Hiking trails abound in Douglas County, Wis.

St. Croix River at Louise Park.

Wisconsin’s Douglas County boasts a number of outdoor attractions perfect for day hikers: two state parks – Amnicon Falls State Park and Pattison State Park – both with waterfalls; long stretches of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway; and the Brule River State Forest that spills into Lake Superior. All offer several scenic hikes. Many excellent routes, including those that meander along Lake Superior, also can be found in Superior and just across the state line in Duluth.

Four major hiking trails popular with backpackers ramble through Douglas County. Among the most famous of them is the North Country National Scenic Trail, which runs 4600 miles from New York state to North Dakota. The Gandy Dancer Trail terminates 98 miles to the south in St. Croix Falls, Wis., and heads through Minnesota for about a third of its route. Another old railbed turned hiking-bicycle path, the Wild Rivers State Trail, ends 104 miles to the southeast near Rice Lake, Wis. The Tri-County Corridor Trail links Superior to Ashland over the course of nearly 62 miles.

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

As with the rest of Wisconsin, summers are 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.

Some great Douglas County day hiking trails include:
• Big Manitou Falls overlook trails
• Amnicon Falls island trails
• Schoen/Louise Parks Jeep Trails
• Stoney Hill Nature Trail
• Osaugie Trail
• North Country National Scenic Trail
• Gandy State Dancer Trail
• Wild Rivers State Trail
• Tri-County Corridor Trail

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

Peaceful trail skirts edge of northern Wisconsin state park

Topo map of Tri-County Corridor Trail near Amnicon Falls State Park.

Tri-County Trail
segment runs
1.2 miles in woods

A pleasant woodland walk that includes a bridge over a rapids-filled river awaits day hikers on a segment of the Tri-County Corridor Trail in northern Wisconsin.

The former Burlington Northern Railroad railbed turned hiking trail connects Superior to Ashland, covering 61.8 miles. As much of the trail parallels busy U.S. Hwy. 2, it’s not the quietest of routes. An exception is a 1.2-miles round trip segment that skirts the southern edge of Amnicon Falls State Park from its west to east borders.

To reach that trailhead, take U.S. Hwy. 2 east from Superior. Turn left/north onto County Road U then take the very first left/west into Charlie’s Riverside. Park on Charlie’s backside; a connector to the main trail runs north from the lot. Upon reaching the main trail, go left/west.

The trail is mostly wooded with a good mix of evergreens and birch dominating.

The trail’s highlight is the old railroad bridge crossing the Amnicon River, which flows north through Amnicon Falls State Park on its way to Lake Superior. The river’s rocky shores and bottom make for a number of small rapids. The trail later crosses a creek that feeds the river.

As walking, keep an eye out for whitetail deer, fox, porcupine and other small mammals. Since the woodlands that the trail heads through joins the state park, there’s a vast area for wildlife to flourish.

The trail opened in 1987. As a former rail bed, the trail is wide with a surface of crushed limestone.

Kellog Road marks a good spot to turn back.

The trail is open to horseriding and bicycling as well as ATVs. Be aware that it sometimes is referred to on brochures and websites as the Tri-County Recreational Corridor.

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

Waterfall, Great Lakes shoreline, await Ashland, Wis., cabin-goers

Interpretive Boardwalk Trail. Photo courtesy of
Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center. 

Several excellent day hiking trails await visitors to the Ashland, Wis., region. The trails include:
g Interpretive Boardwalk Trail – At the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center west of town, a 0.75-mile trail wends its way through three coastal wetland ecosystems: a black ash swamp, a sedge meadow, and a cedar and tamarack swamp. If you have children, be sure to stop at the visitor center, where they can crawl through a beaver lodge and engage in other fun (but educational!) activities.
g Morgan Falls St. Peter’s Dome Trail – An 80-foot waterfall and impressive vista with views 20 miles around await hikers on the Morgan Falls St. Peter’s Dome Trail in the Chequamegon National Forest. The route can be broken into two trails depending on your time and energy.
g Tri-County Corridor Trail – On its way to Superior, the trail runs west out of town. A pastoral segment is between Pine Creek Road and County Road G. Park at the Moquah Town Hall and head east for a 1-mile round trip.
g Waterfront Trail – This 10-mile trail loops around Ashland, passing through several parks and a beach along the way. A scenic segment runs along the Lake Superior shoreline from Maslowski Beach to Howard Pearson Plaza for about 2 miles one-way.

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

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.

Superb trails abound in Poplar-Brule, Wis.

The ancient Douglas Fault cuts through Amnicon Falls State
Park. Photo courtesy of UW-Green Bay.

A variety of impressive hiking trails await visitors to the Popular-Brule, Wis., area this summer. Among them:
g Amnicon Falls island trails – Hikers can view the results of an earthquake from 500 million years ago while walking the island trails past waterfalls at Amnicon Falls State Park. Known as the Douglas Fault, this split in the earth stretches from Ashland to near the Twin Cities and is readily visible at the state park.
g Bayfield Road Trail – The 2.25-mile loop trail in the Brule River State Forest passes through red oak stands that recently came under attack by the two-lined chestnut borer, offering insights into woodlands and a tree species man is trying to rescue. A connecting trail leads to the Copper Range Campground.
g North Country National Scenic Trail – The scenic trail runs roughly north-south through the lower half of the Brule River State Forest. A peaceful segment to walk is from State Hwy. 27 (north of Radio Station Road) south to County Road S for a 6-mile round trip.
g Stoney Hill Nature Trail – The 1.7-mile loop offers fantastic views of the Brule River Valley. Sections can be steep, but there is a rest stop and overlook at the hill’s top.
g Tri-County Corridor Trail – Connecting Superior to Ashland, the trail heads through Poplar. To get away from the highway noise, try the roughly 2.25-mile one-way segment between Midway Road and County Road F.

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