Fifth ‘Hittin’ the Trail’ book, on Burnett County, Wisconsin, released

The next book in my Hittin’ the Trail hiking guide series, Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking Burnett County, Wisconsin, went on sale this weekend. The ebook lists dozens of great family-friendly trails in all of your favorite Burnett County communities, including Grantsburg, Siren, Webster and Danbury as well along the St. Croix River in neighboring Minnesota. Included is a primer about day hiking essentials, such as gear, clothing, navigation, and how to avoid various trail dangers. Day Hiking Burnett County, Wisconsin is available as an ebook on Kindle, Nook, iBook/iPad, Kobo, and other formats.

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

Peaceful day hike from river to lake awaits

A scenic segment of the Gandy Dancer State Trail runs for 2 miles north of Webster, Wis., from the Yellow River to Yellow Lake at Lone Pine Road.

As with most rail lines turned hiking trails, the former Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad corridor is flat. And despite that this section in Burnett County is close to built-up areas, it’s fairly tranquil.

To reach this segment of the trail, take Wis. Hwy. 35 north of town. Just across the Yellow River at the Yellow River Saloon and Eatery, turn left; park in the gravel lot. Access the trail by heading west in the road just north of this establishment. A 900-foot walk leads to the trail at the Yellow River’s edge.

Most of the trail is wooded, but there are some open, unshaded stretches, so be sure to wear a hat and sunscreen.

About a half mile from the Yellow River, the Gandy Dancer crosses a jeep trail then 400 feet later crosses a gravel road. Watch for vehicles on the roads, especially if children are with you.

For the next 0.75 miles, the trail becomes forested and shaded. A good mix maples, oaks, aspens and pine grow in the wooded area.

The trail then crosses Jeffries Road, so again exercise caution, as this is a busier street than the previous two.

While the trail remains wooded north of the road, the surrounding area is a bit more built up as you near Yellow Lake. About 0.4 miles from the road, you should be able to see the lake itself as the trail skirts its eastern shore.

At 2,283 acres, Yellow Lake sports a mean depth of 19 feet. It’s a popular fishing lake for catfish, largemouth and smallmouth bass, musky, Northern pike, panfish, sturgeon and walleye.

Upon crossing at Finlayson Road, the trail begins to swerves away from lake. When you’ve reached Lone Pine Road, you’ve gone about 2 miles, marking a good spot to turn back.

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

Great hiking trails dot Webster, Wis., region

Gandy Dancer Trail in Webster.

Visitors to the Webster, Wis., area will find some great trails to day hike. Among them:
g Amsterdam Sloughs Wildlife Area trails – A jeep trail parallels County Road D in the forest’s northwest corner. On the 4.8-mile round trip, part of which is alongside a lake, expect to spot blue heron, osprey and even signs of bear.
g Gandy Dancer Trail – A scenic segment of the trail runs for 2 miles north of the village from the Yellow River to Yellow Lake at Lone Pine Road. Most of the trail is shaded.
g Keizer Lake Wildlife Area East-West trail – A jeep trail runs about 1.3 miles one way east-west through the wildlife area. It’s easiest to find from the east terminus, as it’s the only entry along County Road A. Watch the skies for bald eagles and osprey.

Read more about day hiking Burnett County in my Hittin’ the Trail: Day Burnett County, Wisconsin guidebook.

Gandy Dancer Trail heads thru Northwoods

Old railroad line converted

to 98-mile hiking route

The Gandy Dancer State Trail runs roughly north-south for 98 miles with a number of accessible points in Wisconsin cabin country, making it ideal for a day hike. Built atop an old Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie railroad grade, the trail is named for the Gandy Tool Company workers who built the route back in the 1880s.

Paralleling Wis. Hwy. 35, one of the easiest places to get on the trail is in St. Croix Falls at the Polk County Information Center, located at the junction of U.S. Hwy. 8 and Hwy. 35. Plenty of parking is available at the info center.

The trail begins as paved asphalt then turns to packed crushed limestone, which makes for easy walking. As trains once needed to make their way where you’ll walk, grade changes always are gradual.

A variety of trees often form a long canopy over the trail, offering plenty of shade and a real escape back to nature experience. This is especially so in autumn, when leaves change to form red, orange and golden roofs over hikers. In grassy areas, lupines, phlox and columbine flower during June.

When passing waterways, dragonflies frequently can be spotted during summer. Songbirds light most of the route with their melodies while squirrels scamper along the ground and up trees. Watch for white tail deer springing back into the woods when rounding curves.

The first segment of the trail runs 4.5 miles from the information center to the village of Centuria. If you have young children, you certainly don’t have to walk the entire trail; mile posts signs along the way tell how far you’ve walked so you know when to turn around.

If your cabin is a little farther north, no worries. Running through nine villages and connecting with city parks, you can find a trailhead at several locations, including: Centuria, Milltown, Luck, Frederic, Lewis, Siren, Webster and Danbury. Those trail sections pass farmland, lakes and forests. Bicyclists also are allowed to use the trial; be sure to keep an eye on children so they don’t get in the way.

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