Southcentral Wisconsin's top fall hikes, Pt. 2

Blue Mound State Park, Wisconsin

There’s no better way to experience autumn colors around southcentral 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 southcentral Wisconsin to hike. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.

Iowa County
A walk through a maple-oak forest that blazes with color each autumn awaits day hikers at Blue Mound State Park. The 1.5-mile Flint Rock Nature Trail loops up and down Blue Mound’s side as well as around and over large rocks. It ends near an observation tower that hikers can go to the top of. During September and October, hikers will be delighted by the array of autumn colors here – the yellow, orange and red hues of sugar maple as temperatures cool, the amber of basswood, the deep crimson of the red oaks, the russet of white oak, and the gold of shagbark hickory. From County Road ID in Blue Mounds head north on Mounds Park Road (maps sometimes refer to it as Mounds Road). Follow the road to the beginning of where it circles back on itself. Park in the small roadside lot on the circle’s northwest side. From there, walk west along the roadside for a little more than 100 feet to the trailhead, which goes north into the woods.

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Fall colors light up the trail to picturesque Stephens Falls in Governor Dodge State Park. The 0.5-mile round trip Stephens Falls Trail passes beneath a canopy of hardwoods before arriving at the waterfalls, which spills 20 feet over a moss-covered sandstone into a splash pool below. The hike can be extended by continuing past the falls on the Lost Canyon Trail. From Dodgeville, take U.S. Hwy. 23 north. The park entry road is on the right/east. Follow the entry road north to the Stephens Falls parking area on the right/east. Leashed dogs are allowed on the trail.

Jefferson County
An incredible vista of fall colors and farm fields await on Bald Bluff in the Kettle Moraine State Forest-Southern Unit. The steep 0.5-mile (one way) Bald Bluff Nature Trail heads to the summit, which at 1050 feet is one of Jefferson County’s highest points. You can extend the hike by walking another 2.9 miles (one way) to the Stone Elephant, an eratic that looks a lot like an elephant’s head. From Palmyra, take County Road H south. A parking lot is on the road’s left/east side.

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Day hikers can see a variety of autumn colors common to southern Wisconsin on the rugged Orange Loop in Kettle Moraine State Forest’s Southern Unit. The 6-mile loop heads up and down glacial geography through a hardwood forest. Part of the Emma Carlin trail system, it’s just one small sample of the more than 300 miles of trails spread across 30,000 acres in the state forest. Fall leaves range from the reds of black cherry and golds of quaking aspen to the cinnamon of northern red and yellow of white oaks. The trees all make up a classic southern dry-mesic forest. From Palmyra take Wis. Hwy. 59 east. Turn right/south onto County Road Z/Little Prairie Road. In just under a mile is a parking lot on the road’s right/west side. From the lot, go left/southeast on the trail.

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Great autumn colors await at historic Tivoli Island Natural Park in Watertown. About 0.25 miles of paths cross the heavily wooded island, located on the Rock River. Since the 1870s, the island has served as a recreation getaway for local residents. Today, wood chip paths maintained by the local Izaak Walton League pass beneath oak, maple, and ash trees. From downtown Watertown, take Wis. Hwy. 16/East Main Street east. Turn right/south on Tivoli Drive. Park along the street. A footbridge crosses to the island.

Lafayette County
Ridgetop views, an oak woods, and prairie grasses await hikers on the Windy Ridge Trail at Yellowstone State Park. The 1.7-mile trail passes through an oak grove, where leaves shine tan, red and brown overhead and oodles of acorns crunch underfoot. From Darlington, take County Road F northeast. Turn right/southeast onto N. Lake Road. Go left/northeast on the road leading tot he campground and park int the lot past the turnoff to the campground. Walk the road south back toward the turnoff; the trailhead is on the road’s left side.

Rock County
Hikers can see unique sandstone rock formations in an oak-dominated forest at Magnolia Bluff County Park. A 1-mile looping nature trail heads along the limestone and sandstone bluff, the county’s second highest point. Autumn is colorful in the forest of black, red and white oak, shagbark and bitternut hickories, American and slippery elms, black cherry, red and sugar maples, white ash, basswood, hackberry, aspen, white birch, black walnut, and butternut. From Evansville, go south on Wis. Hwy. 59 then left/south on North Croak Road. Enter the park by turning left/east and park in the lot where the road ends. Head straight-west from the lot and follow the loop south.

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A plethora of autumn colors await at the Rotary Botanical Gardens in Janesville. More than a half mile of trails wind through the 20-acre site, where 4000 varieties of plants grow in 26 garden styles. The best sections in autumn include the North Woodland Path, which runs by a pond, and the woodland walk and woodland glen areas. From the intersection of Interstate 90 and U.S. Bus. Hwy. 14, take the latter northwest. Turn left/southwest onto Palmer Drive. The botanical gardens are on the right/north.

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Beautiful views of the Rock River amid a canopy of yellow and orange leaves awaits hikers at Big Hill Park in Beloit. The 190-acre park sits on bluffs overlooking the river. A great route is the 1.9-mile round trip unnamed trail that runs through the park's south side then turns north with the Rock River below and ends at a parking lot on the Big Hill's northeast side. From downtown Beloit, take Sixth Street/South Afton Road north. Turn right/east onto West Big Hill Road then left/north onto Big Hill Drive. Park at the environmental education center and walk south alongside Bill Hill Drive; the trailhead is on the road's left/east side.

Sauk County
Mix fascinating rock formations, a clear blue lake, and fall colors, and you’ve got a recipe for an awesome hike. Devil’s Lake State Park serves up this dish on the 2.6-miles round trip East Bluff-East Bluff Woods Loop. September and October is gorgeous as harvest leaves frame the trail and neighboring Devil’s Lake. East Bluff Wood features maples and oaks with some sumac and birch mixed in. From Baraboo take Wis. Hwy. 113 south. Enter Devil’s Lake State Park by turning right/west on County Road DL. Follow it past two junctions – one for the campgrounds and the other with Old Lake Road – then turn left/south onto Park Road. Cross the road that leads to the park headquarters. Pass through the first parking lot and use the second one. The trailhead leaves from the east side of road just after it exits the second lot’s south side.

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A variety of autumn colors can be enjoyed at Ferry Bluff State Natural Area near Sauk City. The bluff rises 300 feet above the confluence of the Wisconsin River and Honey Creek. Two trails head from the parking lot, one to an overlook at 0.76 miles round trip and one to the river at 0.52 miles round trip. Along the way, you’ll traverse the bluff’s wooded slopes, covered in yellow-leaved white oak, scarlet to orange-colored red oak, amber basswood, hackberry, elm, and ironwood, and green hickory. From Sauk City, take U.S. Hwy. 12 west. Turn left/southwest onto Wis. Hwy. 60 then right/southeast onto Ferry Bluff Road.

Top fall trails in southcentral Wisconsin, Pt. I

Gibraltar Rock State Natural Area

There’s no better way to experience autumn colors around southcentral 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 southcentral Wisconsin to hike. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.

Columbia County
Day hikers can head to the top of a 200-foot butte and enjoy incredible views of the Wisconsin River Valley and Lake Wisconsin at Gibraltar Rock State Natural Area. The 2.2-miles round trip Gibraltar Rock segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail climbs the butte’s northeast side. It’s a spectacular hike to take in autumn, when harvest colors abound along the trail and the surrounding countryside. A red oak and basswood forest dominates the butte’s sides. The red oak’s leaves vary from scarlet to orange and light brown while the basswood nicely accents the red oak’s colors with chartreuse to yellow-green leaves. From Portage, take Interstate 39 south then Interstate 90 south/east. Exit onto Wis. Hwy. 60 and go right/west. In Lodi, turn right/north onto Wis. Hwy. 113 then left/west onto County Road V and lastly left/south onto Gibraltar Rock Road. Park off the road at the curve in about 250 feet. The Ice Age National Scenic Trail enters the woods 125 feet to the east on the road’s left side.

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Hikers can learn about how pioneers used trees and climb an observation tower on the Nature Trail Loop at the MacKenzie Center. The 0.4-mile loop runs through a sugarbush, a logging museum, and a forest of oak, hickory and pine. Near the trail’s end, hikers can climb a 40-foot observation tower to see the quilt of farmland and woods surrounding the fairly flat plains surrounding the center. From Poynette, take County Road Q/CS east out of town. Turn south onto Park Road. The center’s main parking lot is on the right/west. The trail is east of the parking lot across Park Road.

Dane County
Day hikers can walk through a maple forest and enjoy an impressive view of the Wisconsin River Valley at Brigham County Park west of Madison. Four stacked loops totalling about a mile in length head through the woodlands east of the campground. Each autumn, the maples turn yellow, orange and red in the woods and about the campground, making for a perfect fall day walk. From Mt. Horeb, take County Road ID west. Near Blue Mounds, turn right/north onto Cave of the Mounds Road then right/north onto County Road F. Enter the park with a right/east onto Park Road, park in the lot, and walk the road east to the nature trail trailhead.

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Hikers can stroll through a new deciduous forest past effigy mounds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum. A 0.75-mile trail loops through the 52-acre Wingra Woods, which grew in the mid-20th century on what had once been farm fields. Yellow-, orange- and red-leaved sugar maples dominate the woods and are accented with amber-colored basswood, golden-bronze beech, and green hemlock. Yellow birch and hemlock grow on the north slope of a hill near for a sample of the northwoods. In Madison from the intersection of U.S. Hwys. 14 and 18, go north on South Midvale Boulevard. Turn right/east onto Nakoma Road, next right/south onto Seminole Highway, and then left/east onto McCaffrey Drive, using the arboretum's west entrance. At the roundabout, go north onto Arboretum Drive. Park in Wingra Springs Lot on the road's right/north side.

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Pretty autumn colors await in a small forest at Governor Nelson State Park, located south of Waunakee on the north shores of Lake Mendota. Leaves in the park’s woodlands turn orange, scarlet and olive while the adjoining prairie grass glows a fiery red. The 1.18-mile Woodland Trail also passes a 358-foot panther effigy mound and several conical mounds. From Waunakee, take Wis. Hwy. 113 south. Go right/west onto County Road M then left/east into the park. Leave your vehicle in the last parking lot on the road, just southwest of the boat landing.

Dodge County
Hikers can explore the ancient Niagara Escarpment rock formation in wooded Dodge County Ledge Park. The roughly mile-long Ledge Trail circles above and below the 50-foot high escarpment while heading through a small forest of maple-basswood, oak, and lowland hardwoods. A scenic overlook offers a fantastic view of massive Horicon Marsh, which serves as a stopover for tens of thousands of migrating birds and whose grasses glimmer gold in autumn. From Mayville, take County Road V south. Turn right/west onto Raasch Hill Road then right/north onto Park Road. Take the first left/north into the park and leave your vehicle at the first lot on the left/west (across from Campsites 19 and 20).

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Autumn colors add to the impressive beauty of a large effigy mound grouping at Nitschke Mounds County Park east of Beaver Dam. A 1-mile woodchip trail, lit in leaves of yellow and orange with the occasional red, winds through the park and the mound. An estimated 39 animal effigy and conical and linear mounds sit in one corner of the woods. The mounds likely were constructed between 800 CE to 1100 CE, and rank among the best surviving examples of the Mound Builders’ culture in the state. From Beaver Dam, take County Road E (East Burnett Street in town) east. After crossing Wis. Hwy. 26, the park is on the left/north.

Green County
A variety of fall colors – including the golds of shagbark hickories, rich yellows of birch, and the bronze of dried prairie grass – await hikers on the Havenridge Nature Trail in New Glarus Woods State Park. The 4.2-mile trail heads through each of the park’s landscapes. Some of the trees here are enormous, as the hilly New Glarus Woods escaped the logger’s ax in the 1800s. Basswood, black walnut, elm and oak also can be found in the park. From New Glarus, head south on Wis. Hwy. 69. enter the park by turning right/west on County Road NN. Park in the first lot on the road’s left/south side.

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Tree leaves along the scenic Sugar River turn gold each autumn, making for a wonderful walk. The 2.5-mile round trip Sugar River Trail West runs on an old jeep trail that hugs the Sugar River between Brodhead and the Decatur Lake dam. Closer to a floodplain forest, this side of the river offers more trees than the Sugar River Trail that travels through farmland east of the waterway. From the junction of Wis. Hwy. 11 and County Road E in Brodhead, go north on the former. Turn left/west on Decatur Road. The parking lot and trailhead is at the Sugar River’s west side.

Fall color trails abound around Milwaukee

Franklin Wirth Park, Brookfield, Wis.

There’s no better way to experience autumn colors around the Milwaukee metro area 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 Milwaukee to hike. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.

Franklin Wirth Park (Brookfield)
Orange-, tan- and russet-leaved oaks await day hikers during an autumn walk

at Franklin Wirth Park in Brookfield. The 135-plus acre parks offers a number of walking paths, including a trailhead to the Greenway Trail System. For a total immersion in the forest, try the 0.4-mile Backwoods Adventure Trail, which loops

in the park’s northwest corner as crossing Underwood Creek. From the junction of Interstate 94 and South Moorland Road, take the latter north. After U.S. Hwy. 18/Bluemound Road, it becomes Pilgrim Parkway. Use the second entry to the park on the left/west.

Homestead Hollow County Park (Germantown)
Leaves of yellow, crimson and tan await hikers during autumn at Homestead Hollow County Park in Germantown. The 105-acre farmstead, converted to a park during the early 1980s, gives off a rural-like vibe as the red barns were converted to shelters while the fields were replanted to prairie. The Blue Trail, with access to it via the Green Trail, runs a mile round trip, and stays in the old farm’s woods most of the way. From the junction of Interstate 41 and Freistadt Road/County Road F, take the latter east. The park’s entry is on the right/south.

Greenfield Park (West Allis)
Day hikers can enjoy autumn colors at Greenfield Park in West Allis. Orange, yellow and russet leaves line a segment of the Oak Leaf Trail, which runs 0.8 miles through a woods between two parking lots. You can extend the hike by continuing on the Root River Parkway to the south or around a willow-shaded pond to the north. From the junction of Interstate 94 and Wis. Hwy. 100, take the latter south. Turn right/west on West Rogers Street. The road enters the park and ends at a parking lot, from which where the trail heads south.

Engel Conservation Area (Muskego)
Woodlands, prairie and wetlands come alive with color each autumn at the Engel Conservation Area in Muskego. A 155-acre site, 29 acres of it are upland woods with the rest as prairie and wetlands. During autumn, the oak leaves turn tan and russet while the prairie grasses glow fiery red and the wetlands grasses shimmer gold in the sunlight. The 0.9 miles of trails directly east of the entry road and parking lot mostly remain in the woodlands. Other trails head through each of the ecosystems. From the junction of Interstate 43 and County Road Y/Racine Avenue, take the latter south. Go right/west onto Henneberry Drive then right/north into the center.

Wehr Nature Center (Franklin)
A walk through a rainbow of harvest hues awaits at the Wehr Nature Center in Franklin. The looping 1-mile Woodland Trail passes sugar maple, aspen and oak lit up in amber, orange, russet and red during fall. From the junction of Interstate 43 and Wis. Hwy. 100/South 108th Street, take the latter south. Turn right/east onto West College Avenue then once in Whitnall Park go right/south onto Nature Center Drive.

Seven Bridges in Grant Park (South Milwaukee South Shore)
Day hikers can traverse a wooded ravine with great views of Lake Michigan at Seven Bridges in Grant Park on Milwaukee's South Shore. The 0.4-mile round trip Seven Bridges Trail, with its stone steps and footbridges, makes for a great autumn hike. Along the way are yellow-leafed American beech and birch, amber-, orange- and red-colored maples, and gold to maroon white ash. From the junction of Interstates 94/41 and College Avenue, take the latter east. Go right/south onto South Lake Drive then left/east onto Grant Park Drive. Park in the spaces off the road at the Seven Bridges Trailhead.

Hoyt Park (Wauwatosa)
Day hikers can amble through a maple-beech forest in the heart of Wisconsin's largest metro area at the Forest Exploration Center in Wauwatosa. During autumn at the 60-acre woods in Hoyt Park, hikers can enjoy the amber, orange and reds of sugar maple and the golden-bronze of beech. This type of forest used to dominate southeast Wisconsin along Lake Michigan. From the junction of Interstate 41 and West North Avenue, take the latter east. Turn right/south onto Menomonee River Parkway, then right/southwest onto Underwood Parkway, and then left/south onto Forest Exploration Drive.

Big Bay Park (Whitefish Bay)
Autumn colors with a view of Lake Michigan awaits at Big Bay Park in Whitefish Bay. A short 0.44-mile round trip path heads along the tree line, atop the bluff, while another heads to the Lake Michigan shore, where there's a concrete pier. In fall, yellow-, olive- and russet-colored leaves brighten the walk. From the intersection of Interstate 43 and West Hampton Road, take the latter east. Turn left/north onto North Lake Drive then right/north onto North Palisades Road. Park on the street.

Schlitz Audubon Nature Center (Milwaukee North Shore)
An observation tower offers great views of Lake Michigan and 185 acres of forest right in the Milwaukee metro area. The 0.26-mile Green Tree Accessible Loop at the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center heads through a woods of beech, sugar maple, basswood and red and white oak. On the loop’s northeast side is a 60-foot high tower that you can go to the top of. From Interstate 43, head east on E. Brown Deer Road. Turn right/south onto E. Bay Road and into the center. Park in the lot at the road’s end. Walk east from the road to the trailhead.

Havenwoods State Forest (Milwaukee)
Day hikers can enjoy autumn leaves at a state forest smack dab in the middle of Wisconsin’s largest urban area. The 1.28-miles round trip self-guided Nature Trail loops through Havenwoods State Forest in Milwaukee. A grove of Norway maple sits at the trail entry. The maple typically turns yellow but some will glow orange-red. Another part of the woods along the trail includes box elder, which turns brilliant gold, elm for a mix of yellow, russet, bronze, orange and wine, white ash to amber and maroon, and hawthorn to hues of purple. From Interstate 43 in Milwaukee, go west on West Silver Spring Drive. Turn right/north onto North Sherman Boulevard then left/west onto West Douglas Avenue. Park in the lot at the nature center.

Kettle Moraine State Forest-Lapham Peak Unit (Delafield)
Hikers can head through a colorful oak woods and to the top of an observation tower on the county’s highest point at Kettle Moraine State Forest-Lapham Peak Unit. The ADA accessible 1.8-mile Plantation Path loops past prairie and through a woods of black, red and white oak, shagbark hickory, red maple, aspen, basswood, paper birch, white pine, and black cherry. A connector trail to the Ice Age National Scenic Trail leads to the observation tower atop Lapham Peak, which rises to an elevation of 1,233 feet. From Delafield, take County Road C south. Turn left/east toward the park office. Park in the Homestead lot.

Lion’s Den Gorge Nature Preserve (Port Washington)
Migrating raptors and fall colors set against the backdrop of beautiful Lake Michigan await at Lion’s Den Gorge Nature Preserve. After passing a wetlands popular with waterfowl, the 2-mile round trip Lion’s Den Trail enters a deep, verdant gorge. Aspen stands and mature white birch with their fluttering yellow leaves abound. The trail then delivers you to a long, secluded beach. From Port Washington, drive south on County Road C/Lake Shore Road. Turn left/east onto High Bluff Drive, which enters the park. When the road becomes a roundabout, park in the first/southern lot.

Top fall trails in east-central Wisconsin, Pt. II

Parnell Tower Trail, Kettle Moraine State Forest, Wisconsin

There’s no better way

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

Manitowoc County
Hikers can walk upon what 5000 years ago was a Lake Michigan beach ridge. Entirely wooded now, it makes for a great autumn hike. The 0.5-mile Conifer Trail at Woodland Dunes Nature Center and Preserve sits near the great lake between Manitowoc and Two Rivers. Signs along the trail point out the different types of trees, which make a splendid autumn display – the bronze of American beech, the yellows, oranges and reds of sugar maple, the brown of red oak and the scarlet of white oak, all mixed with the olive leaves of basswood and evergreen needles of the conifers. From Manitowoc, take Wis. Hwy. 42 north or from Two Rivers follow the highway south. Go north onto Columbus Street and left/west onto Wis. Hwy. 310. Immediately after Columbus Street, turn right/north into the preserve’s nature center and park there. To reach the trailhead, head south alongside Columbus Street; a sign identifies the trailhead, about two blocks from the nature center, on the road’s west side.

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A walk through an oak forest up an ancient kame awaits day hikers on a section of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. The 2.3 miles (one-way) Walla Hi segment winds to the top of a 975-foot high kame then back down to a plain. Tan and russet oak leaves, accented by the yellow of various birches and the dark green of pines, line the route between Walla Hi County Park and Lax Chapel Road. From Kiel, take Wis. Hwy. 32 east/south. Turn left/north onto County Road MC/South Cedar Lake Road then left/west into Mueller Road. Park in the lot at the end of Mueller Road. Head south/west on the trail.

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Yellow and orange leaves along a pretty river await hikers on the Henry Schuette Park segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail in Manitowoc. Half of a 1.2-mile loop runs along the wooded Manitowoc River before the waterway spills into Lake Michigan. From U.S. Hwy. 151 in Manitowoc, go north on South 35th Street. Turn left/west onto Meadow Lane, which becomes Broadway Street when it curves north. Park at the playground then take the sidewalk along Broadway north. The trailhead is on the street’s right/east side. Check ahead to ensure the trail is not closed due to high water levels.

Outagamie County
A pretty hike through a woods to an observation tower overlooking a pond awaits at the Gordon Bubolz Nature Preserve. The hike to and on the Deer Run Trail goes for about 4 miles in a loop. During autumn, you’ll enjoy golden red prairie grass while the forest boasts bronze beech accented by the oranges and reds of sugar maple, the amber of basswood, and the russet of red and white oak. The observation tower takes you a story above the terrain and Black Acres Pond. From Appleton, head out of town north on N. Lynndale Drive/County Road A. The road to the nature preserve is on the left/west. Once parked, pick up a trail map at the nature center, as you’ll need to hike segments of other routes to reach the Deer Run Trail.

Sheboygan County
Day hikers can head to an observation tower on the Kettle Moraine State Forest’s highest point via a short trail. In autumn, the walk through the surrounding forest and the view of it from the tower is a fantastic sight. The 0.7-mile out and back Parnell Tower Trail heads to the 60-foot wooden Parnell Observation Tower. The hike can be lengthened, though, by adding a loop, known as the Parnell Tower Trail Loop, which runs 2.9 miles. The hike to the tower heads beneath a canopy of maple trees while northern red oak, basswood, sugar maple and white ash dominate another part of the hill. From Plymouth take Wis. Hwy. 67 west. Turn left/south onto County Road A (aka Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive). County Road U joins County A from the east; in just under 2 miles when County Road U goes right/west, turn onto it. In about 0.15 miles, turn right/north into the parking lot for the trail. A gravel trail – the short stem leading to the loop – heads north from the lot’s northern side.

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Hikers can head through a 130-year-old forest at the Kettle Moraine Red Oaks State Natural Area. The remains of a half-mile pack trail (1-mile round trip) runs through the northern section of the forest, where more than 100 trees, shrubs and herbs can be found. In autumn, the red oak-dominated forest is colorful as basswood, sugar maple, white ash, big-tooth aspen, white oak, black cherry, and shagbark hickory offer a variety of harvest hues. From Plymouth, take Wis. Hwy. 23 west. Turn left/southwest onto Plank road and then left/southeast onto Cemetery Lane. Park at the end of the lane, which marks the state natural area’s border.

Winnebago County
Hikers can enjoy an array of autumn colors along a comely stream at Waukau Creek County Nature Preserve. The 0.55-mile Elderberry Trail loops through a small part of the preserve and includes a connector that goes to Waukau Creek and two other footpaths. Along the way is wine-red-leaved white oak, yellow-colored bitternut hickory and prickly ash, gold to maroon white ash, burgundy northern red oak, crimson smooth sumac, and orange-brown box elder. From Oshkosh, take Wis. Hwy. 44 southwest. Turn right/west onto Wis. Hwy. 91 then right/north on Wis. Hwy. 116. In Waukau, go left-straight/northwest onto Delhi Road/20th Street. The parking area is on the road’s left/west side with the trailhead on the road’s opposite side.

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A variety of autumn colors can be enjoyed at the North High Conservancy Park next to Oshkosh North High School. Just under a mile of bark trails ramble through the 12.19-acre natural area that is mostly woods with a couple of small ponds. The trees range from immense old hardwoods to thin new birch growing in the wetter sections. Volunteer efforts are underway to remove buckthorn and garlic mustard from the park. From the junction of U.S. Hwy. 45 and Wis. Hwy. 44, take the former north. Turn left/west onto West Smith Avenue then right/north on Vinland Avenue and finally right/eat onto Morgan Avenue. A trail runs north from the high school parking lot. When school is in session, park instead on an adjoining street.

Top fall trails in east-central Wisconsin, Pt. I

Potawatomi State Park, Wisconsin

There’s no better way to experience autumn colors around east-central 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 east-central Wisconsin to hike. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.

Brown County
A grove of cottonwoods awaits hikers on the Woodcock (Blue) Trail at Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve in Suamico. The 0.75-mile trail heads north from the interpretive center and curves around a small pond in the preserve’s northwest corner. During autumn, it’s a gloriously beautiful walk, as the tall eastern cottonwoods – which are largely absent in this part of Wisconsin – turn a bright yellow. From U.S. Hwy. 141 in Suamico, take Lineville Road east. Turn left/north onto County Road J/Lakeview Drive and then right/east into the preserve. Park at the center.

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Hikers can head through a remnant of the great oak forests that once covered all of Brown County. The 1.15-mile round trip McMahon Woods Trail sits in the Cofrin Memorial Arboretum, which surrounds the UW-Green Bay campus. The trail runs alongside McMahon Creek, which flows into nearby Green Bay. Russet-colored oaks dominate the McMahon Woods' uplands while colorful sugar maples can be found in the understory. Fifty-nine different trees and shrubs can be seen along the trail. From Wis. Hwy. 57, take Nicolet Drive north. Turn right/southeast onto South Circle Drive. Roadside parking is available along the road’s first curve.

Calumet County
Day hikers can enjoy great views of Lake Winnebago atop a ridge on the Red Bird Trail at High Cliff State Park. The mostly level 3.4-mile trail runs along the ancient Niagara Escarpment’s western edge. Autumn offers the opportunity to see the lake through a northern wet-mesic forest, which offers the evergreen of northern white-cedar, Balsam fir and spruce, the yellows of black ash, the light orange of speckled alder, and the reds of mountain maple. A bonus is an observation tower you can climb to see the canopy and lake from above. From the park’s entrance road (State Park Road) turn left/southeast onto Lower Cliff Road. Next, go left/northeast on High Cliff Road. Park in the observation tower lot.

Door County
Day hikers can enjoy great autumn colors on the Tower Trail at Potawatomi State Park in scenic Door County. The 3.5-miles loop traverses the state park’s northern end. Part of the trail is the eastern terminus of the nearly 1200-mile Ice Age National Scenic Trail that crosses Wisconsin. The trail is among the best in Wisconsin to see fall leaves. The reds, oranges and yellows of maple, the amber and oranges of beech, and the olive of American basswood all light the trail with the brilliant blue waters of Sturgeon Bay in the background at vistas. From Wis. Hwys. 42/57 on Sturgeon Bay’s west side, head north on Park Road. The park is in a little over a mile; turn right/east into it on Entrance Road. At North Norway Road, turn left/north. After passing the North Camp Area, the park road intersects with Shoreline Road. A parking lot is at the intersection. From the lot, hike north alongside Shoreline Road. The Tower Trail crosses the road in about 330 feet.

***

Hikers can enjoy majestic views of blue Green Bay and the yellow and orange leaves of a blufftop forest at Ellison Bay Bluff County Park. An unnamed 1-mile trail loops through a woods of sugar maple, white ash, red oak, birch and beech. A spur trail leads to an observation deck at the edge of the 100-foot high limestone bluff. An enclosed catwalk extends outward from the bluff; walking on it will make you feel like you’re flying. From Ellison Bay, take Wis. Hwy. 42 south. Turn right/west onto Porcupine Bay Road then right/north onto Ellison Bluff Road. The road loops through the park; leave your vehicle in the lot on the loops’ southwest side.

Fond Du Lac County
Golden tamaracks circle the shores of Mauthe Lake in the Kettle Moraine State Forest-Northern Unit every October and November. The 2-mile Tamarack Nature Trail hugs the lake’s northweastern shore and then rambles over the nearby ice age-shaped terrain. Though tamaracks look like pine trees, their needles turn color and fall off like leaves on deciduous trees. From Campbellsport, take Wis. Hwy. 67 east. Turn right south on County Road SS then right/south on County Road GGG. Take the first right/west into the Mauthe Lake Recreation Area. The trail begins near the Mauthe Lake Beach and loops around the waterbody via the Ice Age National Scenic Trail and the Lake to Lake Bike Trail.

***

Hikers can explore the autumn beauty of a creek along the bottom of a deep ravine at Hobbs Woods Nature Area. The Main Trail Loop plus the access trail to it runs 1.31 miles on both sides of Parsons Creek, crossing it twice and a tributary once along the way. The autumn canopy casts a yellow and orange glow over the trail and creek in the 60-acre, thickly wooded county park. From Fond du Lac, take Interstate 41 south. Exit onto County Road B (exit 92), going right/west. Turn right/north onto Wis. Hwy. 175 then left/west onto Hamilton Road and finally left/south onto Hickory Road. The entry to Hobbs Woods is on the left/east.

Kewaunee County
A pretty fall hike along a river awaits on a segment of the Ahnapee State Trail. The 2.25-mile round trip rail-trail between County Road M and Washington Road sits in the Ahnapee River’s wetlands cooridor where migrating birds gather each autumn amid the bronze grasses. On higher ground, look for the willows’ shimmering gold leaves in the breeze, dogwoods’ deep scarlet leaves and berries, and bog birch’s amber. From Algoma, take County Road M north. The parking lot is on the northeast corner of where the the road and trail meet.

***

A perfect spot for taking young children to see autumn leaves is a segment of Ice Age National Scenic Trail at the Bruemmer County Park and Zoo near Kewaunee. The trail skirts the park’s northern side, from where it crosses County Road F in the west to the zoo in the east. The trail – including the small zoo’s exhibits – runs about a mile total. Leaves along the trail and at the zoo turn orange, crimson and various yellows. From Kewaunee, head west on Wis. Hwy. 29. Turn right/northwest onto County Road C/Ellis Street. Enter the park by going left/southwest onto County Road F and park at the zoo.

Top fall trails of central Wisconsin, Part II

Rib Mountain, Wausau, Wisconsin

There’s no better way

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

Green Lake County
Beautiful fall colors abound on a former Native American trail that runs on an slightly elevated shoreline over scenic Green lake. The 0.9-mile Winnebago Trail rambles through a southern oak forest and remnant prairie on land that used to be part of the Green Lake Conference Center. The 7 acres of protected land borders 1500-plus feet of the lake’s northern shore. From Green Lake, take Wis. Hwy. 23 west. Turn left/south on Lawson Drive, which eventually becomes Hillside Road. The trailhead is near the historic Lawson water tower and ends at the stone arch beneath Hillside Road.

Marathon County
As September comes to a close, trees for miles around Rib Mountain turn brilliant yellows, oranges and reds. The 1.2-mile Gray Trail at Rib Mountain State Park traverses the hill’s north and south slopes to the observation tower, from which you can view the world around at 722 feet above the surrounding countryside. For a bird’s eye view of the harvest colors across the hillside, consider taking a ski lift ride (at Granite Peak Ski Area) to the top then hiking around the summit and to the 60-foot tower before coming back down. From Interstate 39 in Wausau, exit onto Rib Mountain Drive, heading southwest. Go straight-right/west onto Park Road and ascend the hill. Park in the first lot on the road’s left/south side; the trail leaves from the lot’s southwest corner.

***

Vibrant fall colors and fantastic, Rocky Mountain-style rock formations await at Dells of the Eau Claire County Park. A 1.5-mile trail loops around the river, crossing it at a high bridge and dam. The north side of the river is the Ice Age National Scenic Trail while the south side is a county park trail. Among the fall colors are yellow-orange-red sugar maples, amber yellow birch, orange-red mountain maples, and the evergreens hemlock and Canada yew. From Wausau, take County Road Z/Franklin Street east 14 miles. Turn left/north onto County Road Y. The park is in 1.5 miles. Cross the bridge over the river and take the first left/west into the park; follow the road to its end, where there’s a parking lot. A connector to the Ice Age National Scenic Trail heads south from the lot.

***

Day hikers can enjoy a walk along the wooded shores of the Big Eau Pleine River at Cherokee County Park near Abbotsford. During autumn, tree leaves turn orange and several shades of yellow on the 1.5-mile round trip Indian Trail. Part of the trail also passes a rapids. From Abbotsford, take Wis. Hwy. 13 south. Go left/east onto County Road N. The park entrance is on the road’s left/north.

***

An array of autumn colors can be seen along the Heritage Trail segment in Stratford’s Klemme Park. A little more than a mile of trails arranged in four stacked loops with a couple of stems head through the reserve. Along the way are the russets and oranges of oak, the gold through red of sugar maple, and the amber of yellow birch. Look for the bronze-leafed Kentucky coffeetree and sunburst honey locust planted there in 2017. From the junctions of Wis. Hwy. 152 and 97 in Stratford, take the latter north. Turn right/east onto East North Street. The park entry is on the street’s left/north.

Portage County
A tree house, pond and swing await on the Trail of Reflections at the Schmeeckle Reserve. The 0.5-mile loop on the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point campus is particularly beautiful in autumn when a stand of sugar maples turns yellow, orange and red and their leaves first settle on the trail’s boardwalks. From Division Street in Stevens Point, head east on Northpoint Drive. After Michigan Avenue, turn right/south into the reserve’s parking area. The trail can be accessed by connectors either from the Bird Viewing Area or through the Zimmerman Prairie.

Shawano County
Hikers can enjoy the fall colors of prairie grasses and hardwood leaves on the sand hills at Navarino Wildlife Area. From late September through early October, the wildlife area looks like it’s ablaze as bluestem turns a fiery red while on the sand hills maples turn yellow and orange, the birch gold, and the oak scarlet. The 1-mile lollipop Blue Trail heads along the sand hills. From Shawano, take County Road K south. Turn left/east on South Townline Road then right/south on McDonald Road and left/east onto Lindstein Road. The entry road and parking lot is on the next left/north.

***

A gravel trail alongside the Wolf River offers an array of autumn colors at Waukechon Riverside Park south of Shawano. A 1.25-mile round trip trail rambles through the 68-acre site between the two county roads. On sunlit days, the floodplain forest’s leaves glow yellow, orange, tan and russet and reflect off the scenic river. From Shawano, head south on County Road K. Turn right/west onto County Road CCC. The park entry is on the road’s left/south side just before the Wolf River.

Waupaca County
Yellow birch, orange and red maples, and tan and brown oaks line Deer Path Trail, a 1-mile hike through Hartman Creek State Park. The trail circles spring-fed Allen Lake. On sunny days, the autumn leaves reflect off the crystal clear lake waters. From Waupaca, take Wis. Hwy. 54 west. Turn left/south onto Hartman Creek Road. Once in the park, take the first right/west to a parking lot for Allen Lake.

Fall trails abound in central Wisconsin, Part I

Roche-A-Cri State Park

There’s no better way to experience autumn colors around central

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 central Wisconsin to hike. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that

you can do in an afternoon.

Adams County
Day hikers can head to to the top of a 300-foot-high half-billion-year-old rock formation at Roche-A-Cri State Park. The 0.12-mile round trip stairway goes up the side of the prominent Roche-A-Cri formation. While short in length, the first-half is all uphill. It’s a beautiful hike in autumn when scarlet, amber and orange leaves line the forest canopy and float upon the stairs. From Adams-Friendship, take Wis. Hwy. 13 north. Turn left/west at the park entrance. Follow the park road to the opposite side of the formation, where there is a lot. A short trail leads to informative kiosks about the formation and the stairs.

Clark County
Day hikers can enjoy impressive views of the surrounding woodlands from atop a high mound on the Self-guided Interpretive Trail. The 1.94-mile trail at the Levis Mound and Trow Mound Recreational Area runs through an oak savanna, a grove of mature aspen, and historic white pine. A side trail heads up to Porky Point, a great vista for seeing autumn colors below. Fifteen stations on the nature trail point out interesting facts about local wildlife, trees and geology. From Neillsville, take Wis. Hwy. 95 south. After crossing the Black River, turn right/north onto Fisher Avenue/Columbia Road. Take the first left/west into the Levis Mound Trail Center.

Juneau County
The trail to Mill Bluff’s summit delivers a fantastic vista for viewing fall colors. Jutting 120 feet above the terrain, the blufftop allows view of forests and farmland for several miles around. The dark red leaves of northern red oak and russet of white oak nicely balance the green of jack pine, red pine, eastern white pine that dominates the bluff. The trail is short but steep – just 223 stone steps. From Interstate 94, take either Exit 48 for Oakdale and travel south on U.S. Hwy. 12 or Exit 55 at Camp Douglas and travel north to Mill Bluff State Park.

Marquette County
Day hikers can stand on extremely ancient rock 300 feet above the surrounding terrain at Observatory Hill State Natural Area. The 1.2-mile round trip Observatory Hill Trail crosses an oak savanna, where in autumn the burr oaks turn yellow-brown. The hill’s slopes are lit up with the orange-red leaves of red oak, the russet of white oak, the chartreuse of basswood, and the rich yellow of shagbark hickory. At the summit, the 1.76 billion-year-old volcanic rock offers a grand view. From Montello, take County Road F south. Turn straight-left/south on 14th Road then left/south on 13th Road and lastly straight-left/east on Gillette Avenue. The parking lot is on the road’s left/north side.

Wood County
Leaves aren’t the only things of beauty descending from the sky in autumn. Migratory birds make their way south through Wisconsin, and one of the best places to see them is at the Sandhill State Wildlife Area. The 7-mile round trip Swamp Buck Hiking Trail heads past a few of their rest stops and then to the summit of North Bluff. An observation tower there offers a sweeping view of the pine and russet-leaved oaks common to the central sandy plain. You’ll also see in flight, flocks of sandhill cranes, herons, geese, teal and wood ducks. From Babcock, take Wis. Hwy. 80/173 southwest. Turn right/north on County Road X then left/west into the wildlife area. The gravel Trumpeter Trail heads north from it. Park in a pullout about a mile from the entry when the road bends west to north. The trail heads southwest from the pullout.

***

Orange-gold to yellow oaks and crimson red maples await day hikers at Hamus Nature Preserve and Recreation Area in Marshfield. Some of the trees on the 32-acre site are 150-plus years old. A 0.9-mile trail – a combination of the Swamp White Oak and the Whitetail trails – passes a pond and circles the heavily wooded property. Along the way you’ll pass a large swamp white oak tree. Other paths – the Fox Run and Boardwalk trails – head to a large red maple tree in the forest’s interior. From Wis. Hwy. 97 in Marshfield, go west onto Northridge Street then right/north onto Hamus Drive. When the street curves east, it becomes Wilderness View Drive. Turn left/north into the nature preserve. Parking is at the road’s end.

Top fall hikes in southwest Wisconsin, Part II

Hixon Forest Nature Center

There’s no better way to experience autumn colors in southwest 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 across southwest Wisconsin to hike. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.

La Crosse County
Hikers can head through an oak woodland to the top of a bluff at Wisconsin’s Hixon Forest Nature Center. The 3-mile round-trip Lookout Trail, reached via a segment of the Sumac Trail, sits at the edge of the La Crosse metro area. The trail is exceptional during autumn when acorns and leaves cover the trail beneath a harvest-hued canopy. Fall leaves in their expansive canopy range from brown and wine-red to orange-red on the white oaks and the golden leaves, which are far richer than the yellows of the sugar maple, of the shagbark hickory. Also look for the hickory’s fragrant, edible nut; it has a sweet flavor. From U.S. Hwy. 53 in La Crosse, go east on La Crosse Street. Turn left/north onto Wis. Hwy. 16/Losey Boulevard North then right/east onto Bluff Pass Road and right/south onto Milson Court. The road ends at a gravel parking lot.

***

Hikers can walk alongside and cross a stream via five different bridges on the Halfway Creek Trail. The 3.4-mile trail connects Holmen to the Great River State Trail in Midway. Maple, aspen, oak and the occasional pine line the creek, making for a colorful autumn walk. Start at Halfway Creek Park in Holmen; the trailhead is on the park’s southwest side. One good turnaround spot to avoid crossing under U.S. Hwy. 53 is the connector trail to Judith Court for a 1.13-mile round trip and three bridge crossings.

***

Autumn colors and great views await in the Greens Coulee-Savanna Oaks site in Onalaska. The Mississippi River Valley Conservancy's 81 acres includes a scenic bluff that rises 400 feet above the valley floor adjacent to the city’s Greens Coulee Park. A 1.4-mile lollipop-plus route heads to the bluff's peak, where reds, oranges and yellows fill much of the fall canopy along the way. From the intersection of U.S. Hwy. 53 and East Main Street in Onalaska, take the latter east. Turn left/northeast onto Green Coulee Road then right onto Clifford Drive. Look for the kiosk at the of the cul-de-sac, where parking is available.

Monroe County
Hikers can walk through a thick forest in the shadow of Castle Rock at McMullen Memorial County Park. The 1.5 mile (one way) U-shaped trail runs between the towering rock and the campground at its base. In autumn, the woods features red, oranges and yellows mixed with pine green; its colors usually peak the second week of October. Wazeda Lake sits to the east, and to the southeast is the Jensen Cranberry Bog, which shimmers red from cranberries atop it each fall. From Warrens, take Aspen Road west. Turn right/north onto Atlantic Road and enter the park. A parking lot is on the southeast side of the road as it loops back on itself. The trail leaves from campsite No. 26.

Richland County
There’s no better place to see fall colors than the heart of the Driftless Area where high hills and low coulees ensure a cascade of harvest colors. The 1.6-mile Tower Drive Trail and North Woods Trail in Miner Hill Trails Park is one such spot. After 305 feet of elevation gain, the trail reaches the top of Miner Hill at 1060 feet above sea level. Yellow, orange and red sugar maple, amber basswood, and russet oak cover the hill. In Richland Center, park along East Court Street east of Sheldon Street and follow Roosevelt Drive up the hill.

Trempealeau County
Great views of the Mississippi River await at Perrot State Park. The 2.4-miles round trip Brady’s Bluff West and East trails are particularly impressive in autumn. Start up Brady’s Bluff West Trail and pause at the hill’s summit, which offers impressive views of the Mississippi River Valley, a brilliant blue ribbon through a forest of golden leaves. Descending the summit via the Brady’s Bluff East Trail heads through a woods of russet-leaved oaks. From Wis. Hwy. 35 in Trempealeau, take 10th Street west. Turn right/north onto Park Road, which becomes South Park Road. Park in the lot before the boat launch; the trailhead is on the opposite side of the road.

Vernon County

Hikers can step back in time and walk through the woods as in the days of old at Wildcat Mountain State Park. The rugged 2.5-mile Old Settlers’ Trail includes 390-feet of elevation change as heading through a forest of sugar maple, basswood and oak, all very colorful in autumn. An additional 0.8-mile round trip spur goes to the Taylor Hollow Overlook, which offers a fantastic view of the village of Ontario in the coulee below. From Westby, take Wis. Hwy. 27 north. In Cashton, turn right/east onto Wis. Hwy. 33. Once in the park, go left/east past the park office and at the split turn left/northwest to the Upper Picnic Area. Park there; a connector trail goes north to the Old Settlers’ Trail.

Top fall hikes in southwest Wisconsin, Part I

Nelson Dewey State Park

There’s no better way

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

Buffalo County
Day hikers can see ancient fossils on a spectacular vista that one time sat at the bottom of the sea. The 0.22-miles round trip Buena Vista Overlook Trail marks a must-see for anyone traveling the Wisconsin side of the Mississippi River. Located in Alma’s Buena Vista County Park, it’s an easy walk and a spectacular one in autumn. From the vista, a rainbow of leaf colors lead downhill to large swaths of gold around the Mississippi River. From Wis. Hwy. 35 in Alma, turn east onto County Road E; known as North Street in town, it curves and becomes Second Street then curls again as ascending the bluff. Near the top, turn left/north onto Buena Vista Road. The road dead ends at the park entrance.

Crawford County
Day hikers can head through a wooded blufftop that ends at a goat prairie offering fantastic views of the Mississippi River below on the Sugar Creek Bluff Nature Trail. The 1.5-mile round trip trail sits in the Sugar Creek Bluff State Natural Area. After passing through a small prairie, the trail enters a dry-mesic forest of red and white oak, shagbark hickory, white ash, and basswood. About 0.7 miles in, the trail reaches a goat prairie with the Mississippi below. During autumn, the land surrounding the river below turns into a sea of yellow as silver maple, green ash and river birch rule the sloughs and river valley. From Ferryville, go south on Wis. Hwy. 35. Turn left/northeast on North Buck Creek Road. In about a mile is a small parking area with a Mississippi Valley Conservancy kiosk.

***

Hikers can enjoy autumn colors at La Riviere Park in Prairie du Chien. Covering 300-acres, the park sits in the bluffs overlooking the confluence of the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers. The 1-mile A-Dan La Riviere Trail loops through the park’s woods, where each autumn leaves turn yellow, tan and russet. From downtown Prairie du Chien, head south on U.S. Hwy. 18/Wis. Hwy. 35. Turn left/northeast onto Vineyard Road. Go Left on Public Road to the parking lot. The trail is shared with mountain bikers.

Grant County
Day hikers can see effigy mounds towering above a vast sea of yellow leaves during autumn in southwest Wisconsin. The 1.2-mile round trip Mound Point Trail sits in Nelson Dewey State Park overlooking the Mississippi River. Though the trail crosses a blufftop prairie, whose grasses turn amber then brown each autumn, that’s just the opening act for the hike’s real star: Unobstructed views of the sparkling Mississippi River from 500 feet up. Every autumn, across the horizon stretches a sea of yellow with spots of orange at the bluff’s base, on the islands amid the river’s backwaters, and along the opposite shore in Iowa. From Wis. Hwy. 133 in Cassville, drive northwest on County Road VV. In about a mile, the park entrance is on the right with the Stonefield Village Historic Site on the left. Follow the park road to its intersection with the road leading to the Family Campground. Go straight/west past the campground and park in the small lot where the road loops back on itself. The trail heads southwest from the parking lot across North Ridge.

***

Day hikers can explore an oak savanna that’s nearly 300 feet above the Wisconsin River at the Boscobel Bluffs State Natural Area. In autumn, the bluffside lights up in an array of colors. The 3-mile round trip trail climbs 400 feet on an old logging road along the Lower Wisconsin River valley’s south flank. After passing through a globally rare dry prairie, the trail reaches a savanna offering the yellow to brown leaves of bur oak, the rich gold of shagbark hickory, and the maroon of American hazelnut. From U.S. Hwy. 61/Elm Street in Boscobel, turn east onto Mary Street, which becomes Freemont Street and then County Road MS. Just past Oakes Street, a parking lot is on the left/north.

***

Yellow, orange and russet leaves await hikers at the 45-acre Oakwood Nature Park. Of the four trails there, try the 1.25-mile Oak Valley Trail, which weaves in and out of a small oak-dominated woods. From downtown Fennimore, take U.S. Hwy. 18 east. Turn left/northeast onto County Road Q. Immediately after south on Bronson Boulevard, go right/south into the parking lot. Walk south across the lawn and head east on the paved path.

Jackson County
Fantastic views of a surrounding hardwood-pine forest awaits on the Castle Mound Lookout Trail at Black River State Forest. A dry pine forest lines the southeast side of the 2-mile loop while a wet boreal forest full of gold birch and aspen and orange to brown oak dominates the northeast side. A spur trail heads to the top of Castle Mound, which rises 180 feet about the surrounding sand plain. From Black River Falls, take U.S. Hwy 12 east. Turn left/south to the Black Forest State Forest headquarters.

Wis. autumn hikes abound on Lake Michigan

Seven Bridges Trail in Milwaukee.

If living in or traveling 

to a Wisconsin county

along Lake Michigan, plenty of great autumn trails await.

Eleven Wisconsin counties border Lake Michigan – including Green Bay. Maple and beech dominate most forests near the lake,

but several other trees can be found as well. Here are some solid autumn leaf hikes in those counties from south to north:

Kenosha County
Among the best places to see fall colors are streams, where the leaves reflect beautifully against the blue water or brighten a gray sky. Such is the case at Petrifying Springs Park, where an unnamed trail traverses 2 miles (round trip) through a woods and alongside Pike River in the park’s southwest corner. Be sure to take the side trails with footbridges crossing the river, where you can enjoy orange and yellow leaves on trees and shrubs, some of them falling into the water and slowly gliding downstream. In Kenosha, from Wis. Hwy. 31 exit east onto Berryville Road/7th Street. Take the second right/south. Drive 0.17 miles to the second parking lot. Pick up the hiking trail from the paved sidewalk on the lot’s west side, going southwest into the woods.

***

Hikers can experience the richly colored orange-red leaves of the hawthorn tree that grows along Pike Creek near Kenosha. The 0.4-mile looping Hawthorn Trail runs in the Hawthorn Hollow Nature Sanctuary and Arboretum. Hawthorns grow from 16 to 49 feet tall, and when more shrub than tree-like, their leaves branch out all around the trunk from the ground to its top. A bonus in autumn: The woods is a major stopover for migrating songbirds. From Kenosha, head north on Wis. Hwy. 31. After crossing Somers Road, turn left/west into the nature sanctuary. Park at the nature center; the trail begins west of it.

Racine County
Day hikers can walk across what used to be a terrace of ancient Lake Michigan and now is a wonderland of harvest colors in autumn. A 1-mile nature trail loops through Sanders Park Hardwoods State Natural Area, which is located within Sanders County Park. Among the highlights are gold-leaved basswood, wine-red white oak, bright-yellow black walnut, russet-colored red oak, lemony white ash, and a brilliant yellow elm-ash stand. From Racine, take Taylor Avenue south. Turn left/southwest onto Wood Avenue then right/east onto Exculpating Road where there’s a parking lot.

***

Hikers can enjoy a bird sanctuary undergoing a major transformation at Colonial Park in Racine. The 1-mile round trip Root River Pathway makes two crossings over the waterway on its way to Lincoln Park. Many rare warblers stop in the park during the fall migration. An extensive effort is underway in the park to eliminate invasive species, such as buckthorn, reed canary grass, and garlic mustard, and to restore wetlands as well as replace ash trees ravaged by emerald ash borer. In 2019, a total of 175 small trees – birch and oak – and shrubs – elderberry, hazelnut, chokeberry and nannyberry – were planted in the park’s southern section, making for a great walk in which fall colors are at eye level. From downtown, take State Street west. Turn left/west onto West High Street. The road ends in the park.

Milwaukee County
Day hikers can traverse a wooded ravine with great views of Lake Michigan at Seven Bridges in Grant Park on Milwaukee's South Shore. The 0.4-mile round trip Seven Bridges Trail, with its stone steps and footbridges, makes for a great autumn hike. Along the way are yellow-leafed American beech and birch, amber-, orange- and red-colored maples, and gold to maroon white ash. From the junction of Interstates 94/41 and College Avenue, take the latter east. Go right/south onto South Lake Drive then left/east onto Grant Park Drive. Park in the spaces off the road at the Seven Bridges Trailhead.

***

An observation tower offers great views of Lake Michigan and 185 acres of forest right in the Milwaukee metro area. The 0.26-mile Green Tree Accessible Loop at the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center heads through a woods of beech, sugar maple, basswood and red and white oak. On the loop’s northeast side is a 60-foot high tower that you can go to the top of. From Interstate 43, head east on E. Brown Deer Road. Turn right/south onto E. Bay Road and into the center. Park in the lot at the road’s end. Walk east from the road to the trailhead.

***

Autumn colors with a view of Lake Michigan awaits at Big Bay Park in Whitefish Bay. A short 0.44-mile round trip path heads along the tree line, atop the bluff, while another heads to the Lake Michigan shore, where there's a concrete pier. In fall, yellow-, olive- and russet-colored leaves brighten the walk. From the intersection of Interstate 43 and West Hampton Road, take the latter east. Turn left/north onto North Lake Drive then right/north onto North Palisades Road. Park on the street.

Ozaukee County
Migrating raptors and fall colors set against the backdrop of beautiful Lake Michigan await at Lion’s Den Gorge Nature Preserve. After passing a wetlands popular with waterfowl, the 2-mile round trip Lion’s Den Trail enters a deep, verdant gorge. Aspen stands and mature white birch with their fluttering yellow leaves abound. The trail then delivers you to a long, secluded beach. From Port Washington, drive south on County Road C/Lake Shore Road. Turn left/east onto High Bluff Drive, which enters the park. When the road becomes a roundabout, park in the first/southern lot.

Sheboygan County
The brilliant colors of sugar maples await hikers at the Maywood-Ellwood H. May Environmental Park in Sheboygan. The 0.25-mile Maple Forest Loop runs through the 135-acre city-owned park. each autumn, the maples' leaves turn amber, orange and crimson. Watch for whitetail deer and the many songbirds that call the park home. From Interstate 43, take exit 128 onto Wis. Hwy 42 and go southeast. Turn right/west onto Mueller Road. Park entrance is on the left/south. The trail leaves from the sugar house next to the Ecology Center.

Manitowoc County
Yellow and orange leaves along a pretty river await hikers on the Henry Schuette Park segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail in Manitowoc. Half of a 1.2-mile loop runs along the wooded Manitowoc River before the waterway spills into Lake Michigan. From U.S. Hwy. 151 in Manitowoc, go north on South 35th Street. Turn left/west onto Meadow Lane, which becomes Broadway Street when it curves north. Park at the playground then take the sidewalk along Broadway north. The trailhead is on the street’s right/east side. Check ahead to ensure the trail is not closed due to high water levels.

Kewaunee County
A pretty fall hike along a river awaits on a segment of the Ahnapee State Trail. The 2.25-mile round trip rail-trail between County Road M and Washington Road sits in the Ahnapee River’s wetlands cooridor where migrating birds gather each autumn amid the bronze grasses. On higher ground, look for the willows’ shimmering gold leaves in the breeze, dogwoods’ deep scarlet leaves and berries, and bog birch’s amber. From Algoma, take County Road M north. The parking lot is on the northeast corner of where the the road and trail meet.

Door County
Hikers can enjoy majestic views of blue Green Bay and the yellow and orange leaves of a blufftop forest at Ellison Bay Bluff County Park. An unnamed 1-mile trail loops through a woods of sugar maple, white ash, red oak, birch and beech. A spur trail leads to an observation deck at the edge of the 100-foot high limestone bluff. An enclosed catwalk extends outward from the bluff; walking on it will make you feel like you’re flying. From Ellison Bay, take Wis. Hwy. 42 south. Turn right/west onto Porcupine Bay Road then right/north onto Ellison Bluff Road. The road loops through the park; leave your vehicle in the lot on the loops’ southwest side.

Brown County
Hikers can head through a remnant of the great oak forests that once covered all of Brown County. The 1.15-mile round trip McMahon Woods Trail sits in the Cofrin Memorial Arboretum, which surrounds the UW-Green Bay campus. The trail runs alongside McMahon Creek, which flows into nearby Green Bay. Russet-colored oaks dominate the McMahon Woods' uplands while colorful sugar maples can be found in the understory. Fifty-nine different trees and shrubs can be seen along the trail. From Wis. Hwy. 57, take Nicolet Drive north. Turn right/southeast onto South Circle Drive. Roadside parking is available along the road’s first curve.

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A grove of cottonwoods awaits hikers on the Woodcock (Blue) Trail at Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve in Suamico. The 0.75-mile trail heads north from the interpretive center and curves around a small pond in the preserve’s northwest corner. During autumn, it’s a gloriously beautiful walk, as the tall eastern cottonwoods – which are largely absent in this part of Wisconsin – turn a bright yellow. From U.S. Hwy. 141 in Suamico, take Lineville Road east. Turn left/north onto County Road J/Lakeview Drive and then right/east into the preserve. Park at the center.

Oconto County
Hikers can head to the county’s highest point for great views of the surrounding forest. The 1.3-mile Butler Rock Trail climbs 160 feet to 1093 feet above sea level. It includes a 0.7-mile spur trail that stays at ground level as circling to the face of Butler Rock in Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. The newly developed trail crosses a forest whose canopy in autumn turns orange, red and yellow-green. From Wis. Hwy. 64 south of Mountain, take Old Hwy. 64/Forest Road 2308 east. Turn left/north onto Butler Rock Road then left/northwest onto Butler Lookout Lane. The trail starts where the road ends.

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Day hikers not bothered by heights can enjoy a spectacular vista of autumn leaves from Mountain Lookout Tower. The 0.26-miles round trip hike sits in the vast Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. The tower is at an elevation of 1,254 feet. The road heads through a classic Northwoods setting that is beautiful any time of the year but particularly so in autumn. A September walk takes you past sugar, red and mountain maples, white, red and black oaks, paper, yellow and river birch, aspen, beech, basswood, and sumac. Various green conifers – including pine, spruce, fir, and juniper – dot the hardwood forest. From the village of Mountain on County Road W just east of Wis. Hwy. 32, take National Forest Road 2106 (Old 32) north. In about 2.25 miles, turn right/southeast onto Mountain Tower Road. Pull off to the side of the road so you’re not blocking traffic. Hike the road up to the tower.

Marinette County
A walk through a forest in the state’s rare Northeast Sands eco landscape awaits hikers at Governor Thompson State Park. The 3.5-mile Forest View Trail loops through a forest of yellow-leafed aspen, orange and red maples, and marigold scrub oak dotted with evergreen jack pine and hemlock. Less than 3 percent of Wisconsin falls into the sands eco landscape. From Crivitz, take County Road W west. Turn right/north onto Parkway Road then left/west onto Ranch Road. Enter the parking by going right/north on Paust Lane. Park in the lot for Woods Lake and walk north alongside Paust Road to the trailhead.

Top fall hikes in southeast Wisconsin, Part II

Colonial Park in Racine, Wis.

There’s no better way

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

Racine County
Day hikers can walk across what used to be a terrace of ancient Lake Michigan and now is a wonderland of harvest colors in autumn. A 1-mile nature trail loops through Sanders Park Hardwoods State Natural Area, which is located within Sanders County Park. Among the highlights are gold-leaved basswood, wine-red white oak, bright-yellow black walnut, russet-colored red oak, lemony white ash, and a brilliant yellow elm-ash stand. From Racine, take Taylor Avenue south. Turn left/southwest onto Wood Avenue then right/east onto Exculpating Road where there’s a parking lot.

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Hikers can enjoy a bird sanctuary undergoing a major transformation at Colonial Park in Racine. The 1-mile round trip Root River Pathway makes two crossings over the waterway on its way to Lincoln Park. Many rare warblers stop in the park during the fall migration. An extensive effort is underway in the park to eliminate invasive species, such as buckthorn, reed canary grass, and garlic mustard, and to restore wetlands as well as replace ash trees ravaged by emerald ash borer. In 2019, a total of 175 small trees – birch and oak – and shrubs – elderberry, hazelnut, chokeberry and nannyberry – were planted in the park’s southern section, making for a great walk in which fall colors are at eye level. From downtown, take State Street west. Turn left/west onto West High Street. The road ends in the park.

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Hikers can wind their way through a thick oak forest at the Wehmhoff Woodland Preserve near Burlington. Each autumn, the leaves there turn from green to tan and russet. The 1.6-mile Wehmhoff Woodland Trail crosses the preserve’s 80 acres of hilly terrain; part of the route is a ridge overlooking a bog, where grasses dry to a bronze color that is brilliant in the sunlight. From Milwaukee Avenue in Burlington, go west on West Grove Street, which becomes South Honey Lake Road. The preserve’s entry road with a small parking lot is on the street’s right/east.

Walworth County
Among the best places in southwest Wisconsin to enjoy fall colors are its moraine ridges. They offer terrain relief and slopes where different trees can flourish. One great trail for hiking a moraine is the 9-mile round trip Lake La Grange Trail. Part of the trail climbs to a ridge 200 feet above the surrounding terrain, sporting a hardwood forest of yellow-orange-red sugar maple, bronze basswood, and gold to maroon-colored white ash. From Whitewater, take Bluff Road east. Turn right/south on Duffin Road. Park at the Ole Oleson Historic Log Cabin and from there join head east on the connector to the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. Go south on the Ice Age Trail.

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A pleasant walk through the woods past a tiny stream at Price Park Conservancy near Elkhorn will delight day hikers, especially during fall. The 0.51-mile Red Loop heads through a forest of sugar maple, shagbark hickory, elm, oak and dogwood and and a grove of evergreens near a tributary to Sugar Creek. In autumn, the trees turn orange-gold, with an occasional purple crown. From Elkhorn, take U.S. Hwy. 12 north. Turn right/east onto Potter Road. then left/north onto Hodunk Road. The parking lot is on the left/west.

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A pleasant walk alongside a small creek through a woods awaits hikers at Springs Park in Delavan. During autumn, the trees shimmer gold on the 1.3-mile round trip trail next to Swan Creek. The trail is located in the lower part of the 33-acre park. In Delavan, from the junction of Spring Lane and West Washington Street, take the latter east. Turn right/south into the park.

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Though known for its beautiful Lake Geneva shoreline, Big Foot Beach State Park is an excellent place to enjoy autumn leaves. Each fall, the leaves of hardwood trees turn gold, orange, russet and olive. One of the best routes for walking under the harvest-hued canopy is the 1.3-mile Yellow Trail, which loops through the park’s wooded western section and past Ceylon Lagoon. In Lake Geneva, take South Lake Shore Drive south to Buttons Bay. Turn left/east into the park and leave your vehicle at the first lot on the road’s left/north side. The trail is on the lot’s north side.

Washington County
Day hikers can enjoy the rich and varied autumn colors of sugar maple leaves on the Holy Hill segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. The out-and-back trail runs 2.6-miles round trip in southeastern Wisconsin. It sits beneath the majestic Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary. The first stretch of the trail is fairly level as heading through a woods dominated by sugar maples. Aspen with its golden leaves and the evergreens white pine and white spruce dot the forest, making a perfect accent to the sugar maples’ yellow, orange and red crowns. From Hartford, take Wis. Hwy. 83 south. Turn left/east onto Wis. Hwy. 167 (aka Holy Hill Road). In about 2.5 miles, go right/south on Stationway Road. After about 0.1 miles, look for the parking lot along the road’s left/east side. There’s a small clearing with picnic tables there, and the trail runs southeast from the lot.

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Hikers can head to an observation tower atop one of southeastern Wisconsin’s highest points, which offers a beautiful view of fall colors. The Orange Trail in the Kettle Moraine State Forest-Pike Lake Unit loops along high ground past the spring-fed lake and includes a side trail heading to Powder Hill Tower for a 3.26-mile hike. Powder Hill is a glacial kame rising to 1,350 feet elevation, a full 35 stories above the lake. Sugar maple, basswood, and black, red and white oak dominate this area of the state forest. From Hartford, go east on Wis. Hwy. 60. Turn right/south onto Powder Hill road then take the first left/east to the Ice Age Trail parking lot.

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Great autumn views of a wooded valley await at the Glacial Blue Hills Recreation Area in West Bend. The Ice Age National Scenic Trail runs north-south through the recreational area. During autumn, the trees on the hills and in the valley turn amber, pumpkin orange, crimson and olive. From the intersection of U.S. Hwy. 45 and Wis. Hwy. 33, take the latter east. Turn left/north onto North 18th Avenue then left/west onto Beaver Dam Road. A parking lot is on the road’s right/north. From the lot, you can go either north or south on the Ice Age Trail. The north route goes 1.5 miles round trip to County Road D while the south route runs 2 miles round trip to Park Avenue.

Waukesha County
Hikers can head through a colorful oak woods and to the top of an observation tower on the county’s highest point at Kettle Moraine State Forest-Lapham Peak Unit. The ADA accessible 1.8-mile Plantation Path loops past prairie and through a woods of black, red and white oak, shagbark hickory, red maple, aspen, basswood, paper birch, white pine, and black cherry. A connector trail to the Ice Age National Scenic Trail leads to the observation tower atop Lapham Peak, which rises to an elevation of 1,233 feet. From Delafield, take County Road C south. Turn left/east toward the park office. Park in the Homestead lot.

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Hikers can experience brilliant autumn colors in a variety of ecosystems at the Retzer Nature Center in Waukesha. The 2.6-mile Yellow Loop heads through woods and an oak savanna as well as passes a prairie. The woods boasts ash trees, aspens, elms, hickories, sugar maples, and red and white oaks while the savanna features burr oaks. Leaf colors range from gold, amber and orange to russet, crimson and burgundy while the prairie grasses glow a fiery red. From the intersection of U.S. Hwy. 18 (Summit Avenue) and County Road TT (Meadowbrook Road/Merrill Hills Road), go west on the former. Turn left/south on County Road DT then right/southeast into Madison Street. The center is the next right/south. Park in the lots where the road ends.

Waushara County
A pretty walk along a quiet river awaits hikers on the Ice Age National Scenic Trail-Mecan River segment. The 3.4-mile round trip footpath heads beside part of the Mecan River, lined by beech, maple and hemlock, a colorful sight in autumn. The trail also crosses an oak savanna. From Coloma, take Wis. Hwy. 21 east then turn left/north onto 6th Avenue. Go right/east onto Chicago Road then right/south onto 6th Lane; a parking lot is on the left/east. Head south on the IAT and turn back at County Road GG.