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 Washburn County’s top hiking trails

Located in Wisconsin’s northwest corner, Washburn County is an outdoor recreational paradise. During summers, bicyclists and off-road vehicle enthusiasts ply a number of wooded trails while fishermen and canoeists try their hand at their sport on freshwater lakes and a nationally protected riverway. Come autumn, the roads turn busy with drivers out to enjoy the colorful blaze of autumn leaves. Throughout winter, cross-country skiers, snowshoers and snowmobilists sail across white paths while ice fishing shacks pop up on frozen lakes. And, of course, day and backcountry hikers alike enjoy the county’s hundreds of miles of trails, some routes well-groomed and others primitive, but all rambling through verdant scenery.

Some great trails and maps for exploring them include:

Bear Trail
Carnivorous plants and glacial lakes await hikers at the Hunt Hill Audubon Sanctuary east of Shell Lake. Perhaps the best way to see the sanctuary’s wide variety of ecosystems is the Bear Trail, a 2.7-mile loop to which this recommended hike adds a half-mile. Owned by the National Audubon Society, the nonprofit Friends of Hunt Hill Audubon Sanctuary operates the facility, where they offer several quality educational programs.

Beaver Brook East Trail
Day hikers can enjoy a pleasant walk along a classic trout stream on Beaver Brook Wildlife Area’s East Trail. Along the way, you may spot the impressive osprey or bald eagle. The wildlife area nicely preserves 1,964 acres of woods and wetlands between Shell Lake and Spooner. A number of loops run off the main trail so hikers can adjust the trail’s length to meet their time restrictions and energy levels. Dogs also are allowed on the trail.

Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Grassy Lake segment
South of Shell Lake, a fairly flat segment of the expansive Ice Age National Scenic Trail runs at the edge of where the glacier last seen in these parts towered some 11,000 years ago. The hike to Grassy Lake and back makes for just under 4 miles round trip.

Totagatic Ski Trail, Loop A
Multiple ski loop trails in winter serve as great day hiking paths in summer for those in the Minong area. Of the four Totagatic Ski Trail loops, try Loop A. At two miles round trip, it’s the shortest as well as the closest to the parking lot so is easy to locate.

Trego Lake Trail
A pretty hike through a Northwoods forest awaits hikers on the Trego Lake Trail. The 1.9-mile trail loops through the woods next to Trego Lake. Both the lake and the trail are part of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. Also known as the Trego Lake Ski Touring Trail, the path described here is a segment of its various routes. Up to 3.5 miles of trails are groomed for cross country skiing in winter.

Trego Nature Trail
A pleasant walk through the woods along a wild river await hikers on the Trego Nature Trail in the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. The trail is best done during summer when the shaded walk keeps hikers cool. Early autumn is a good time for those who enjoy fall colors.

Tuscobia State Trail, Birchwood segment
Wisconsin has nicely converted a number of abandoned railroad grades to hiking and multi-use trails. Among the more popular is the 74-mile Tuscobia State Trail running from Rice Lake to Park Falls. In the southeast corner of Washburn County, the trail passes through the village of Birchwood, the self-proclaimed Bluegill Capital of Wisconsin. A pleasant segment of the trail to day hike goes northeast from downtown Birchwood for a 4-mile round trip to County Road F and back.

Wild Rivers State Trail, Spooner segment
Day hikers can learn about railroading on an old rail line turned hiking trail in Spooner.The Wild Rivers State Trail runs for 104 miles across three counties on a former Omaha and Soo Line Railroads rail line. The trail connects Rice Lake in the south with Superior to the northwest. In Spooner, the trail marks the eastern edge of downtown. A 1.9-mile round trip segment of the trail makes for a pleasant urban hike.

Wild Rivers State Trail, Trego segment
A pleasant stroll through the woods with a bridge crossing of the scenicNamekagon River awaits day hikers on a segment of the Wild Rivers State Trail in Trego. This segment is a little under 2.2-miles round trip.

Learn about these and nearby trails in Day Hiking Trails of Washburn County series.

Washburn Cty sits at center of hiking mecca

Blue Hills, scenic riverway,
Big Bear Lake Nature Trails

Blue Hills, scenic riverway, national forest just outside
of Wisconsin county's borders

The six counties surrounding Washburn County offer plenty of great hiking opportunities that are easy for anyone staying in Spooner-Shell Lake-Trego-Minong to reach.

To the north is Douglas County, a largely forested area with Lake Superior beaches. Going clockwise, next is Bayfield County; though Washburn shares only a corner point with Bayfield, it’s worth the visit given the vast Chequamegon State Forest. To the east is Sawyer County, where the popular Northwoods destination of Hayward sits. Washburn’s southeast corner touches Rusk County, well known for its ancient Blue Hills recreational area. Along Washburn’s southern border is Barron County; most Washburn County visitors will have to pass through it on either U.S. Hwys. 53 or 63 to reach Shell Lake or Spooner. Finally, to the west is Burnett County, which is cabin country for many Twin Cities and Wisconsin residents.

Douglas County
From Minong, U.S. Hwy. 53 heads directly into Douglas County and offers access to more of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. Among the most dramatic portions of the St. Croix is its headwaters area, which sits just outside the scenic riverway. Great trails there include:
• Gordon Flowage Campground Trail - Day hikers can explore the northernmost reaches of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway on the Gordon Flowage Campground Trail. The roughly 2-mile round trip is a jeep trail running through the woods bordering the river. The trail actually is unnamed, but for convenience’s sake, we’ve christened it here after the campground where it begins in Gordon Dam County Park.
• Buckley Creek Barrens Trail - Day hikers can truly get back to nature with a walk through a pine barrens near the northern reach of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. The Buckley Creek Barrens Trail is an undesignated out-and-back footpath that runs 1.2-miles round trip through the Buckley Creek Barrens State Natural Area west of Gordon.

Bayfield County
From Trego, U.S. Hwy. 63 heads through Hayward then into southern Bayfield County. Most notable in southern Bayfield County is the scenic village of Cable, a gateway to the Chequamegon State Forest. Two great trails in the Cable area are:
• Birkie Ridge Trail - 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 between Cable and Hayward. One segment that’s easy to locate and hike is the Birkie’s opening section, a 2.6-mile round trip when treated as an out-and-back trail.
• Forest Lodge Nature Trail - Among the best hikes to learn about the Wisconsin Northwoods is the Forest Lodge Nature Trail, east of Cable. Located in the Chequamegon National Forest, the 1.5-mile loop is maintained in cooperation with the Cable Natural History Museum.

Sawyer County
The St. Croix National Scenic Riverway heads from Washburn County east into Sawyer County. The riverway and area centered on the outdoors-minded community of Hayward provides a number of hiking opportunities. A pair of excellent trails sit close to Hayward:
• 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 trail is very close to the original portage route.
• 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.

Rusk County
Birchwood marks a good springboard for exploring northern Rusk County, which includes the scenic Blue Hills. To explore that area, try:
• Blue Hills West Trail - Across northwest Barron County and northwest Rusk County, a hazy blue stretch of hills appearing vaguely like distant mountains offers a scenic backdrop. The site is the ancient Blue Hills, a range that runs for about 20 miles, primarily in Rusk County. The Blue Hills West Trail’s first stacked loop at 2.3 miles total is particularly good for day hiking.

Barron County
If taking U.S. Hwy. 53 into Washburn County, you’ll be tempted to stop at the number of great recreational areas along a chain of lakes from Chetek to Rice Lake. U.S. Hwy 63 also offers some major attractions, most notably in the Cumberland region.
• Wild Rivers State Trail, Rice Lake segment - A walk through pleasant woodlands and scenic farmland await users of the Wild Rivers State Trail near Rice Lake. The trail runs for around 100 miles across three counties on an old Omaha and Soo Line Railroads rail line connecting the city to Superior. A good place to experience the trail is at its southern end. Park north of the Rice Lake city limits at the Tuscobia trail junction on County Road SS, near its intersection with U.S. Hwy. 53.
• Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Waterman Lake Area County Forest segment - Day hikers will have several opportunities to spot the impressive white-tailed deer on a segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail in northwest Barron County. The 2.6-miles round trip segment of the Ice Age Trail runs through Waterman Lake Area County Forest.

Burnett County
Two major routes run from Washburn County through forest-laden lands into Brunett County. From Spooner, take Wis. Hwy. 70 west to Siren; from Minong, head west on Wis. Hwy. 77 to Danbury and the St. Croix River. Two excellent trails in the county include:
• Big Bear Lake Nature Trails - The Big Bear Lake Nature Trails offer three great day hiking opportunities for those in the lake country of Burnett County. All three trails are accessible from the same trailhead. The Grouse Walk Trail is the shortest at a half-mile.
• Namekagon Delta Trail - Families can day hike to a scenic delta at the confluence of the St. Croix and Namekagon rivers. A number of unnamed and non-maintained trails run near the delta in the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. For convenience’s sake, we’ve named this 2.7-mile out-and-back trail the Namekagon Delta Trail after its primary geographic feature.

Learn more about these and other nearby trails in Day Hiking Trails of Washburn County.

Photo Album of Washburn County WI trails

Day hikes amble alongside scenic river, through Northwoods forests

Imagine a place where sun-dappled paths run alongside murmuring rivers, where trails retrace former rail lines past historic depots, where real carnivorous plants line your walking route, where a mile-high glacier shaped the hummocky forests around you, where any turn of the corner might reveal a majestic white-tailed buck or a tiny young porcupine sunning itself upon a rock, where bald eagles and osprey regally circle and swoop high above the trees. The place is real: It’s called Washburn County, Wisconsin.

Here are some photos of great day hiking trails you’ll find in Washburn County.

Tuscobia State Trail, Birchwood segment

Tuscobia State Trail, Birchwood segment
Wisconsin has nicely converted a number of abandoned railroad grades to hiking and multi-use trails. Among the more popular is the 74-mile Tuscobia State Trail running from Rice Lake to Park Falls. In the southeast corner of Washburn County, the trail passes through the village of Birchwood, the self-proclaimed Bluegill Capital of Wisconsin. A pleasant segment of the trail to day hike goes northeast from downtown Birchwood for a 4-mile round trip to County Road F and back.

Sawyer Brook Springs trails

Sawyer Brook Springs trails
A set of three loops, primarily maintained as cross-country ski trails, begin behind the Shell Lake Arts Center in Shell Lake. The Yellow loop takes hikers twice across Sawyer Brook Springs.

Beaver Brook East Trail

Beaver Brook East Trail
Day hikers can enjoy a pleasant walk along a classic trout stream on Beaver Brook Wildlife Area’s East Trail. Along the way, you may spot the impressive osprey or bald eagle. The wildlife area nicely preserves 1,964 acres of woods and wetlands between Shell Lake and Spooner. A number of loops run off the main trail so hikers can adjust the trail’s length to meet their time restrictions and energy levels.

Wild Rivers State Trail, Spooner segment

Wild Rivers State Trail, Spooner segment
Day hikers can learn about railroading on an old rail line turned hiking trail in Spooner. The Wild Rivers State Trail runs for 104 miles across three counties on a former Omaha and Soo Line Railroads rail line. The trail connects Rice Lake in the south with Superior to the northwest. In Spooner, the trail marks the eastern edge of downtown. A 1.9-mile round trip segment of the trail makes for a pleasant urban hike.

College Street City Park Trail

College Street City Park Trail
Several loops run through Spooner City Park at the end of College Street. One route encircles the park.

Trego Lake Trail

Trego Lake Trail
A pretty hike through a Northwoods forest awaits hikers on the Trego Lake Trail. The 1.9-mile trail loops through the woods next to Trego Lake. Both the lake and the trail are part of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway.

Trego Nature Trail

Trego Nature Trail
A pleasant walk through the woods along a wild river await hikers on the Trego Nature Trail in the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. The trail is best done during summer when the shaded walk keeps hikers cool. Early autumn is a good time for those who enjoy fall colors.

Wild Rivers State Trail, Trego segment

Wild Rivers State Trail, Trego segment
A pleasant stroll through the woods with a bridge view of the Namekagon River awaits day hikers on a segment of the Wild Rivers State Trail in Trego. At a little under 2.2-miles round trip, the segment is just a small portion of a trail that runs for 104 miles across three counties on an old Omaha and Soo Line Railroads rail line.

Totagatic Ski Trail, Loop A

Totagatic Ski Trail, Loop A
Multiple ski loop trails in winter serve as great day hiking paths in summer for those in the Minong area. Of the four Totagatic Ski Trail loops, try Loop A. At two miles round trip, it’s the shortest as well as the closest to the parking lot so is easy to locate.

Learn more about these and nearby trails in Day Hiking Trails of Washburn County.

Meet the red-shouldered hawk

Red-shouldered hawk. Courtesy of Wikipedia.

Red-shouldered hawk
Buteo lineatus

Appearance: Peachy to red barred underparts, black with white banded tail, broad rounded black and white checkered wings

Song: A whistled rising kee-rah

Habitat: Tall woods near rivers or swamps

Nest: Stick nests built into the crotch of a tree

Trails it can be seen: Bear Trail; Five-Mile Bluff Prairie Trail; Ice Age National Scenic Trail at Straight Lake State Park; Lower Chippewa River State Natural Area Trail; Moose Ear Creek Trail; Snuss Trail (all trails in Wisconsin)

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

Washburn County regions offer unique trails

Trego Nature Trail

Three distinct geographic sections delivers on diverse day hiking experiences

Wisconsin's Washburn County can loosely be divided into three sections, each with its own distinct feel. The southern third of the county, roughly below the west/east-running County Road B and the Stone Lake area, marks Southern Lake Country. It sports a number of kettle lakes, left here by glaciers during the most recent ice age. The county’s largest lakes – Shell Lake, Long Lake and Balsam Lake (which is part of the Lake Chetac-Red Cedar Lake chain) all can be found there. Yellow River Country is centered on its namesake river, which runs through the county’s center at Spooner heading west. Namekagon River Country begins near the river’s shore and includes the entire north of the county, which is classic Wisconsin Northwoods.

Southern Lake Country
Known for its excellent fishing lakes, the county’s southern portion, from roughly Shell Lake to Stone Lake, offers a great variety of forest types, including maple-basswood, pine groves, white-red oak highlands, and low-lying birch-aspen. It makes for excellent hiking country. Among the great trails there are:
• Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Grassy Lake segment - South of Shell Lake, a fairly flat segment of the expansive Ice Age National Scenic Trail runs at the edge of where the glacier last seen in these parts towered some 11,000 years ago. The hike to Grassy Lake and back makes for just under 4 miles round trip.
• Bear Trail - Carnivorous plants and glacial lakes await hikers at the Hunt Hill Audubon Sanctuary east of Shell Lake. Perhaps the best way to see the sanctuary’s wide variety of ecosystems is this 2.7-mile loop.
• Tuscobia State Trail - Wisconsin has nicely converted a number of abandoned railroad grades to hiking and multi-use trails. Among the more popular is the 74-mile Tuscobia State Trail running from Rice Lake to Park Falls. In the southeast corner of Washburn County, the trail passes through the village of Birchwood, the self-proclaimed Bluegill Capital of Wisconsin. A pleasant segment of the trail to day hike goes northeast from downtown Birchwood for a 4-mile round trip to County Road F and back.

Yellow River Country
Sitting a couple of hundred feet lower in elevation than the county’s southern portion, recreation here is focused on the Yellow River and Spooner Lake, which it drains. Beaver Brook Wildlife Area and the Wild Rivers State Trail – which helps preserve the area’s railroad heritage – are its two major hiking centers.
• Beaver Brook East Trail - Day hikers can enjoy a pleasant walk along a classic trout stream on Beaver Brook Wildlife Area’s East Trail. Along the way, you may spot the impressive osprey or bald eagle. The wildlife area nicely preserves 1,964 acres of woods and wetlands between Shell Lake and Spooner. A number of loops run off the main trail so hikers can adjust the trail’s length to meet their time restrictions and energy levels.
• Wild Rivers State Trail, Spooner segment - Day hikers can learn about railroading on an old rail line turned hiking trail in Spooner. The Wild Rivers State Trail runs for 104 miles across three counties on a former Omaha and Soo Line Railroads rail line. In Spooner, the trail marks the eastern edge of downtown. A 1.9-mile round trip segment of the trail makes for a pleasant urban hike.

Namekagon River Country
For most travelers, the Namekagon River – protected by the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway – marks the start of the Wisconsin Northwoods. The riverway offers a range of outdoors opportunities, especially fishing and camping. Pines and oaks dominate much of the ecosystem heading north through Minong. Among the great trails there are:
• Trego Lake Trail - A pretty hike through a Northwoods forest awaits hikers on the Trego Lake Trail. The 1.9-mile trail loops through the woods next to Trego Lake. Both the lake and the trail are part of the scenic riverway.
• Trego Nature Trail - A pleasant walk through the woods along a wild river await hikers on the Trego Nature Trail in the scenic riverway. The trail is best done during summer when the shaded walk keeps hikers cool. Early autumn is a good time for those who enjoy fall colors.
• Wild Rivers State Trail, Trego segment - A pleasant stroll through the woods with a bridge view of the Namekagon River awaits day hikers on a segment of the Wild Rivers State Trail in Trego. At a little under 2.2-miles round trip, the segment is just a small portion of a trail that runs for 104 miles across three counties on an old Omaha and Soo Line Railroads rail line.
• Totagatic Ski Trail, Loop A - Multiple ski loop trails in winter serve as great day hiking paths in summer for those in the Minong area. Of the four Totagatic Ski Trail loops, try Loop A. At two miles round trip, it’s the shortest as well as the closest to the parking lot so is easy to locate.

Learn more about these and other nearby trails in Day Hiking Trails of Washburn County.

Great trails in easy to reach Washburn Cty.

Wild Rivers State Trail, Minong segment

Located in Wisconsin’s northwest corner, Washburn County is an outdoor recreational paradise. 

During summers, bicyclists and off-road vehicle enthusiasts ply

a number of wooded trails while fishermen

and canoeists try their hand at their sport on freshwater lakes and a nationally protected riverway. Come autumn, the roads turn busy with drivers out to enjoy the colorful blaze of autumn leaves. Throughout winter, cross-country skiers, snowshoers and snowmobilists sail across white paths while ice fishing shacks pop up on frozen lakes. And, of course, day and backcountry hikers alike enjoy the county’s hundreds of miles of trails, some routes well-groomed and others primitive, but all rambling through verdant scenery.

Several major highways offer access to Washburn County.

From the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, take Interstate 94 east into Wisconsin. At Baldwin, exit onto U.S. Hwy 63 and travel north to Shell Lake. Those living in the northern Twin Cities alternately can cross the Stillwater bridge and take Wis. Hwy. 64 east then turn north onto Hwy. 63. Another option is to take Interstate 35 north, exiting in Forest Lake onto U.S. Hwy. 8, which can be taken east into Wisconsin; in Turtle Lake, turn north onto Hwy. 63. A great trail to hike in the Shell Lake area is the South Side Walking Trail. This comfortable path of wood chips works its way through meadows and wooded areas. The trail begins off of Hwy. 63 on Shell Lake’s south side.

From northern Minnesota, at Duluth cross the Interstate 535 bridge into Wisconsin. Go south on U.S. Hwy. 53, which heads to Minong and cuts north-south through Washburn County. Among the many quality day hikes in the Minong area is the Wild Rivers State Trail, Minong segment. The former rail line turned hiking trail heads through Minong on the way from Trego to Gordon. Starting at South Limits Road, head south on the trail to Lakeside Lake for a roughly 4-mile round trip.

From western Wisconsin, take either Hwy. 63 or Hwy. 53 north into the county. The former works well for those living along or near the Minnesota border while the latter is best for those living near Eau Claire. For those using Hwy. 63, check out the Sawyer Brook Springs Trails. The set of three loops, primarily maintained as cross-country ski trails, begin behind the Shell Lake Arts Center in Shell Lake. The Yellow loop takes hikers twice across Sawyer Brook Springs. Those driving Hwy. 53 should watch for the Beaver Brook East Trail in the Beaver Brook Wildlife Area, where you can enjoy a pleasant walk along a classic trout stream. While hiking, you may spot the impressive osprey or bald eagle.

From eastern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula, U.S. Hwy. 10, Wis. Hwy. 29 and Hwy. 8 each heads west, intersecting either Hwy. 53 (in the case of Hwys. 29 and 8) or Hwy. 63 (as is the case with Hwys. 10, 29 and 8). Head north on Hwy. 53 or 63. From Hwy. 53, check out the Bear Trail at Hunt Hill Audubon Sanctuary, where carnivorous plants and glacial lakes await hikers on a 2.7-mile loop. From Hwy. 63, before reaching Shell Lake, a fairly flat segment of the expansive Ice Age National Scenic Trail runs at the edge of where the glacier last seen in these parts towered some 11,000 years ago. The hike to Grassy Lake and back makes for just under 4 miles round trip.

From central and southern Wisconsin, take either I-94 or Interstate 39 north. I-94 intersects northbound Hwy. 53 in Eau Claire. I-39 junctions Hwy. 29 in Wausau; take the latter west then turn north onto Hwy. 53 near Eau Claire/Chippewa Falls. From Hwy. 53, you'll easily be able to reach the Hunt Hill Audubon Sanctuary for a hike on the Red Oak East and West trails; the two looping trails can be combined for a 1.8-mile walk. Despite the trails’ names, the highlight is a grove of large white pines that have been growing since the 1800s.

Learn about these and nearby trails in Day Hiking Trails of Washburn County.

Washburn County towns offer great hikes

Trego Nature Trail.

Several great hiking trails crisscross Wisconsin’s Washburn County, with many of them centered on five major communities. Adding to the county’s charm is that no community has a population of more than 3000, and only one town even comes close to that.

The village of Birchwood sits tucked in the county’s southeast corner on Wis. Hwy. 48. The self-proclaimed Bluegill Capital of Wisconsin, it’s a former 1800s logging camp that became a town in its own right. The Tuscobia State Trail runs through it.

Washburn’s county seat, Shell Lake, is in the opposite corner along U.S. Hwy. 63. The town is centered on its namesake, popular Shell Lake, so named because shells of freshwater bivalves were common on its lakeshore. Several hiking trails can be found in or near town, including the Ice Age National Scenic Trail.

Just north of Shell Lake where U.S. Hwys. 63 and 53 join and split, is Spooner, the county’s largest city. Nicknamed “Crossroads of the North,” at one time it was a hub of the Omaha Railroad Line. A former rail line, the Wild Rivers Trail, is now a hiking/bicycling path running south to Sarona and Rice Lake and north to Trego and Superior.

Unincorporated Trego can be found at the county’s center on the Namekagon River in the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. Hwy. 63 goes east here to Hayward while Hwy. 53 goes north to Superior. The former heads to the scenic riverway’s visitor center and the picturesque Trego Nature Trail.

The village of Minong is in the northcentral portion of the county along Hwy. 53 at the edge of Wisconsin’s northern highlands. The Wild Rivers Trail runs through town while the Totagatic Ski Trail loops are nearby.

Learn more about these and nearby trails in Day Hiking Trails of Washburn County.

Trails explore Washburn County geography

Trego Nature Trail in Wisconsin's Northwoods.

Local tourism officials long have touted Wisconsin's Washburn County as the Gateway to the Northwoods and for good reason. Geographically, two distinct landscapes are found in the county – one that matches well with the ecological area known as the Northwoods and the other that is the transitional, border zone for the northern forests.

The county consists of two distinct geographical regions. The southern portion – including Shell Lake and Birchwood – as well as much of the county’s northeast quarter, largely consists of highlands, sitting at an elevation of 1200-1400 feet. While not significant compared to the Appalachians or the Rockies, for Wisconsin, this is a good 200-400 feet higher than much of the southern part of the state. This forested region sports a great diversity of trees that typically can be found across the state. Some great trails found in this region include:
• Ice Age National Scenic Trail
• Bear Trail
• Wild Rivers State Trail (Spooner segment)

The county’s center, including Spooner, Trego and Minong, sits at a lower 1000-1200 feet elevation. This is the dried, sandy bed of Glacial Lake Grantsburg, which existed near the end of the last Ice Age when a glacier in Minnesota dammed the flow of meltwater. Some of the county’s northwest quadrant, which is closer to the center of the extinct lake, is at an even lower elevation of 800-1200 feet. The sandier soil tends to nurture forests of pine, aspen-birch and oak. Today, the Namekagon River flows through this county’s center. A few good trails found in this region include:
• Trego Nature Trail
• Trego Lake Trail
• Totagatic Ski Trails

Learn more about these and other nearby trails in Day Hiking Trails of Washburn County.

Hike edge of ancient glacier in Wisconsin

North of Cumberland, Wis, a fairly flat segment of the expansive Ice Age National Scenic Trail runs at the edge of where the glacier last seen in these parts towered some 11,000 years ago. The hike to Grassy Lake and back makes for just under 4 miles round trip.

To reach the trail, from Cumberland drive north on U.S. Hwy. 63 into Washburn County. At Brick Yard Road, go right/east. At the next intersection, turn right/south onto Old Hwy. 63; park off this road across from the Pershing Road intersection.

The trail unofficially heads east alongside Pershing Road. You’ll pass bucolic farm fields at first, but the trail grows increasingly forested as heading east. Typical Northern hardwoods – maples and oaks – with scattered pines line the route.

At about 0.75 miles, the trail turns left/north. This now official segment of the Ice Age Trail runs on public land. If you feel uncomfortable leaving your car along the highway or want to shorten your walk, this is a good alternative for parking (though it’ll still have to be off the road).

A mere 11 millennia, this area was beneath a towering glacier, only miles away from its leading edge to the south. The glacier crushed and flattened the landscape, and remnants of it formed many of the lakes seen across northern Wisconsin by depressing the land and melting.

For the next 1.25 miles, the trail roughly parallels the shoreline of Grassy Lake, though you’re never closer than 200 feet to it. The lake covers 38 acres.

The trail soon curves east, briefly paralleling the Grassy Lake’s north shore. When the trail swerves north again, you’ve reached the turn-back point.

Upon reaching 65th Avenue, you’ve gone 1.5 miles. This marks a good spot to head back.

Learn about nearby trails in Day Hiking Trails of Washburn County.

Rail line turned hiking trail passes museum

The Wild Rivers State Trail as it approaches the Railroad Memories Museum.

Day hikers can learn about railroading on an old rail line turned hiking trail in northwest Wisconsin.

The Wild Rivers State Trail runs for 104 miles across three counties 

on a former Omaha 

and Soo Line Railroads route. The trail 

connects Rice Lake, Wis., in the south with Superior, Wis., to the northwest.

In Spooner, Wis., the trail marks the eastern edge of downtown. A 1.9-mile round trip segment of the trail makes for a pleasant urban hike.

Start at the city’s Railroad Memories Museum on Front Street. Parking is free but admission is charged for the museum.

The museum is located in a former Chicago & Northwestern Railway depot. Between the depot, and the parked train cars, and the locomotives are 12 different rooms that hikers can go through to explore the area’s rich railroad history.

At one time, Spooner was major railroad hub as lines for the Omaha and Soo Line Railroads and the Chicago & Northwestern Railway met in town. Passenger service existed until the early 1960s.

From the museum, head south on the trail. There’s one major road crossing, of Wis. Hwy. 70, as the trail leaves the downtown area.

The trail next crosses the Yellow River flowage. The river is so named because of the bright yellow sand at the bottom of the lake it flows through. Today, the flowage, created to prevent flooding, covers about 85 acres and is a prime fishing destination. More shoreline of the flowage appears on the right/west a couple of blocks up the trail.

Once the Wild Rivers approaches Lois Lane, Randall Lake comes into view. A bit smaller than the flowage at 40 acres, it’s also not quite as deep but still as scenic. Northern pike are common in the lake.

As Randall Lake fades in the distance, the route comes to an intersection with a spur line. This marks a good spot to turn back. Alternately, you can continue on for a 3.8-mile one-way walk to the Beaver Brook Wildlife Area.

Learn about nearby trails in Day Hiking Trails of Washburn County.

Great trails await hikers in Washburn County

Wild River Trail north of Minong, Wis.

Located in Wisconsin’s northwest corner, Washburn County is an outdoor recreational paradise. During summers, bicyclists and off-road vehicle enthusiasts ply a number of wooded trails while fishermen and canoeists try their hand at their sport on freshwater lakes and a nationally protected riverway. Come autumn, the roads turn busy with drivers out to enjoy the colorful blaze of autumn leaves. Throughout winter, cross-country skiers, snowshoers and snowmobilers sail across white paths while ice fishing shacks pop up on frozen lakes. And, of course, day and backcountry hikers alike enjoy the county’s hundreds of miles of trails, some routes well-groomed and others primitive, but all rambling through fabulous scenery.

Three major attractions stand out for day and backcountry hikers in Washburn County. Across much of the county’s southern section, the 1200-mile Ice Age National Scenic Trail winds its way toward its western and northern terminus, loosely marking the edge of where glaciers once stood more than 10,000 years ago during the last ice age. Cutting north to south through the county is the Wild River Trail, which follows an abandoned rail line between the city of Rice Lake to the south and the port city of Superior to the north. Finally, splitting the county almost in half, the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway curves from the Namekagon’s headwaters to the northeast toward a meeting with the great St. Croix River to the west.

Among the best day hiking trails in Washburn County to hit include:
St. Croix National Scenic Riverway
• Trego Lake Trail
• Trego Nature Trail
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
• Cumberland segment
Wild River Trail
• Spooner segment
Others
• Tuscobia State Trail
• Bear Trail (Hunt Hill Audubon Sanctuary)

Learn more about these and other nearby trails in Day Hiking Trails of Washburn County.

Trails explore Washburn County geology

The Namekagon River cuts through sediment laid down by glaciers.

Two lengthy geological events shaped the terrain of Wisconsin’s Washburn County: the erosion of a vast mountain range and the ice ages of the past million years. Several trails allow modern hikers to explore that geology.

About 600-700 million years ago, the northern third of the county was part of a great Alps-like mountain range stretched. Most of what is now central and southern Wisconsin lay under an ocean.

Over the eons, streams and rivers carried sediment out of these mountains, filling the shallow sea inch by inch. The sandstone found in road cuts and on river banks across the southern part of the county and Wisconsin as a whole are those piles of sediment.

Erosion has worn those mountains down into a relatively flat area, with occasional hills, called a peneplain. While evidence of these mountains doesn't rise above the surface in the county, you can walk through the area where they once rose on the Totagatic Ski Trail.

Then, glaciers during the last ice age (which ended about 10,000 years ago) brought sediment – mainly sand, gravel and boulder clay – that was left across the base of those ancient mountains and the filled-in sea. Because of this, the northern part of the county generally is better for forests than farming, which in our century shapes up to great hiking trails. The Namekagon River cuts through a deep portion of this sediment, visible on the Trego Nature Trail.

The southern two-thirds of the county is largely shaped by ice as well. As the glaciers melted and retreated at the end of the last ice age, they left long narrow mounds of sediment called hummocks. Ice-walled lakes also formed, leaving whole swaths of land fairly flat. You can day hike through such terrain on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail.

The county’s central hilly area – known as the Spooner Hills – were created by till piling up during several glacial advances. The spacing between the hills likely developed when melting ice at the glacier’s bottom formed tunnels so that the water flowed outward into the open plain to the south.

Learn about nearby trails in Day Hiking Trails of Washburn County.

Great hikes await in eastern Washburn Cty

Namekagon River in Trego, Wis. Photo courtesy of St. Croix National
Scenic Riverway NPS.

Classic trout streams, a covered bridge, and trees that have been growing since the 1800s await day hikers on the east side of Wisconsin’s Washburn County.

Among the most popular of Wisconsin Northwoods counties to visit, the county can best be reached from either the west or east via U.S. Hwy. 63 while U.S. Hwy. 53 gives those traveling from the south or north an easy route.

Some of the great day hiking trails on the county’s east side include:
g Beaver Brook Wildlife Area East Trail – Visitors to the Spooner-Shell Lake, Wis., area can enjoy a pleasant hike along a classic trout stream in Beaver Brook Wildlife Area’s East Trail. Along the way, you may spot the impressive osprey or bald eagle. A number of loops run off the main trail so hikers can adjust the walk’s length to meet their time restrictions and energy levels.
g Red Oak East and West trails – Located northwest of town at the Hunt Hill Audubon Sanctuary, combine the two looping trails for a 1.8-mile hike. Despite the trails’ names, the highlight is a grove of large white pines that have been growing since the 1800s.
g Ridge Walking trails – A series of trails ramble through the 17.4-acre Stone Lake Wetland Park. The park also offers a 600-foot boardwalk and covered walking bridge.
g Totagatic River State Wildlife Area Jeep Trail – Park at the trailhead off the southeast side of Wozny Road about 800 feet north of the Totagatic River bridge. A jeep trail heads between a forested area and the Totagatic Flowage in the wildlife area’s northwest corner for about 1.1 miles one-way (2.2-miles round trip).
g Trego Nature Trail – A pleasant walk through a classic Northwoods forest along a wild river await hikers on this 2.8-miles round trip rail in the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. Take Hwy. 63 north of Trego village' about 1.3 miles from the visitor center and after crossing the bridge over the Namekagon River, take the first right to the parking lot.
g Trego Lake Ski Touring Trails – A pretty hike through a Northwoods forest awaits hikers on the Trego Lake trails in the scenic riverway. Up to 3.5 miles of trails are groomed here for cross country skiing in winter but can be day hiked the other seasons.
g Tuscobia State Trail segment – In Birchwood, the trail heads both east and west with the former heading into Sawyer County. Pick up the trail at County Road D/Euclid Avenue just north of the Wis. Hwy. 48 intersection.
g Wild Rivers Trail segment – A tranquil stroll through the woods with a bridge view of the Namekagon River awaits day hikers on a segment of the Wild Rivers Trail in Trego. At a little under 2.2-miles round trip, the segment is just a small portion of a trail that runs for 104 miles across three counties on an old Omaha and Soo Line Railroads rail line. The trail connects Rice Lake, Wis., in the south with Superior, Wis., to the northwest.

Learn about nearby trails in Day Hiking Trails of Washburn County.

Barron County, Wisconsin, hiking guidebook now out in paperback

My recent ebook Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking Barron County, Wisconsin is now out in paperback. The book describes more than 40 trails that can be found near Rice Lake, Cumberland, Turtle Lake, Chetek and Cameron, as well as in the surrounding counties of Polk, Washburn, Rusk, Chippewa and Dunn. Among those trail featured are the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, the Wild Rivers Trail, Cattail State Trail, the Tuscobia Trail, and those running through the Blue Hills. The book is available online.

Find out about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

Trail crosses peaceful Wis. woodlands, river

Wild Rivers Trail bridge over Namekago River.

Wild Rivers Trail segment
runs along former rail line

A tranquil stroll through the woods with a bridge view of the Namekagon River awaits day hikers on a segment of the Wild Rivers Trail in Trego, Wis.

At a little under 2.2-miles round trip, the segment is just a small portion of a trail that runs for 104 miles across three counties on an old Omaha and Soo Line Railroads rail line. The trail connects Rice Lake, Wis., in the south with Superior, Wis., to the northwest.

To pick up the trail in Trego, when U.S. Hwy. 53 enters the village from the south, turn right/east onto Oak Hill Road. Turn left/north onto Park Street. When Park Street curves west, you’ll notice a large open gravel parking lot. Leave your vehicle there. The trail runs alongside the lot’s eastern side.

Take the trail northeast. Nicely forested with typical northern hardwoods, the trail is fairly isolated from built-up areas.

This section of the trail also is part of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. The 1200-mile Ice Age Trail essentially follows the edge of where the glacier last seen in these parts towered some 10,000 years ago.

In about a quarter mile, the trail begins to skirt the backside of the Namekagon Visitor Center grounds, which offers displays about the riverway. Unfortunately, there’s no path leading from the Wild Rivers Trail to the center; when finished with the hike, consider a drive to it (take Hwy. 53 north and turn right onto U.S. Hwy. 63), especially if children are with you.

The trail then crosses busy Hwy. 63 and in another 100 feet spans the Namekagon. From the river bridge looking west, the Namekagon breaks into a couple of back channels.

After the river, the trail re-enters the peaceful woods. You’re likely to spot white-tailed deer, rabbits, squirrels and chipmunks along the way. Songbirds are plentiful, providing a sweet soundtrack to the hike. In 0.75 miles, the trail reaches Ross Road, which is a good spot to turn back; by this point, you’ve actually left the scenic riverway.

During spring and early summer, be sure to carry insect repellent when near the river. And while the trail cuts through woodlands, it is wide and mostly open, so also be sure to don sunscreen.

Learn about nearby trails in Day Hiking Trails of Washburn County.

Pleasant day hike through lakeside forest awaits on Wisconsin Northwoods trail

Trego Lake Trail

A pretty hike through a Northwoods forest awaits hikers on the Trego Lake Trail in the Wisconsin.

The 1.9-mile trail loops through the woods next to Trego Lake in Washburn County. Both the lake and the trail are part of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway.

Also known as the Trego Lake Ski Touring Trail, the path described here is a segment of its various routes. Up to 3.5 miles of trails are groomed for cross country skiing in winter.

To reach the trail, drive north of Trego 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.

Autumn leaves
The trail parallels North River Road but is nicely set inside the woodland. In autumn, the trail is comely with 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 in the woods.

Gradually, the trail curves south then hairpins west as coming to Trego Lake. The 383-acre waterbody actually is a widening of the Namekagon River. As such, the lake isn’t particularly deep, reaching a maximum depth of just 36 feet.

About half of the trail follows the shoreline, including going onto a small peninsula. You’re likely to see fishermen on the lake, as they try to land muskie (Wisconsin’s state fish), bass (both largemouth and smallmouth flourish here), walleye, and various panfish. Northern pike and sturgeon also inhabit the lake.

After going beneath a powerline, the trail curves north, then as nearing the road, parallels it as turning east and passing under the powerline again. Upon reaching the stem trail, go left/north back to the parking lot.

Shortening, extending trail
Since the trail described here is the outer loop of the ski trails, you can shorten the walk. After hiking a brief section of the shoreline, a trail goes right/north and cuts across the woods to the parking lot. This shorter route totals 1.2 miles.

You also can extend it. After veering north away from the lake, take the next trail going right/northeast; this loops over hilly terrain and rejoins the trail proper, adding about a mile to the route for a 2.9-mile round trip. Upon rejoining the trail, go right/north back to the parking lot.

Dogs are welcomed on the trail, and restrooms can be found at the trailhead.

Learn about nearby trails in Day Hiking Trails of Washburn County.