great county day hikes and maps for them include:

Birkie Ridge Trail
Though known primarily for the annual ski race held on it, Wisconsin’s massive Birkebeiner Trail system also makes a great hiking route in summer. With more than 66 miles of trails, all maintained by the nonprofit American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation, “The Birkie Trail,” as its fans affectionately call it, offers multiple trailheads, loops and variations. One segment that’s easy to locate and hike is the 2.9-mile round trip Birkie Ridge Trail.

Black Lake Trail
Hikers can learn about the history of Northwoods logging while enjoying excellent water views on the Black Lake Trail in Sawyer and Ashland counties. Most of Black Lake is in Ashland County – though to get there you’ll probably spend most of your time driving through Sawyer County.

Blue and Orange Trails
Among the Northwoods’ newest hiking trails can be found at the Town of Hayward Recreational Forest in Sawyer County. 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.

Namekagon-Laccourt Oreilles Portage Trail
Though the Namekagon-Laccourt Oreilles Portage Trail memorializes a famous 18th century route where fur traders and explorers carried their canoes between rivers, hikers will head through a landscape much changed from that day. In fact, those fur traders and explorers probably wouldn’t recognize the wild area. Located near Hayward in the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, the modern 0.8-mile round trip trail is very close to the original portage route. A fur trader even operated a winter post during 1784 near the trail.

Totagatic River State Wildlife Area jeep trail
Day hikers can ramble alongside one of Wisconsin’s few remaining wilderness streams on a jeep trail in the Totagatic River State Wildlife Area. Though not a designated trail, the old logging road runs about a mile (2-miles round trip) through a forested area along the Totagatic Flowage’s northwest side. The flowage marks a wide swath of the meandering Totagatic River, which in 2009 became Wisconsin’s fifth stream to receive Wild River status.

Read more about these and nearby trails in Day Hiking Trails of Sawyer County.

Day hiking trails abound in Sawyer County

The Tuscobia State Trail cuts across southern Sawyer County.

A recreation mecca, Sawyer County sits in the heart of the Wisconsin Northwoods. Every winter, tens of thousands of cross-country skiers descend upon its county seat, Hayward, for the annual Birkebeiner race, North America’s most popular cross country ski marathon. During summer, off-road mountain bike riders flock to Sawyer County for the annual Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival, the nation’s largest mass start mountain bike race. Depending upon the season, on any given day campers, fishing boats, and snowmobiles criss-cross the landscape.

All of these cross country, mountain bike and snowmobile trails, campgrounds and clear blue lakes also make for great day hiking opportunities.

When to Visit
The best months to day hike Sawyer County are May through September. Depending on the year, April and October also can be pleasant.

As with the rest of Wisconsin, summers can be humid, especially July and August. Rain can occur during the afternoon even when the morning is sunny, so always check the weather forecast before heading out.

November through March usually is too cold for day hiking. Once snow falls, trails typically are used for cross-country skiing, snowmobiling or snowshoeing. Early spring often means muddy trails thanks to snowmelt and rainfall.

How to Get There
Several major highways offer access to Sawyer County.

For Minnesota and western Wisconsin residents, U.S. Hwy. 63 parallels the scenic riverway, running through Hayward on its way to Bayfield County.

Northern Illinois and southern and eastern Wisconsin residents can take U.S. Hwy. 51 north then head west on Wis. Hwy. 70 to access either the Flambeau River State or the Chequamegon National forests.

Northern Michigan residents can use a combination of highways, which can be accessed from U.S. Hwy. 2 in Ironwood, Mich. Wis. Hwy. 13 heads into the Chequamegon and via Hwy. 70 connects to the Flambeau River State Forest. Hwy. 63 heads south to the scenic riverway.

Great trails to hike
Five great Sawyer County trails to day hike include:
g Black Lake Trail (Chequamegon National Forest)
g Blue and Orange trails (Hayward)
g Rim Creek Loop (Flambeau River State Forest)
g Snuss Trail (Flambeau River State Forest)
g Tuscobia State Trail

Read more about these and nearby trails in Day Hiking Trails of Sawyer County.

Trails follow great rivers, circle glacial lakes

Snuss Trail near Flambeau River

A hat-trick of major rivers and dozens of glacial lakes offer a variety of trails for day hikers to enjoy in Sawyer County, situated in the middle of the Wisconsin’s Northwoods.

In the county’s northwest corner, the Namekagon River sits in the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. The popular fishing, camping and hiking destination runs west to Trego and northeast into the Chequemegon National Forest.

The Chippewa River cuts through the county’s center, with its forks flowing through the Chequemegon National Forest.

On the county’s eastern side, the two forks of the Flambeau River offer kayaking and numerous fishing opportunities in the Flambeau River State Forest.

In addition to the scenic riverway and national and state forests, the Tuscobia State Trail heads across southern Sawyer County. The hiking and bicycling trail is built on an old railroad bed.

Among the county’s top day hiking trails are:
g Lakeside walks, fire towers await day hikers in Chequamegon N.F. (Chippewa River)
g Variety of wildlife visible on day hike through woodlands (Flambeau River)
g Hike portage route of 18th century fur traders, explorers (Namekagon River)
g Learn about Northwoods’ logging history on Black Lake Trail (glacial lake)
g Old railbed turned hiking trail passes farms, lakes, forestland (southern Sawyer County)

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

Great trails abound in Northwoods county

Sparsely populated, northern Wisconsin’s Sawyer County offers a plethora of great day hiking trails.

Hayward, in the northwest corner, is the lone town of more than a thousand residents in Sawyer County. It’s home of the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame, which boasts the oft-photographed 200-foot fiberglass muskie. The world’s largest fiberglass structure, you can climb into the fish’s mouth for a view of the town. U.S. Hwy. 63 runs through Hayward, which sits alongside the Namekagon River.

The village of Winter in the southwest corner serves as a crossroads for accessing the main sections of the Flambeau River State Forest. Wis. Hwy. 70 runs through the town.

Three other small villages and a smattering of unincorporated communities dot the rest of the county.

Among the county’s top day hiking trails are:
g Namekagon-Laccourt Oreilles Portage Trail (Hayward)
g St. Croix National Scenic Riverway trails (Hayward)
g Totagatic River State Wildlife Area jeep trail (Hayward)
g Rim Creek Loop (Winter)
g Tuscobia State Trail (southern Sawyer County)

Read more about these and nearby trails in Day Hiking Trails of Sawyer County.

5 great trails that run through Sawyer Co.

Namekagon River in Sawyer County, Wis.

Imagine a place where you can walk quiet paths lined with red-leaved maple and green-needled spruce, where grouse drum and dance in the wide open each spring, where osprey and bald eagles dip out of the sky upon eyeing a river fish, of trails that once were historic portage routes used by fur traders, of routes alongside a rapids-filled river now conquered by modern kayakers. The place is real: It’s called Sawyer County, Wisconsin.

A recreation mecca, Sawyer County sits in the heart of the Wisconsin Northwoods. Every winter, tens of thousands of cross-country skiers descend upon its county seat, Hayward, for the annual Birkebeiner race, North America’s most popular cross country ski marathon. During summer, off-road mountain bike riders flock to Sawyer County for the annual Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival, the nation’s largest mass start mountain bike race. Depending upon the season, on any given day campers, fishing boats, and snowmobiles criss-cross the landscape.

All of these cross country, mountain bike and snowmobile trails, campgrounds and clear blue lakes also make for great day hiking opportunities.

Credit the last ice age for ensuring Sawyer County can host these many recreational activities. Glaciers scraped away most of the topsoil and left sandy soil in its wake, largely from lakes formed by the melting ice sheet.

The poor soils and short growing season doesn’t make for great farmland, ensuring forests of sugar maple, basswood, and red maple, as well as aspen, birch, spruces and firs to stand. In addition, the dense glacial sediment allows numerous lakes exist.

Among the great trails that can be found in Sawyer County are:
g Bass Lake Trail
g Black Lake Trail
g Namekagon-Laccourt Oreilles Portage Trail
g Little Falls-Slough Gundy Scenic Area Trail
g Tuscobia Trail

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

Walk alongside rapids-filled river on trail

Little Falls/Slough Gundy. Photo courtesy of  Price
County Tourism Department.

Trail leads to whitewater
river popular with paddlers

Day hikers can enjoy a peaceful walk between a couple of the Flambeau River’s famous rapids on the Little Falls-Slough Gundy Scenic Area Trail in northern Wisconsin.

Located in the Flambeau River State Forest, the looping trail with two spurs is just a little over a mile.

Kayaking
To reach the trail from Sawyer County, in Winter take County Road W east into the state forest then turn south on County Road M. In 7.5 miles, after crossing the South Fork of the Flambeau River, watch for the signage and take a right/west into the parking lot.

Once parked, hike the stem trail west. At the junction, go right/northwest. You’ll hear the roaring rapids as descending about 60 feet in elevation to the Flambeau’s Slough Gundy, a class II-III rapids.

The trail crosses an intermittent stream, heading north a bit on a spur trail. When the trail peters out in less than 500 feet, turn back. Upon reaching the trail intersection, continue south along the river.

Wild whitewater paddling is popular on the Flambeau, and you’ll likely see kayakers working their way through the rugged rapids. Some kayakers use this segment of the trail to portage between Little Falls and Slough Gundy for repeated trips through the rapids.

Class V rapids
Fishing and picnicking also are popular along this stretch of the river. You may want to pack your own basket to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the boulder-filled river ensconced in pines.

The trail next comes to Little Falls, a class V rapids. As at the Slough Gundy, the trail continues a little south on a spur. After a couple of hundred feet, turn back, and at the trail junction, go right/northeast.

At the next intersection, you’ve reached the stem trail. Head right/east back to the parking lot.

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

Author releases day hiking guidebook to Sawyer County, Wis.

The first in a pair of new hiking guidebooks I’m releasing this holiday season is now available. Day Hiking Trails of Sawyer County describes more than a hundred trails in Sawyer County, which sits in the heart of the Wisconsin Northwoods. A popular tourist destination, Sawyer County is host to the annual American Birkebeiner, the largest cross-country ski race in North America. Trails in the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, the Chequamegon National Forest, and the Flambeau River State Forest can be found in the volume. The book marks the seventh title in the popular and bestselling “Hittin’ the Trail” hiking guide series. It is available for purchase online.

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

Old logging trail heads alongside newly designated Wild River in northern Wisconsin

Frog in Totagatic River. Photo courtesy of Wisconsin DNR.

Route parallels
Totagatic Flowage

Day hikers can ramble alongside one of Wisconsin’s few remaining wilderness streams on a jeep trail in the Totagatic River State Wildlife Area.

Though not a designated trail, the old logging road runs about a mile (2-miles round trip) through a forested area along the Totagatic Flowage’s northwest side. The flowage marks a wide swath of the meandering Totagatic River, which in 2009 became Wisconsin’s fifth stream to receive Wild River status.

Waterfowl friendly
To reach the trailhead, from Hayward take Wis. Hwy. 77 north/west. Turn left/north onto Wis. Hwy. 27. Park off the road on the west side of Hwy. 27 across from Dam Road. The jeep trail heads northwest from the parking area.

Most of the trail is under the cover of northern hardwoods, which makes for a scenic walk during autumn.

The Totagatic runs 70 miles through five counties. Its headwaters are in southern Bayfield County. Popular among canoeists, the cold and clear river flows into Totagatic Lake then to Nelson Lake and into the flowage. Hwy. 27 and the dam split Nelson Lake from the flowage.

Expect to spot a number of waterfowl along the hike. The bird-friendly flowage was constructed in the 1950s, and the 272-acre Totagatic River Wildlife Area has long been designated a state waterfowl restoration area. A mix of habitats – from hardwood forests and open water to swamps and upland grasslands – make up the wildlife area.

Namegakon tributary
If you ask locals about the river or read printed materials on it, you’re likely to run into some confusing appellations. Spellings and pronunciations of the river are about as murky as its name suggests – “Totagatic” is derived from the Ojibwa word “Totogan,” which translates as “boggy river.” Maps, plat books, tour guides variously spell the river’s name as “Totagatic” and “Totogatic.” Local pronunciations range from “Tuh-TO-ga-tec” and “To-TA-ga-tec” to “To-to-GAT-ic” and “To-BA-tec.”

From the flowage, the river heads roughly west. Northwest of Minong, it turns south and eventually flows into the Namekagon River.

Back in the wildlife area, the trail peters out at the edge of the flowage, a grasslands that the river runs through the center of. As an old logging road, expect parts of the trail to be overgrown, so don jeans and insect repellent for the hike.

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

Newest segment of Birkie heads through classic northern woods

Birkie Ridge Trail makes
for colorful autumn day hike

Though known primarily for the annual ski race held on it, Wisconsin’s massive Birkebeiner Trail system also makes a great hiking route in summer.

With more than 66 miles of trails, all maintained by the nonprofit American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation, “The Birkie Trail,” as its fans affectionately call it, offers multiple trailheads, loops and variations. One segment that’s easy to locate and hike is the 2.9-mile round trip Birkie Ridge Trail.

A new trail in the system, Birkie Ridge opened in August 2013. The Birkie system runs between Hayward and Cable with this segment in Sawyer County just south of the Bayfield County line.

To reach a trailhead in Sawyer County, from Hayward take U.S Hwy. 63 north. After passing the Northern Lights Road junction, the trailhead with parking lot is on the left/east.

Trail system decades in the making
The trail heads south from the lot then quickly turns east. Built for cross-country skiing and bicycling races, Birkie Ridge is wide and boasts erosion mats beneath its surface.

All of Birkie Ridge sits in a classic Northern hardwoods forest of sugar maple, basswood, beech, white ash, and yellow birch, making for a colorful autumn walk. During the first 0.3 miles of the hike, hemlock and fir is more common in the tree mix.

About 1.2 miles in, the trail reaches a loop. Go right/southeast on a route that meanders through the woods.

The entire Birkie trail system is a 40-plus year project in the making. The first cross-country ski race was held on it in 1973; today, it’s the largest race of its kind in North America, attracting about 10,000 participants and 15,000 spectators.

At 1.9 miles, the loop reaches a stem trail that connects to the Birkie Trail, which leads to other routes in the system. Upon reaching the stem’s end, turn back. The stem trail runs 0.15 miles.

How the trail got its name
Northwoods promoter Tony Wise is largely credited with starting the race and helping to popularize modern-day cross-country skiing. In 1972, he built cross-country trails at his Telemark Ski Area near Cable then started the Birkie race a year later.

Upon reaching the loop’s eastern terminus, go right/northwest to add a little variety to the hike.

The Birkie trail system gets its name from Norway’s Birkebeinerrennet cross-country event, which commemorates when skiers in 1206 AD smuggled the king’s illegitimate son to safety during a civil war. The skiers were soldiers in the Birkebiener Party.

About two-thirds of a mile later, the loop reaches its western terminus. Go straight/west and retrace your steps back to the parking lot.

Be aware that the Birkie also is used by mountain bikers and joggers. There’s plenty of space for both, but on race days the trail system will be closed to hikers; check www.birkie.com/trail to see when events are planned.

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

Cornucopia of leaf colors line Wisconsin’s Rim Creek Loop

Sugar maple leaves in autumn.
Photo courtesy of Wisconsin DNR.

Flambeau River State Forest
loop passes maples, birch

A beautiful forest walk with an array of autumn leaf colors awaits day hikers of the Rim Creek Loop in Wisconsin’s Flambeau River State Forest.

Located in Sawyer County east of Hayward, the trail runs about 4.9 miles. To reach the trailhead, from the village of Winter, take County Road W east into the state forest. After crossing the Flambeau River, turn at the first left/north into a parking lot.

From the lot, go on the trail heading left/north. This stem connects to a series of stacked loops that make up the southern end of the Flambeau Hills Trail System. Upon reaching the first junction, go right/east; this puts you on the Short Swing Loop.

The trail navigates some ups and downs across knolls but is nothing that can’t be handled. In any case, you won’t notice, especially if it’s autumn, as you’ll be too enamored with the colorful display of leaves.

Maple forest
Maples dominate the state forest. The two most common here are the sugar maple, which provides the best sap for the maple syrup that goes on your pancakes, and the red maple, a common tree in second-growth forests. In autumn, the sugar maples’ leaves glow a brilliant orange while red maples turn carmine.

Continue on the main trail (veer right/east-north) at the next two trail junctions. Doing so takes you onto the Rim Creek Loop proper.

You’ll soon pass groves of quaking aspen, the preferred habitat for ruffed grouse, one of the most popular upland game birds to hunt. The thinning brush and the aspen’s amber leaves help make the usually well-camouflaged ground birds easier to spot.

Ruffed grouse sport a crest on their heads and have a banded tail with a thick black then gray terminal band. During spring, to attract females the males will beat their wings as standing atop logs.

Rim Creek
A little more than a mile from the trailhead, the path crosses small Rim Creek, which links a couple of ponds to the Flambeau River. In this wetter area, you’re more likely to see yellow birch, whose autumn leaves look bright as a sun on a child’s drawing.

North of the creek, the route intersects a small loop off the main trail; ignore the loop and the two junctions leading to it.

Of course, maples, aspen and birch aren’t the only trees you’ll notice along the walk. Another is the American basswood, which boast multiple trunks and in autumn olive-colored heart-shaped leaves.

In another mile, the trail reaches the top of the loop and the beginning of the next stacked loop. Go left/east then at the following intersection, head left/south, putting you back on the Rim Creek Loop stacked loop.

Alongside Flambeau River
For the next two miles or so, the Flambeau River will be on your right/west with some nice views of it below you. A major tributary of the Chippewa River, smallmouth bass and muskie are numerous in its waters.

In about 0.6 miles from the last intersection, the trail recrosses the Rim Creek you went over on the loop’s other side.

One other hardwood you’re likely to spot in autumn is white ash. Whitetail deer love to munch on its saplings. Each fall, its leaves turn red then a deep maroon.

The next junction brings you back to the Short Swing trail; stay right/southwest. At the intersection after that, you’ve reached the stem trail; go left/south back to the parking lot.

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

Classic Northwoods experiences found on Sawyer County, Wis., trails

Remnants of the old Pacwawong logging dam create a ledge in the
Namekagon River. Photo courtesy of St. Croix National Scenic
Riverway NPS.

Lakes abundant with wildlife, a historic portage route, and classic Northwoods forests await day hikers on the west side of Wisconsin’s Sawyer County.

Among the most popular of Wisconsin Northwoods counties to visit, the county can best be reached from U.S. Hwy. 63, which cuts through the northwest corner along the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway.

Some of the great day hiking trails on the county’s west side include:
g Blue and Orange trails – Among the Northwoods’ newest hiking trails can be found at the Town of Hayward Recreational Forest. 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.
g Kissick Swamp Wildlife Area North Trail – Park at the Kissick Swamp Wildlife Area lot on the south side of West Chippnazie Lake Road, west of the intersection with Company Lake Road. A trail winds for about a half-mile one-way (1-mile round trip) through woodlands on the wildlife area’s north side.
g Namekagon-Laccourt Oreilles Portage Trail – The 0.8-mile loop memorializes a famous 18th century route where fur traders and explorers carried their canoes between rivers, hikers will head through a landscape much changed from that day. To reach the trailhead, from Rainbow Road turn right/north onto Rolf Road; upon entering the scenic riverway, take the first left/west. A parking lot will be on the right.
g Pacwawong Lake Trail – Less a walking path than a jeep trail for boat ramp access to Pacwawong Lake in the scenic riverway, this 0.4-mile round trip is remote enough that there won’t be much if any traffic. From Cable Sunset/Totalatic Road, head south on Mossback Road, taking the first left/east; park in the gravel lot at the boat ramp and walk back to the road.
g Timber Lawn Trail – The 1.2-mile round trip southwest of Hayward runs through woods to an overlook of the Namekagon’s north shore in the scenic riverway. From Old 24/Nursery Road (which parallels Hwy. 63), take Timber Lawn Road south until it becomes a jeep trail, where you can park. You can extend the trail by making a loop from the overlook via the jeep trail that heads north back to your vehicle.
g Totagatic River State Wildlife Area Jeep Trail – Park in the lot on the west side of Wis. Hwy. 27 across from Dam Road. A jeep trail heads through forested area along the northwest side of Totagatic Flowage for about a mile one-way (2-miles round trip).

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

Old railbed turned trail passes farms, lakes

Tuscobia State Trail near Couderay. Photo courtesy TravelWisconsin.com

Tuscobia State Trail heads through Sawyer County

Among the premier hiking routes in Wisconsin’s Sawyer County is the Tuscobia State Trail.

Running past farmland, through quaint villages, and across thick forests, the trail begins southwest of Sawyer County in Rice Lake and runs 74 miles northeast to Park Falls. It follows an abandoned railroad grade converted to a hiking and multi-use trail.

Construction of the Omaha rail line that is now the Tuscobia begin in 1899 and lasted for some 15 years. By the 1940s when logging was no longer viable in the region, the rail line saw much less use and eventually ended operations altogether. Bridges over some waterways were removed in 1967, and the following year locals across the region began a long effort to convert it to a hiking trail.

Hiking the trail anytime in summer and autumn will prove enjoyable. Note that the trail closes Nov. 15-Dec. 15 for deer hunting season. Also, ATVs can use the trail from Birchwood to Park Falls April 15-Nov. 15.

The trail can be hiked in segments, with each one treated as an out-and-back trail. Among the Sawyer County trailheads (from west to east) are:

Couderay
East of town, the trail runs alongside the Couderay River. Access the trail where it crosses Valesh Road south of Wis. Hwy. 70.

Radisson
The trail passes the Radisson Flowage on the Chippewa River east of town; west of Radisson, it rambles alongside the Couderay River. The trail can be picked up where it crosses either Hwy. 40 or Ogden Avenue in the block south of Hwy. 70 (aka as Omaha Street).

Ojibwa Park
The Tuscobia runs through a forested area on either side of the park. Ojibwa Park is off of Hwy. 70 east of Radisson; from the parking lot, take the stem trail south to the Tuscobia.

Winter
Going east of town on the trail takes you close to the north shore of 676-acre Lake Winter and over the Brunet River. Pick up the trail in Winter where it crosses Park Street, Main Street, or Crawford Street within a block south of Hwy. 70.

Draper
East of town, the trail runs through a densely wooded area and enters the Flambeau River State Forest. Access the trail anywhere in Draper, as it runs alongside Hwy. 70 through town.

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

Day hike to peatlands, scenic lake view in northern Wisconsin

Bass Lake Peatland State Natural Area. Photo courtesy of Wisconsin DNR.

Northwoods forest offers variety of songbirds

Day hikers can discover a clear lake next to peat bogs in Wisconsin’s Bass Lake Peatland State Natural Area.

The Bass Lake Trail runs about 0.84-miles one-way (1.68-miles round trip). Part of the trail is in Sawyer County’s Flambeau River State Forest with another part in Price County’s Bass Lake Peatland. One of the best features of the trail is you’ll never have to walk through the wetlands.

Autumn leaves
To reach the trail, from Winter, Wis., head east on County Road W into the state forest. Turn left/north on Tower Hill Road then go right/east onto Bass Lake Road. Park where the road dead ends.

The Bass Lake Trail travels roughly south through a rich forest of basswood, sugar maple, and white ash. This diversity of trees makes for fantastic autumn leaf displays.

After 0.33 miles, the trail turns southeast, continuing through the northern mesic forest. Expect to see a number of songbirds here, including cedar waxwing, gray jay, Lincoln’s sparrow, Nashville, palm and yellow-rumped warblers, and the yellow-bellied flycatcher. As closing on the shore, often the common loon can be heard and bald eagles seen flying overhead.

The trail next heads straight south in 0.13 miles and follows the county line. Then, in another 0.13 miles, the route meanders southeast.

Peat bogs
For the next quarter mile, the woods transitions to a mature second-growth white pine forest that surrounds the lake. Hemlock grows here as well, but usually only as seedlings; whitetail deer find the tree’s leaves tasty, and their heavy feeding prevents much growth beyond a few years.

Upon reaching Bass Lake’s northwest shores, the clearness of the deep, 94-acre waterbody will make an immediate impression. Small aquatic plants known as sterile rosettes live across Bass Lake’s bottom and absorb all of the sediment’s carbon dioxide, resulting in high oxygen levels.

Look across the lake to its southern and eastern shores for the open peatland. Peat largely consists of waterlogged, partially decayed vegetation and is a major store of carbon dioxide. A carpet of sphagnum mosses covers the peat bogs with occasional hummocks supporting black spruce, tamarack, or shrubs.

After taking in the views of the lake and peat bogs, return the way you came.

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

Trail heads past former cranberry bog

Graphic courtesy of U.S. Forest Service

An old cranberry bog awaits day hikers at the Sobieski Flowage Scenic Area in northern Rusk County, Wis.

Tucked away in the southeastern corner of Flambeau River State Forest, the Sobieski Flowage Scenic Area Trail runs about 0.4-miles one-way (0.8-miles total). The majority of it is in Rusk County with the flowage itself in Sawyer County.

To reach the trail from Sawyer County, in Winter head east on County Road W to the state forest then turn south on County Road M. After crossing Skinner Creek, take the first left/east, which is a dirt road that leads to the flowage’s southern shores. Park in the lot along the shoreline then walk the jeep trail to the road on the out-and-back route.

Some maps refer to the man-make lake as Skinner Creek Flowage, but the trail and scenic area itself is named for Ed Sobieski, who in the 1940s converted his dairy farm here to a cranberry operation. By diking North Fork Skinner Creek, he built the flowage in 1948 to ensure a steady water source for the berries.

As the trail heads west, it passes what once were Sobieski’s cranberry bogs, which consist of soft, marshy peat soil. The cranberry plant with its long-running vines prefer such a habitat.

Contrary to popular opinion, cranberries don’t grow underwater or on the water’s surface. Instead, the night before the harvest, growers flood the bogs with about 18 inches of water. During the harvest, reels nicknamed eggbeaters churn through the water, loosening berries from their vines. As cranberries have a small pocket of air within them, they float on the water surface where they can be easily corralled and loaded into trucks. This wet harvesting typically occurs from mid-September until a week or two before Thanksgiving.

The flowage provided Sobieski with the water he needed to flood his bogs each autumn. Today, the ditches leading from the flowage to the bogs remain as blue streams with green grasses rising between them. Hike the trail in June, and you’ll be treated to lily pad blooms on the flowage.

When Sobieski retired in 1973, he sold the land to Wisconsin so it could become part of the state forest. Today, the scenic area includes habitats for songbird, ruffed grouse, and woodcock.

Part of the trail lacks shade, so be sure to wear sunhat and sunscreen.

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

Lakeside walks await in Chequamegon N.F.

Walking paths and jeep trails lace northern Wisconsin’s Chequamegon National Forest, offering a variety of day hiking experiences.

While hardly an exhaustive list, some great day hiking trails in the Saywer County portion of the national forest – which is northeast of Hayward – will take you to historic streams, up fire towers, and alongside "Quiet Lakes." Trails include:
g 315-319 Trail – The 0.75–mile out-and-back jeep trail (1.5-miles round trip) heads through a thick forest of mixed hardwoods. Park off of Forest Road 319 at the trailhead, which is the first left north of County Road B; turn back at Forest Road 315.
g Black Lake Trail – A 4-mile loop around the classic Northwoods lake includes nine interpretive signs about the history of logging in the area. Park at the Black Lake campground.
g Clam Lake Lookout Tower Trail – The jeep trail climbs 64 feet over 0.2 miles (0.4-miles round trip) to a fire tower at 1522 feet elevation, providing views of more than a dozen lakes and the West Fork Chippewa River. You can more than triple the hike’s distance by continuing on the jeep trail northeast of the tower. Park off the jeep trail at its junction with Forest Road 208 north of Wis. Hwy. 77.
g Fishtrap Creek Trail – The hiking trail heads 1.1-miles (2.2-miles round trip) through a mixed hardwoods and pine forest from Log Lodge Road (immediately east of Fish Trap Lake Road/Forest Road 1661) to Fishtrap Creek. The creek connects Fishtrap Lake and the East Fork Chippewa River.
g Lost Land Lake Trail – A brief 0.4-mile round trip hike through a woods, the trail ends at an overview of Lost Land Lake, one of Wisconsin's three Quiet Lakes in which jet or water skiing are not allowed. Park off of Upper A Road at the trailhead, which is the first right east of Wilson Creek.
g Mukwonago Lake Trail – The 2.5-mile loop skirts the west shore of Mukwonago (aka Larson) Lake, climbs a hill to 1450 feet elevation, and then turns back at a pond. Park to the side of the gate at the trailhead on the south side of Hwy. 77 east of North Neumaier Road.
g West Fork Lookout Tower Trail – The 0.4-mile out-and-back jeep trail (0.8-miles round trip) is uphill for the first half of the walk to a fire tower at 1495 feet elevation, which offers great views of the surrounding countryside. Park off the side of the trail junction with Moose Lake Road, the first left west of County Road S/Forest Road 164.

Note that most of the national forest trails don’t have official names. For convenience sake, the above trails are named after the major waterbody they pass or the roads they connect. Also, a national forest pass is needed to park your vehicle at the trailheads.

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

Woodland walks await in Flambeau River SF

Flambeau River. Photo courtesy of Wisconsin DNR.

Thick maple forests, wildlife, and other great scenery await day hikers in Wisconsin’s Flambeau River State Forest.

Though the state forest is best known for its whitewater rapids loved by kayakers, there’s plenty for landlubbers to do there. Among the great day hiking trails are:
g Connors Creek Trail – Though primarily used by ATVs and snowmobiles, the trail leading south of County Road W from the Flambeau Hills Trails parking lot can be day hiked a little more than 2-miles one-way (4.2-miles round trip) to Connors Creek.
g Lake of the Pines Trail – Another ATV/snowmobile trail, the route loops wide around the Lake of the Pines from the Flambeau Hills Trails parking lot. Turn around upon reaching the lake’s northern tip, at about 3 miles, for a 6-mile round trip.
g Oxbo Trails – Day hikers can enjoy a walk through a thickly wooded area on a series of five short loops that total up to 8 miles in distance. Loop A, the easiest trail to access from a lot off of Wis. Hwy. 70, runs about 2.4 miles.
g Rim Creek Loop – A beautiful forest walk amid maples and yellow birch offering an array of colors come autumn, awaits day hikers of this 4.9-mile trail. It heads north from the Flambeau Hills Trails parking lot via the Short Swing Loop (see below).
g Short Swing Loop – Among the easiest trails in the state forest is the 1.1-mile Short Swing Loop, which is accessed via a stem trail at the parking lot off County Road W. The loop is used for cross-country skiing in winter.
g Snuss Trail – Day hikers stand a good chance of spotting a variety of wildlife on this 4.3-mile (one way) route. About a mile after Hwy 70 crosses the Flambeau River’s north fork in Oxbo, turn right/south onto Snuss Boulevard; a parking lot is on the left.

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

Return to ‘deep woods’ without walking far

The Oxbo Pines State Natural Area can be reached via the Oxbo Trails.
Photo courtesy of Wisconsin DNR.

Loop A heads
through maple,
birch forest

Day hikers can enjoy a walk through a thickly wooded area on the Oxbo Trails in Wisconsin’s Flambeau River State Forest.

The trails consist of a series of five short loops that total up to 8 miles in distance. Loop A, the easiest trail to access in the set, runs about 2.4 miles.

No longer groomed
Sometimes referred to as Oxbo Ski Trails, the trails no longer are groomed for cross country skiing or mountain biking, though there is talk among forestry officials of doing so again. These days, the trails primarily are used by hikers and snowshoers.

To reach the trails, from Winter take Wis. Hwy. 70 east into the state forest. About 1.5 miles east of the Flambeau River, turn left/north into a parking lot. At the lot’s northeast corner, take the stem trail east onto Loop A; continue heading straight at the first two junctions.

With many of the same maples, yellow birch and pines of the rest of the forest, both the lack of grooming and the location between a large bend in the North Fork Flambeau River has left the trails running through a thickly wooded area. If you want to feel like you’re in the “real” woods, the Oxbo Trails are for you.

About halfway through Loop A, the trail joins the second stacked loop, which is Loop B. Head left/west at the first junction with Loop B, then at the next intersection, leave the shared trail and go left/south.

Thick red and white pines
The set of trails are named for Oxbo Lake on the peninsula’s northeast side. That lake once was part of the Flambeau River until silt filled in the bends north and south of it, and the river changed its course.

The lake is located in the Oxbo Pines State Natural Area, which the state forest surrounds. Mature white and red pines that are 24-30 inches around dominate the natural area. If continuing on Loop B, and the other trails that are part of this set, you’ll enter the Oxbo Pines.

Loop A has a number of high knolls, but there are no major climbs. Each loop as heading north grows a little hillier, with Loop E showing the greatest change in elevation.

At the next trail junction on Loop A, go left/northwest back onto the stem trail to the parking lot.

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

Hayward, Wis., trails cross scenic riverway

Three trails to the scenic Namekagon River await day hikers in Sawyer County, Wis.

The trails, each of them in the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, include:
g Namekagon-Laccourt Oreilles Portage Trail – An easy, 0.8-mile loop through a second growth forest of mixed hardwoods and pines, the trail memorializes a famous 18th century route where fur traders and explorers carried their canoes between rivers. The trailhead is at a parking lot on the first left/west off of Rolf Road past the Rainbow Road intersection.
g Pacwawong Lake Trail – Less a walking path than a jeep trail for boat ramp access to Pacwawong Lake, this 0.4-mile round trip is remote enough that there won’t be much if any traffic. From Cable Sunset/Totalatic Road, head south on Mossback Road, taking the first left/east; park in the gravel lot at the boat ramp and walk back to the road.
g Timber Lawn Trail – The 1.2-mile round trip southwest of Hayward runs through a woods to an overlook of the Namekagon’s north shore. From Old 24/Nursery Road (which parallels U.S. Hwy. 63), take Timber Lawn Road south until it becomes a jeep trail, where you can park. You can make it a loop from the overlook by taking the jeep trail that heads north back to your vehicle.

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

See wildlife on Flambeau River day hike

Snuss Trail in Flambeau River State Forest

Snuss Trail runs through
North Central Forest

Day hikers stand a good chance of spotting a variety of wildlife on the Snuss Trail in Flambeau River State Forest.

The trail runs 4.3 miles (one-way), in Wisconsin’s second largest state forest, which cradles 75 miles of the Flambeau River’s North and South forks. While the churning Flambeau is best known as a popular canoeing destination, day hiking and backpacking opportunities also abound.

Among the premier hiking routes is the Flambeau Hills Trail, which consists of 14 miles of paths divided into a series of stacked loops. The Snuss Trail is the stem trail for the stacked loops’ northern side.

To reach the trailhead, from Hayward, Wis., go south on Wis. Hwy. 27. When Wis. Hwys. 27 and 70 split in Ojibwa, continue east on Hwy. 70 into the state forest. About a mile after crossing the Flambeau River’s north fork in Oxbo, turn right/south onto Snuss Boulevard. Immediately after the intersection, a parking lot is on the road's left/east side. The trailhead leaves from the lot’s southwest corner.

Rare birds, many mammals
As a jeep trail, the Snuss is wide and fairly flat. It runs through a mix of hardwoods and conifers. Among the former are bigtooth aspen, paper birch, quaking aspen, and sugar maple. Eastern Hemlock dominates the conifers, but a careful eye also will spy balsam fir, the non-native blue spruce, and tall eastern white pine. During summer, wildflowers dot the forest floor.

Such flora is typical of Wisconsin’s North Central Forest, which the entire state forest sits in. This ecological landscape has the state's shortest growing season at 115 days.

In 0.27 miles from the trailhead, the Snuss reaches the junction with the Pelican Trail’s northern end.

Wildlife is plentiful in the state forest. Along the trail, you have a good chance of spotting – or at least of seeing the signs of – black bear, bobcat, coyote, fox, porcupine, red squirrels, and white-tailed deer.

Red-shouldered hawk, ruffed grouse, rare osprey, and songbirds galore also can be spied. Barred owls often are heard at dusk. Bald eagles, ducks, geese and herons are present, as well, though they’ll be closer to the river than on this forest trail.

Walking atop a very different Earth
About 1.3 miles in, the southern end of the Pelican Trail junctions with the Snuss.

Ancient rock that dates to at least 1.9 billion years ago sits not far beneath your feet. The topsoil on the trail consists of glacial drift that runs no more than 100 feet – and sometimes a mere five feet – deep. The bedrock below the drift was formed in the early Proterozoic, an era when the atmosphere contained far lower, though rising, levels of oxygen. During that time, bands of iron ore – which in the 20th century were heavily mined in this region – developed.

Rather than hike the entire trail, turn around when the path reaches Snuss Boulevard at 1.55 miles from the trailhead. In addition to reducing the distance should you have young children walking with you, this will ensure you don’t cross any roads. The entire hike then comes to 3.10-miles round trip.

You can extend the hike by taking the Pelican Trail on the way back. This adds about a quarter mile (one-way) to the walk and offers some new, though similar, scenery.

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