North Country Trail passes waterfalls, historic portages in Douglas County, Wis.

The North Country Trail offers hikers several
delights in Douglas County, Wis. 
Photo courtesy of douglascountywi.org.

National route crosses
Wisconsin's northwest corner

Day hikers can walk several segments of what is considered one of the nation’s premier long-distance trails when visiting Douglas County, Wis.

Running 4600 miles from New York state to North Dakota, when completed the North Country Trail will be twice the length of the Appalachian Trail and the longest hiking trail in the United States. Though the National Park Service studied the concept of a North Country Trail during the late 1960s, not until 1980 did Congress approve the route’s creation.

New segments are added almost every year; at one time, the parking lot on County Road A in neighboring Bayfield County marked the trail’s western terminus.

Brule River State Forest
The trail enters Douglas County from neighboring Bayfield County at S. County Line Road, which is the Brule River State Forest's eastern boundary. In the forest, the trail follows high bluffs overlooking the Little Bois Brule River. A spur trail heads down the cliffside to the waterway just east of Winneboujou.

A peaceful segment to walk in the state forest is from Wis. Hwy. 27 (north of Radio Station Road) south to County Road S for a 6-mile round trip, taking the trail north for about two miles to Rush River Road. Another option is from the same parking lot off of Hwy. 27; turn left onto Rush Road River, crossing Hwy. 27, for views of Big Lake.

Perhaps the best day hiking segments in the county can be found after the trail shifts south through the state forest and veers west, utilizing a famous historic portage connecting the Brule River (which flows north into Lake Superior) to the St. Croix River (which flows south into the Mississippi River). This section is known as the Bois-Brule-St. Croix River Historic Portage Trail. It then jogs north through a rare unique, cedar bog ecosystem that can be crossed via almost 4000 feet of wooden planks on the Brule Bog Boardwalk Trail.

Next, the North Country heads through the town of Solon Springs. The trail generally is in good condition here with easy access from village streets.

Remote forest, waterfalls
Southwest of Solon Springs, the trail runs for six-miles through the Douglas County Wildlife Area, a managed pine barrens. At the St. Croix Flowage, it briefly enters the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway.

The trail then heads into some remote country as it crosses a long stretch of the Douglas County Forest. Much of this section is swampy or makes use of roads as it runs in a generally northwestern direction.

In Pattison State Park, the trail offers a double treat of first Little Manitou Falls then Big Manitou Falls, the latter of which is the Wisconsin's highest waterfall.

From the state park, the trail sticks to road routes as it exits Douglas County, entering Minnesota just south of Jay Cooke State Park.

Read about nearby trails in Day Hiking Trails of Douglas County.

St. Croix riverway abundant with day trails

St. Croix River south of St. Croix Falls, Wis.

National Park unit
includes 252 miles
of scenic shore

With the quiltwork of state parks, forests, and natural areas, county parks and other historical sites in the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, attractions abound – swimming beaches, boat ramps, campgrounds, shopping in historic towns, ski trails, and more. Well over 70 day hiking trails can be found along the two rivers.

Scenic riverway’s location
From south to north, the scenic riverway begins in Prescott, Wis., where the St. Croix River meets the Mississippi River. This wide stretch of the St. Croix often is referred to as Lake St. Croix, which sports two state parks. At Afton, Minn., and Hudson, Wis., the Interstate 94 bridge handles the greatest amount of vehicle traffic over the river. From there, Willow River State Park sits on a tributary to the St. Croix in what is Lake St. Croix’s most populous stretch, with the cities of Bayport, Oak Park Heights and Stillwater on the Minnesota side and Hudson and North Hudson on the Wisconsin side.

North of Stillwater, the population falls off greatly, with William O’Brien State Park in Minnesota sometimes outpacing the census of the neighboring town, Marine on St. Croix. Then another cluster of villages appears – Osceola, Dresser and St. Croix Falls on the Wisconsin side and Taylors Falls in Minnesota. There the twin jewels of Minnesota and Wisconsin Interstate State Parks straddles the St. Croix O’ the Dalles, a beautiful gorge that the river flows through.

North of this region, the river bulges westward, with a state park in Minnesota and several state forests and state natural areas on both sides, before curving eastward to Danbury, Wis. A few miles north of town, the river ceases to be the state border as it heads northeast, taking in the Namekagon, and then coming to the Saint Croix Flowage near Gordon, Wis. The scenic riverway ends at the dam creating the lake.

West of the flowage, the St. Croix continues northward as a narrow waterway to its headwaters at Upper St. Croix Lake. In all, it’s a 169-mile journey.

The St. Croix’s largest tributary, the Namekagon, meanders for 101 miles, crossing four Wisconsin counties. It’s a major recreational area, with a number of boat landings and campsites, especially in Sawyer and Washburn counties.

From west to east, the Namekagon dips south to Trego, Wis., before heading northeast through Hayward, Wis. Its headwaters are at Namakagon Lake in the Chequamegon National Forest. The tributary runs 101 miles.

Attractions
The National Park Service operates two visitor centers in the riverway. The St. Croix River Visitor Center is in downtown St. Croix Falls and open from mid-April to Oct. 27. It boasts a 500-gallon freshwater aquarium. The Namekagon River Visitor Center is a mile east of Trego and open from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day. Hours for both visitor centers are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Major parks, nature centers, and public forests on or near the scenic riverway (from south to north and west to east) include:
g Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center (Hastings, Minn.)
g St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park (Hastings)
g Kinnickinnic State Park (Prescott)
g Afton State Park (Afton)
g Willow River State Park (Hudson)
g William O’Brien State Park (Marine on St. Croix)
g Osceola Bedrock Glades State Natural Area (Osceola)
g Wisconsin Interstate State Park (St. Croix Falls)
g Minnesota Interstate State Park (Taylors Falls)
g Wild River State Park (North Brach, Minn.)
g Governor Knowles State Forest (Grantsburg, Wis.)
g Chengwatana State Forest (Beroun, Minn.)
g St. Croix State Park (Hinckley, Minn.)
g St. Croix State Forest (Sandstone, Minn.)
g Brule River State Forest (Solon Springs, Wis.)
g Chequamegon National Forest (Cable, Wis.)

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

Great vista awaits day hikers on Wisconsin’s Stoney Hill Nature Trail

Rapids on Bois Brule River. Photo courtesy of TravelWisconsin.com.

Route leads
to overlook of
scenic river valley

This short loop trail offers fantastic views of northern Wisconsin’s Brule River Valley.

The Stoney Hill Nature Trail runs 1.7-miles in the Brule River State Forest. If staying overnight at the Bois Brule Campground, the sunrise seen from atop Stoney Hill definitely is worth getting up early for.

River of Presidents
To reach the trailhead, from Iron River take U.S. Hwy. 2 west about six miles past Brule. Turn left/south onto Ranger Road, following it for a little more than a mile to the ranger station on the banks of the Bois Brule River. Parking is available at the station. From there, take the connector heading south to the nature trail.

As the river sits at about 950 feet elevation near the station, you’ll have some climbing to do to reach the top of Stoney Hill. Parts of the trail will be steep.

One of the country’s best coldwater trout streams, the Bois Brule also is a favorite of paddlers. Salmon can be found in the river, which from wetlands near Upper St. Croix Lake meanders for 44 miles to Lake Superior and drops 328 feet along the way.

The Bois Brule for many years was popular with outdoors-minded U.S. presidents. Privately-owned Cedar Island Lodge hosted five U.S. presidents – Ulysses Grant, Grover Cleveland, Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover, and Dwight Eisenhower – with Coolidge spending the summer of 1928 there. Because of this, the Bois Brule has been nicknamed the “River of Presidents.”

Stoney Hill overlook
Interpretive signs along the nature trail describe the various trees found in the state forest. A variety of hardwoods, including oak, can be seen, and part of the trailheads through a pine plantation.

The top of Stoney Hill is at 1181 feet elevation and today hosts a radio tower and overlook. From the summit are good views of the Bois Brule River with its Little Joe Rapids to the west and Doodlebug Rapids to the north, Hoodoo Lake to the south, and the Little Bois Brule River to the east.

Though pets are allowed in the state forest, they cannot be taken on this trail.

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

Waterfalls, Lake Superior waterfront await day hikers in Wisconsin's Douglas County

Bois Brule River in Brule River State Forest.
Photo courtesy of TravelWisconsin.com

Tucked in Wisconsin’s northwest corner, Douglas County offers a number of outdoors attractions perfect for day hikers.

Two state parks – Amnicon Falls State Park and Pattison State Park – both with waterfalls, long stretches of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, and the Brule River State Forest that spills into Lake Superior, all offer a number of scenic hiking trails. A number of excellent trails, including those that meander along the Lake Superior, also can be found in Superior and just across the state line in Duluth, Minn.

Among the county’s great trail offerings are:
g Amnicon Falls Island Trails – Hikers can view the results of an earthquake from 500 million years ago while walking the island trails at Amnicon Falls State Park. Among the sites are three waterfalls and a covered bridge.
g Big Manitou Falls Overlook Trails – Though a good drive from Bayfield County, the trail is worth it, as it boasts 165-foot Big Manitou Falls, the fourth highest waterfall east of the Rockies and Wisconsin’s tallest. The waterfalls is in Pattison State Park south of Superior.
g 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 located in Douglas County’s Gordon Dam County Park.
g Osaugie Trail – Beautiful views of Superior Bay, a marina, and city piers abound on this urban trail, which runs for five miles in the city of Superior from Marina Drive at the U.S. Hwys. 2/53 junction south to Moccasin Mike Road. It is wheelchair accessible.
g Stoney Hill Nature Trail – The 1.7-mile loop in the Brule River State Forest offers fantastic views of the Brule River Valley. Sections can be steep, but there is a rest stop and overlook at the hill’s top.

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

Twelve must-do hikes in Grand Marais, Minn.

Brule River from Superior Hiking Trail at Judge CR
Magney State Park. Photo courtesy of Minnesota DNR.

Fantastic vistas of Lake Superior, multiple waterfalls, and Minnesota’s highest point all await day hikers on trails in or near Grand Marais, Minn.

Located on Minnesota’s famed North Shore, the small city is distant yet well worth the trip. To reach Grand Marais or the two state parks nearby, travelers should take State Hwy. 61 north from Duluth, Minn. The drive itself with its sweeping views of Lake Superior will be impressive and set the right mood for discovering all that Grand Marais has the offer.

Among the many great day hikes in the Grand Marais area are:
g C.J. Ramstad/North Shore State Trail (Little Devil Track River area) segments – Walk 2.1 miles (4.2-miles round trip) northwest to Blueberry Lake’s shores or go southeast about 0.45 miles (0.9-miles round trip) over the Little Devil Track to the Superior Hiking Trail intersection. Park in the pullouts at the intersection of County Road 6 and Forest Road 1367 in the Superior National Forest.
g C.J. Ramstad/North Shore State Trail (Grand Marais city) segments – Walk southwest 0.45 miles (0.9-miles round trip) to the Gunflint Trail or head northeast for the same distance to the trail’s second stream crossing in Superior National Forest. Park on the turnaround at the end of Cedar Grove Drive, north of the Cedar Grove Drive intersection in town.
g Eagle Mountain Trail – Day hikers can ascend to the highest point in Minnesota via the rugged but incredibly scenic Eagle Mountain Trail in Superior National Forest.. The 7-mile (round trip) out-and-back trail is lengthy and can be steep at spots, and parts of it also are rocky; still, if the challenge isn’t rewarding enough, the views at the top certainly are. The trailhead is at the junction of Forest Road 158 (aka Bally Creek Road) and Forest Road 170 (formerly named Forest Road 153 and aka as The Grade).
g Gitchi-Gami State Trail (Grand Marais Segment) – Park in downtown Grand Marais near the trailhead off of Minn. Hwy. 61 near Eighth Avenue. Head south/west until the trail runs out for a 3-mile round trip.
g Grand Marais Corridor Trail – An urban hike, the 1-mile (one-way) paved bike trail heads through downtown Grand Marias. It does connect with the Grand Marais segment of the Gitchi-Gami State Trail, however, and so can be extended by 1.5 miles (one-way).
g Lake Trail – Off Cascade River State Park’s shores, the glacial lake the Ojibwe called gichigami – “the great sea” – stretches for 31,700 square miles. The trail runs 1.2 miles (2.4-miles round trip) along Lake Superior’s rocky beaches and white cedar trees.
g Lookout Mountain Trail – After Labor Day, the park’s birch leaves turn gold, making for an impressive site against the green spruce and fir. The 3.5-mile loop takes you through the forest to an overlook 600 feet above the shoreline, offering a view of the Sawtooth Mountain Range and of blue Lake Superior in the distance.
g Superior Hiking Trail segment to Cascade Falls – The Cascade River drops over two waterfalls as it rambles through a fern-laden gorge of 1.1 billion-year-old volcanic rock. A segment of Minnesota’s Superior Hiking Trail heads about 0.85 miles round trip to Cascade Falls and the Cascades, a set of small drops just above it.
g Superior Hiking Trail segment to Devil’s Kettle – About a mile from Lake Superior, volcanic rock splits the Brule River in a formation known as the Devil’s Kettle. One side of the divided river drops 50 feet while the other half rushes into a pothole. A 2-mile round trip segment of the Superior Hiking Trail, in Minnesota’s Judge CR Magney State Park, crosses the Brule and heads alongside it to Upper Falls and then the Devil’s Kettle.
g Superior Hiking Trail segment to Gauthier Creek – Brook and rainbow trout are abundant in the Brule River and Gauthier Creek of Judge CR Magney State Park. You’re certain to see anglers landing one on either waterway. You can reach Gauthier Creek from the parking lot by taking a segment of the north to the stream for a round trip of about 2 miles.
g Superior Hiking Trail segment to Gauthier Creek loop – Moose, black bear, timber wolf, white-tailed deer, ruffed grouse, snowshoe hare, woodchuck, red squirrel, chipmunk, warblers, chickadees, jays, nuthatches, and woodpeckers all reside in Judge CR Magney State Park. To improve your chances of a sighting, go deeper into the park; that can be done via the same Superior Hiking Trail segment to Gauthier Creek, except extend the walk about two miles (4-miles total round trip) by crossing the stream and doing the loop on its north side.
g Superior Hiking Trail segment to Lake Superior – Containing 2,903 cubic miles of water, the world’s largest freshwater lake stretches across Judge CR Magney State Park’s eastern and southern horizon. For a grand view, from the campground parking lot take a segment of the Superior Hiking Trail south along the Brule River to just above its confluence with Lake Superior. The hike is about 1-mile round trip.

Read more about day hiking Northeast Minnesota in my Headin’ to the Cabin: Day Hiking Trails of Northeast Minnesota guidebook.

Bayfield County boasts number of great attractions for day hiking

Chequamegon National Forest

National forest,
national parks unit
both within county

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

Several public lands can be found in the county. The Chequamegon National Forest’s western reach stretches across the county’s southern and center section. A small portion of the Apostle Island National Lakeshore sits on the Bayield Peninsula with access to the rest of the National Park unit’s scenic and often unspoiled islands primarily from Bayfield and La Pointe. Bay View State Park – in Ashland County on Madeline Island – offers an intimate encounter with Lake Superior; most visiting the state park do so by first passing through Bayfield. Brule River State Forest, also just across the county line, lets visitors explore a waterway that at one time flowed out of Lake Superior rather than into it.

Two major trails cut through the county. The North Country National Scenic Trail, which rambles 4600 miles across seven states from New York to North Dakota, runs in Bayfield County between the southeast corner in the Chequamegon National Forest and south of Iron River on its way through the Brule River State Forest. The Tri-County Corridor Trail heads between Ashland and Superior in neighboring Douglas County, paralelling U.S. Hwy. 2 in Bayfield County.

How to get there
From western Wisconsin and southern Minnesota, U.S. Hwy. 63 offers the best access to Bayfield County. The highway runs from Interstate 94 north, entering the county near Cable on its way to that village and Drummond before terminating west of Ashland.

From northern Minnesota, U.S. Hwy. 2 enters Wisconsin in Superior then enters Bayfield County at Iron River. Wis. Hwy. 13 also runs from south of Superior to and then along the Bayfield Peninsula shoreline.

From northeastern Wisconsin and Upper Peninsula, U.S. Hwy 2 runs through Ashland and east-west across Bayfield County to Iron River.

Southeastern Wisconsin and Illinois residents can reach Bayfield County via Hwy. 13, which heads north from U.S. Hwy. 10 in Marshfield through Park Falls into Ashland. In Bayfield County, Hwy. 13 loops off Hwy. 2 around the Bayfield Peninsula, running through Washburn, Bayfield, Red Cliff, Cornucopia, Herbster and Port Wing before heading into Douglas County and ending just south of Superior.

When to visit
Outdoors activities abound year around in Bayfield County. The best months to day hike Bayfield County are May through September. Depending on the year, April and October also can be pleasant.

As with the rest of Wisconsin, summers can be humid, especially July and August, though this typically is only the case for Bayfield County’s inland areas. Rain also can occur during the afternoon even when the morning is sunny, so always check the weather forecast before heading out.

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

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

Day hiking trail heads along edge of ancient Glacial Lake Duluth

Brule River Outlet Trail

Ice Age lake
once covered
northern
Wisconsin

Day hikers can wander among the remains of an ancient glacial lake that significantly shaped the Upper Midwest.

The Brule River Outlet Trail runs about 3-miles round trip in Wisconsin’s Brule River State Forest. An unnamed trail, it has been christened here for the major geological event that occurred in the region about 9000-8500 BC.

To reach the trailhead, from Brule, head west on U.S. Hwy 2. Turn left/west onto Afterhours Road. In about 2000 feet, as the road curves southwest, watch for unmarked trailheads on the left/southeast. Should the road curve straight west, you’ve gone too far. Park off the side of the road and take the trail southeast into the woodlands.

Lake bottom
Upon hitting the trail, you’re walking at the edge of ancient Glacial Lake Duluth near its outlet to the Bois-Brule River. About 11,000 years ago during the last ice age as the Superior Lobe glacier advanced westward, it blocked the outlets of rivers flowing eastward. The water collected between the ice wall and the basin, resulting in several lakes.

When the lobe retreated, those lakes coalesced to form a larger one called Glacial Lake Duluth. Located in modern Lake Superior’s southwestern corner, it stretched as far east as Marquette, Mich., and as far north as Grand Portage, Minn. It also covered what is now dry land in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan, as the waterbody was 500 feet higher than modern Lake Superior.

After walking about 400 feet, the trail comes to its first major intersection; go right/west. The trail then zig zags for the next 1400 feet until cutting a straight line that heads southeast toward the Brule River.

In its day, Glacial Lake Duluth drained through the Bois-Brule River south to the St. Croix River on its way to the Mississippi River. The hills to the trail’s west – which reach 1100 feet elevation – marked the lake’s shoreline. The trail itself would have been about a hundred feet below the lake’s surface.

A major flashflood when an ice dam broke on Glacial Lake Duluth carved out the St. Croix River Valley to the southwest; many of the impressive geological features of Wisconsin and Minnesota Interstate Parks occurred during that flood. The lake also left a flat plain of red clay and sediment that sits on the modern Lake Superior shoreline of Wisconsin and Minnesota.

New river course
After about 500 years, the glacial lake disappeared. As the Superior Lobe retreated, it left a gouge in the landscape that became Lake Superior and freed the local rivers’ outlet to the other Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River.

Since then, with the heavy glaciers’ disappearance, the land has rebounded upward. The Bois Brule now flows northward into Lake Superior with the space between the Bois Brule and the St. Croix becoming a wetlands that sits at a higher elevation than either river.

Back on the trail, upon reaching the ridge overlooking the Brule, the route curves southwest and descends the bluffs to the river valley. In this area, the basin narrowed enough that the only place for the glacial lake to flow was an outlet into the Bois-Brule about where modern Hoodoo Lake is.

The trail next reaches a jeep road just north of Little Joe Rapids. This marks a good spot to turn back.

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

Array of day hiking trails crisscross Wisconsin’s Iron River area

Bois Brule River in Brule River State Forest. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

Imagine a place where you can hike sandy beaches and enjoy fantastic vistas of the world’s largest freshwater lake, a place of towering pines that bald eagles fly over and black bears scamper beneath, a place where you can explore sea caves or hike across billion-year-old red rock. The place is real – it’s called Bayfield County, Wisconsin.

If Wisconsin were a mitten, Bayfield County would be the peak of the four fingers. With much of it a peninsula, it boasts more shoreline on Lake Superior than any other Wisconsin county. It also offers dozens of miles of trails for those who love hiking.

The western gateway to Bayfield County, Iron River is a popular destination for many who love the outdoors. It is located about halfway between the Brule River State Forest to the west and the Chequamegon National Forest to the east. The Tri-County Cooridor Trail runs through town between Superior and Ashland while the North County National Scenic Trail passes nearby.

North of Iron River on the Bayfield Peninsula along the Lake Superior shoreline is Port Wing and to the northeast Herbster. Both villages are unincorporated. Each relies on tourism and to a lesser extent fishing, lumbering and agriculture as their mainstays.

Popular day hiking trails in the Iron River-Port Wing-Herbster area include:
g Iron River National Fish Hatchery
g Roundup of Iron River area trails

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

Day hike one of Wisconsin’s oldest trails

Jonathan Carver's map of the Upper Midwest Region,
published in 1778. Carver is among the explorers with
a historic stone on the Bois Brule-St. Croix River Historic
Portage Trail. Photo courtesy of National Park Service.

French explorers used
route as early as 1680 

Day hikers can walk upon what ranks among Wisconsin’s oldest hiking trails – dating to 1680 but probably used as far back as prehistoric times – at the St. Croix River’s headwaters.

The Bois-Brule-St. Croix River Historic Portage Trail runs 4.4-miles round trip from Upper St. Croix Lake to the Brule River. It is part of Wisconsin’s Brule River State Forest.

The trail can be a difficult hike through swampy territory so is best done by only adults or families with older teens. May through October mark the best time to hit the trail, but you’ll need to bring bug spray for mosquitoes in spring and summer.

Quick link
To reach the trailhead, from downtown Solon Springs, Wis., take County Road A north for about three miles, rounding the northern side of Upper St. Croix Lake. Watch for signs saying the North Country Trail is “1000 Feet Ahead”, then turn into the boat landing where you can park. Across the road from the parking lot, take the trail heading right/northeast. The Brule Bog Boardwalk Trail heads left or directly north.

The historic portage trail is the same route crossed centuries ago by Daniel Greysolon Sieur duLhut (a French explorer who opened the way for fur traders in the 1680s), Pierre Lesueur (who established French stockades across this region in the 1690s), and Henry Schoolcraft (who found the source of the Mississippi River in the 1830s). Historical markers on moss-lined boulders along the trail tell their stories as well as other significant white explorers.

They selected this portage because it was a quick link between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River. Upper St. Croix Lake is the St. Croix River’s headwaters while the spring-generated Brule River flows north into Lake Superior. It was the easiest way to traverse the continent from the Atlantic Ocean through the Great Lakes down the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico…though for the marshy 2.2 miles between the Brule and Upper St. Croix, they would have to portage – or carry on foot – their boats and supplies.

As with so many of the early white explorers, Native Americans showed them the route. Local tribes had used the portage for millennia. Today, the Portage Trail is on the National Register of Historic Landmarks.

Glacial river valley
The portage was possible only because at the end of the last ice age some 10,000 years ago, a river flowed here from Glacial Lake Duluth, carving out a gorge and then the steep-sided valley. As the heavy glaciers retreated, the land rose in elevation, causing the river to dry up between the Brule and Upper St. Croix. The section that became the Brule reversed its course and now drops 420 feet over 44 miles from the portage to Lake Superior.

The trail is fairly narrow and at spots only shoulder-wide. It's heavily forested with leaves covering much of the path. Wild blueberries grow alongside the trail.

There are some up and down climbs during the first mile as the trail parallels St. Croix Creek, which is on the left. Where the creek pools marks the St. Croix River’s northernmost reach.

The out-and-back trail remains fairly flat to the Brule. After passing the Lesueur Stone, look on your left for the spring-fed creek that flows into the Brule. Upon reaching the river, turn back. The route is part of the North Country National Scenic Trail and continues north along the river.

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

Superb trails abound in Poplar-Brule, Wis.

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

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

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

Great day hiking trails surround northern Wisconsin’s Iron River area

A common site in Brule River State Forest near Iron River, Wis.
Photo courtesy of Wisconsin DNR.

Bayfield County ranks among Wisconsin’s most popular tourism destinations, attracting skiers, boaters, campers and sightseers. It also offers dozens of miles of trails for those who love hiking.

Consisting mainly of forestland and lakeshore, each Bayfield County village feels like a quaint throwback to years past. Only one of them boasts a population close to 3000 people.

Ten villages can be found there, with the majority of them hugging the lakeshore or a county line. Among them is Iron River and the nearby unincoporated communities of Port Wing and Herbster.

In the county’s southwestern corner is tucked Iron River, The county’s second largest city with more than a thousand residents, its main attractions are the Brule River State Forest in neighboring Douglas County and the Chequamegon National Forest to the east. The annual Blueberry Festival and Bayfield County Fair are held here each summer.

North of Iron River on the Bayfield Peninsula along the Lake Superior shoreline is Port Wing and to the northeast Herbster. Both villages are unincorporated. Each relies on tourism and to a lesser extent fishing, lumbering and agriculture as their mainstays.

Popular day hiking trails in the Iron River-Port Wing-Herbster area include:
g Iron River National Fish Hatchery
g Roundup of Iron River area trails

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

Fall color hikes abound in Duluth, MN, area

Congdon Park, Duluth

There’s no better way

to experience autumn colors in the Duluth

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 Duluth to hike. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.

Congdon Park (Duluth)
Autumn leaves alongside billion-year-old rock and a creek sporting several small waterfalls await at Congdon Park in Duluth. The 1.2-mile (one-way) Congdon Park Trail follows Tischer Creek, as it makes its way down the bluffs toward Lake Superior. The orange of maple with the yellow of birch and the gorge’s red walls feels like you’re walking through a rainbow. In Duluth, park in the lot for Mount Royal Market at the corner of Woodland Avenue and East St. Marie Street. Walk East St. Marie Street east, entering the park at the junction with Vermillion Road.

Chester Creek Loop (Duluth)
A pair of picturesque waterfalls, footbridges, and a walk alongside Chester Creek await hikers on the Chester Park Loop in Duluth. Located near the near the University of Minnesota-Duluth campus, the 2.4-mile trail is particularly beautiful in autumn when the golden bronze of maple and basswood leaves form a canopy over the path and float upon the creek. In Duluth from West College Street take North 19th Avenue E southeast. Turn right/west onto W. Kent Road, then right/west onto East Skyline Parkway after the curve right/northwest onto Chester Park Drive. Park off the road then walk back alongside it to East Skyline Parkway and cross the bridge to the trailhead.

Superior Municipal Forest (Superior)
A boreal forest may not seem like the best place to enjoy autumn leaves. The Superior Municipal Forest, however, delivers, with its extensive growth of gold-leafed white birch and aspen amid evergreen white and red pine, balsam, cedar, and black spruce. A 1.6-mile segment of the Millennium Trail winds through the woods. In Superior, at the 28th Street and Wyoming Avenue intersection, turn south to the municipal parking lot. The trail goes both east and west; skip the eastern side, which leads to multiple railroad tracks in Superior’s industrial section.

Jay Cooke State Park (Carlton)
Day hikers can cross a swinging bridge above a raging river running over nearly 2 billion-year old rock then enjoy incredible autumn colors at Jay Cooke State Park. The 1.5-mile round trip East Ridge Trail crosses and then partially follows the St. Louis River southeast of Duluth. A new $1.1 million swinging bridge opened in 2013. To the delight of most kids (and adults), the 219-foot pedestrian bridge bounces and sways. The rest of the trail heads through a hardwood forest whose green in summer rivals that of Oz’s Emerald City. The leaves turn an impressive array of yellows, reds and oranges as autumn sets in. From Interstate 35 take the exit for Minn. Hwy. 210, driving east through Carlton. The park is about five miles from the freeway. Turn right/south at the River Inn Visitor Center and park in the lot nearest the river.

Gooseberry Falls State Park (Two Harbors)
Golden aspen and birch leaves mixed with evergreens surround waterfalls and an agate beach at Gooseberry Falls State Park. The 1.8-mile round trip River View Trail runs through the heart of what many consider to be the most beautiful park on the North Shore, if not the entire state. From Two Harbors, take Minn. Hwy. 61 north. Turn right/east into the park, leaving your vehicle in the first lot. Take the connector trail northeast to a walkway, on which you’ll go left/north.

Bear Beach State Natural Area (Brule, Wis.)
A walk along a pristine sand beach awaits day hikers of the Lake Superior shoreline in the Bear Beach State Natural Area. The unmarked trail runs for up to 3.4-miles round trip along narrow Bear Beach. Hiking the beach, you’ll get a good sense of what this area of the world looked like before Euro-Americans settled it. A thick woods hugs the sand’s southern side while the lake stretches wide beyond to the north. Though the forest this far north is heavy on the evergreens – especially balsam fir, white pine and white spruce – but in autumn the yellowed-colored leaves of paper birch and trembling aspen and the spring green of speckled alder are well-represented. From Brule, take U.S. Hwy. 2 west. In Maple, turn north onto County Road F. Next, go left/west onto Wis. Hwy. 13 then right/north onto Beck’s Road. Park in the dirt lot at the end of Beck’s Road near the Lake Superior shore.

Laurentian Divide Recreation Area (Virginia)
Orange and various hues of yellow and red leaves await hikers at the Laurentian Divide Recreation Area in Superior National Forest. About 5 miles of various connecting trails lead to the top of the rec area’s Lookout Mountain, which offers a fantastic vista. Fun fact: Streams on the divide’s north slope head to Canada and drain to Hudson Bay while those on south slope flow into either Lake Superior or the Mississippi River. From Virginia, take U.S. Hwy. 53 north. The rec area is on the right/east.

Sturgeon River Trail, Superior National Forest (Hibbing-Chisholm)
An aspen and birch forest awaits along the Sturgeon River in Superior National Forest. The 2.5-mile round trip segment of the Sturgeon River Trail heads through the second-growth forest as well as a stand of stately pines. From Hibbing-Chisholm, head north on Minn. Hwy. 73. Turn left/west onto County Road 65. Look for a large parking on the road’s right/north side in about 1.2 miles. Take the trail northwest to a shelter.

Bear Lake State Park (Ely)
A forest of yellow birch and aspen surround three glacial lakes at Bear Head Lake State Park. A 2.8-mile loop heads through the woods and around the scenic lakes. Stands of orange tamarack and green red and white pines, fir and cedar offer accent colors to the autumn display. From Ely, take Minn. Hwy. 1 west. Turn south onto County Road 128, aka as Bear Head State Park Road. Upon entering the park, stay on County Road 128 and turn right/south into the Norberg Lake parking lot. From the lot, take the trail heading east.

Tettegouche State Park (Silver Bay)
A hike though an amber-leaved birch and aspen forest that ends with an incredible view of Lake Superior awaits at Tettegouche State Park. The 1.1-mile round trip Shovel Point Trail is fairly flat as it runs atop billion-year-old rock. Throughout autumn, birds migrating south past the point. From Silver Bay, drive north on Minn. Hwy. 61. After crossing the Baptism River, turn right/southeast into the park entrance. Go straight on the park entrance road and veer left into the northernmost lot. From the lot’s southeastern corner, pick up the interpretive trail that heads toward Lake Superior.

Autumn hikes on Minn.-Wis. border, Part II

Brilliant fall colors can be seen along the Minnesota-Wisconsin
border from September and mid-October.

If living in a border

county or traveling near the Wisconsin-Minnesota state line, plenty of great autumn trails await.

Central and northern Minnesota border with Wisconsin mostly follows the St. Croix River from Prescott, Wis., to Lake Superior. Maple, basswood, oak, aspen and birch dominate.

Minnesota

Carlton County
Day hikers can cross a swinging bridge above a raging river running over nearly 2 billion-year old rock then enjoy incredible autumn colors at Jay Cooke State Park. The 1.5-mile round trip East Ridge Trail crosses and then partially follows the St. Louis river southeast of Duluth. A new $1.1 million swinging bridge opened in 2013. To the delight of most kids (and adults), the 219-foot pedestrian bridge bounces and sways. The rest of the trail heads through a hardwood forest whose green in summer rivals that of Oz’s Emerald City. The leaves turn an impressive array of yellows, reds and oranges as autumn sets in. From Interstate 35 take the exit for Minn. Hwy. 210, driving east through Carlton. The park is about five miles from the freeway. Turn right/south at the River Inn Visitor Center and park in the lot nearest the river. For more Carlton County trails, see Day Hiking Trails of Northeast Minnesota.

Chisago County
Hikers can follow some of the same footpaths and rail lines that the region’s first Swedish immigrants used to settle Minnesota on the Swedish Immigrant Trail. During the late 1800s, many Swedish immigrants took the ferry across the St. Croix River and then footpaths to their destinations. A spur off the St. Paul-Duluth rail route to Wyoming opened during 1880, helping speed the immigration inland. Perhaps the best of the trail’s completed portions is the Shafer Segment. Birch trees dominate in some sections, but the trail is mainly lined by mixed hardwoods that leave the path and its grass shoulders covered in an array of colorful leaves during autumn. Park on the street in downtown Shafer, off of Redwing Avenue near 303rd Street. The trailhead is near 303rd and heads for about two miles east of Redwing. Look for the white signs with the trail logo in the blue and yellow colors of Sweden’s flag. For more Chisago County trails, see Day Hiking Trails of Northeast Minnesota.

Pine County
Hikers can walk alongside pretty Tamarack River, where a variety of trees light up the trail in autumn. The 3.75-mile out and back Tamarack River Trail runs along the river’s west side before it flows into the St. Croix River. Rolling terrain features maple, basswood, ash, aspen, oak, tamarack along with the evergreens Norway, red and white pine. From Sandstone, take County Road 123 east then go straight-left/east on County Road 30. Turn right/south onto County Road 24 and then left/east onto County Road 25. After passing Markville Cemetery, take the next right/south. Park at the Tamarack horse camp and head south on the trail in the St. Croix State Forest. Note that the full trail actually is a loop but requires a river crossing, so that and the route on the river’s east side are not included here. For more Pine County trails, see Day Hiking Trails of Northeast Minnesota.

St. Louis County
A pair of picturesque waterfalls, footbridges, and a walk alongside Chester Creek await hikers on the Chester Park Loop in Duluth. Located near the University of Minnesota-Duluth campus, the 2.4-mile trail is particularly beautiful in autumn when the golden bronze of maple and basswood leaves form a canopy over the path and float upon the creek. In Duluth from West College Street take North 19th Avenue E southeast. Turn right/west onto W. Kent Road, then right/west onto East Skyline Parkway after the curve right/northwest onto Chester Park Drive. Park along the road then walk back alongside the road to E. Skyline Parkway and cross the bridge to the trailhead. For more St. Louis County trails, see Day Hiking Trails of Northeast Minnesota.

Washington County
The fresh scent of pine needles upon the pathway and the gentle rush of water along the river’s rock walls instantly lulls you into a feeling of serenity on the Riverside Trail at William O’Brien State Park. The 1.5-mile trail loops through a floodplain and typically is open during summer and autumn when water levels have gone down. Roughly half of the trail follows the river, mainly through a good mix of hardwoods common to a floodplain forest in this region. During autumn, their leaves turn gold, red, orange and brown. Across the water is Wisconsin, and with the two undeveloped shorelines, tranquility reigns. From Marine on St. Croix, Minn., take Minn. Hwy. 95 north into the park. Turn right/east onto O’Brien Trail North/County Road 33. The road curves south, dead ending in a parking area alongside Lake Alice. The trail begins at the picnic grounds immediately east of the parking lot.

Wisconsin

Burnett County
Day hikers can walk across an old railroad bridge over the St. Croix River at the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway and St. Croix State Forest on the Wisconsin-Minnesota border. The Gandy Dancer Trail, which starts dozens of miles south of the state forest in Polk County, at Danbury crosses the border into Minnesota. The trestle bridge segment is about two miles round trip. You’ll head through a forested area. The mix of trees near the riverfront yields a fantastic multi-colored leaf display in autumn. An added bonus for autumn hikers: You’ll probably spot a number of migrating waterfowl, including sandhill cranes. Also watch for bald eagles, osprey, northern harriers and hawks, all of which reside year-round in the area. In Danbury, parking for trail access is next to the walking route north of Hwy. 77 between and Hwy. 35 and North Glass Street. From the lot, take the trail north.

Douglas County
A walk along a pristine sand beach awaits day hikers of the Lake Superior shoreline in the Bear Beach State Natural Area. The unmarked trail runs for up to 3.4-miles round trip along narrow Bear Beach. Hiking the beach, you’ll get a good sense of what this area of the world looked like before Euro-Americans settled it. A thick woods hugs the sand’s southern side while the lake stretches wide beyond to the north. Though the forest this far north is heavy on the evergreens – especially balsam fir, white pine and white spruce – in autumn the yellowed-colored leaves of paper birch and trembling aspen and the spring green of speckled alder are well-represented. From Brule take U.S. Hwy. 2 west. In Maple, turn north onto County Road F. Next, go left/west onto Wis. Hwy. 13 then right/north onto Beck’s Road. Park in the dirt lot at the end of Beck’s Road near the Lake Superior shore.

Polk County
Day hikers can experience an autumn forest that looks almost like the one Native Americans and pioneers saw during the 1800s. The 2.9-mile Ridge View Trails near Osceola heads beneath a lush forest canopy in the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway and the Osceola State Fish Hatchery on a bluff overlooking a St. Croix River back channel. Sugar maple is the dominant tree. Each autumn, its leaves vary from yellow to orange or red. Basswood, whose leaves turn olive in fall, and white ash, which changes to a deep maroon, usually are mixed in the canopy. From Osceola, take Wis. Hwy. 35 north and turn north onto County Road S. The two trailheads are on the road’s left/west. Both trailheads have their own parking areas off of the road. Just beyond 93rd Avenue is the southernmost parking area, which is an excellent trailhead for either loop.

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The splendor of fall colors combines with a vista of the St. Croix River and fasinating rock formations on the Summit Rock Trail at Interstate State Park. The 1-mile round trip trail heads to a bluff’s highest point. Moss and autumn leaves cover the surrounding rock and ground while maples, basswood and eastern white pines line the trail. At the top, prickly pear cactus can be spotted amid the outcroppings. The highlight of the hike without question is the incredible view of the riverway from the summit. Looking north, the Old Man of the Dalles rock formation is visible. From St. Croix Falls, take Wis. Hwy. 35 south. Turn right/west into the park and follow the entry road to the parking lot across from the Lake O’ the Dalles.

St. Croix County
Tucked within Wisconsin’s dairy country is a hilly, wooded region that gives day hikers the chance to get back to nature. Glen Hills County Park offers a plethora of trails amid 700 acres of maple and oak trees. The 2-mile round trip Glen Lake East Trail goes downhill to a campground. Before hitting the trail, though, head to a scenic overlook of Glen Lake, ringed by red pines and hardwoods. From U.S. Hwy. 12 in Wilson, take County Road W north. Turn left/north onto Rustic Road 4 then go left/northwest onto Thompson Lane, which dead ends at the parking lot.

Pierce County
Hikers can walk through a rare old growth oak forest on the Purple Trail at Kinnickinnic State Park. The 1.2-mile loop sits near the confluence of the St. Croix and Kinnicknnic rivers. Pioneers and 19th century logging companies cut most of the trees in this part of Wisconsin, but the trail passes through one of the few woodlands to escape the ax. The oaks are majestic, especially when their leaves turn tan, orange and brown in autumn. The trail includes a deck overlooking the confleunce where eagles can be spotted. From Prescott, take Wis. Hwy. 29 east then turn left/north County Road F north. Turn left/west onto 820th Avenue then left/south into the park; follow the entry road west all of the way to its end and park in the St. Croix Picnic Area Lot.

Great day trails run through Iron River area

Flag River is a popular trout stream in the Poplar-Brule area.
Photo courtesy of UW-Superior.

An impressive number of day hiking trails await visitors to the Iron River, Wis., region in Bayfield County.
g Ahmeek Lake Walking Trail – Southeast of town off Luke Hughes/Pero Road, a 4.4-mile trail runs to County Road A past ponds through a new growth forest. The route is part of the North Country Scenic Trail.
g Anderson Grade Trail – The 4-mile trail crosses the Rainbow Lake Wilderness Area from east to west over rolling terrain. Balsam fir, Northern hardwoods, paper birch and pines line the trail.
g Flag River Walking Trail – North off town on Flag Road a half-mile from Battle Axe Road, the trail meanders west near the Flag River. Groves of Northern hardwoods and evergreens shade the path.
g Iron River National Fish Hatchery trails – North of town off of Fairview Road, three miles of trails cut through 1,200 acres of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service facility. A visitor center helps explain the important role of national fish hatcheries.
g Long Lake Picnic Area Trail – This 1.2-mile trail in the Chequamegon National Forest circles Long Lake and includes a boardwalk into a marsh. A picnic area is on the grounds; a parking fee is required.
g North Country National Scenic Trail segment – West of town, a segment of this multi-state trails runs through the Brule River State Forest. From the parking lot off of Wis. Hwy. 27 near Radio Station Road, take the trail north for about 2 miles to Rush River Road; turn left onto Rush Road River, crossing Hwy. 27, for views of Big Lake.
g Ruth Lake walking trails – On Ruth Lake Road, a half-mile from the County Road A intersection, trails begin both sides of the highway. Go west to skirt the wooded southern end of Lake Ruth in the Chequamegon National Forest.
g Tomahawk Lake trails – Off of Moore Road about 1.5 miles from the Island lake Road intersection, walking paths run through wooded areas. Trails begin on either side of the road.
g Tri-County Corridor Trail segment – The trail connecting Superior and Ashland runs through Iron River. East of town, take the segment east from Topside Road past Wentzel Lake and a pond to Forest Road 417 for a 3.8-mile one-way hike.

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

Short segment of Superior Hiking Trail heads to two waterfalls

Superior Hiking Trail alongside Brule River at Judge
CR Magney State Park. Photo courtesy of MN DNR.

Day hike runs 2 miles on Minnesota’s North Shore

About a mile from Lake Superior, volcanic rock splits the Brule River in a formation known as the Devil’s Kettle. One side of the divided river drops 50 feet while the other half rushes into a pothole.

A 2-mile round trip segment of the Superior Hiking Trail, in Minnesota’s Judge CR Magney State Park, crosses the Brule and heads alongside it to Upper Falls and then the Devil’s Kettle.

Footbridge over rapids
To reach the trailhead, from Grand Marias head north on Minn. Hwy. 61 for 14 miles. Turn left/north into the state park and follow the campground road to its northern end, where you'll find a parking lot. The trail starts at the lot’s northeast corner.

At the trail intersection, go left/northeast. This takes you to a footbridge over the Brule River where rocky outcroppings create a whitewater rapids.

Across the bridge is a picnic area. Go left/north on the packed surface trail, following the river through a dense birch and aspen forest. Black bear, chickadees, deer, jays, moose, nuthatches, squirrels, woodchucks and woodpeckers all call the Brule River Valley home.

The trail curves east, climbing the hill above the river until coming to Upper Falls. It drops 25 feet over a basalt cliff.

Devil's Kettle
While impressive in and of itself, Upper Falls is just a teaser for what lies ahead. Continuing north on the trail, a wooden stairs leads to an overlook of the Devil’s Kettle.

About 1.1 billion years ago, lava flowed through fissures out of the Earth’s crust, akin to what is occurring now in Africa’s Afar Depression. Some of the flows were quite deep; the rock making up the Devil’s Kettle measures about 770 feet thick. The Brule now rushes over where those ancient flows cooled into black basalt.

The Devil’s Kettle marks a good place to turn back. You can extend the hike by continuing north along the Brule, and it’s worth a look; above the Devil’s Kettle, volcanic rocks churn the Brule into a whitewater rapids. Don’t go too far, however, as the trail heads deep into the backcountry.

Retrace the trail across the footbridge and back to the first intersection from the parking lot, and consider taking the pathway south along the Brule River. The trail crosses Hwy. 61 and stops close to where the Brule empties into Lake Superior.

Read more about day hiking Northeast Minnesota in my Headin’ to the Cabin: Day Hiking Trails of Northeast Minnesota guidebook.

Eastern Douglas County offers hiking ops

Brule Boardwalk Trail. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

The eastern side of Wisconsin’s Douglas County offers a diverse array of day hiking trails, most of them centered on the famous Bois Brule River.

The River of Presidents – so named because five U.S. commander-in-chiefs have stayed on or fished it – flows 44 miles through eastern Douglas County on its way to Lake Superior. Most of the river is protected by the Brule River State Forest.

The 4600-mile multistate North Country National Scenic Trail also enters Douglas County at the state forest.

Among the great day hiking trails of eastern Douglas County are:
• Bear Beach Trail
• Stoney Hill Nature Trail
• North Country National Scenic Trail
• Bois-Brule-St. Croix River Historic Portage Trail
• Brule Bog Boardwalk Trail

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

Day hike ‘forest primeval’ on Brule Bog Boardwalk Trail in northern Wisconsin

Brule Bog Boardwalk Trail. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

Route leads through wetlands between rivers

Visitors to the Solon Springs, Wis., area can day hike what feels like the forest primeval on the Brule Bog Boardwalk Trail.

Located in southern Douglas County’s Brule River State Forest, the 2.3-mile boardwalk cuts through a wooded bog. Part of the North Country National Scenic Trail, it is entirely handicapped accessible.

To reach the trail, from downtown Solon Springs take County Road A north for about three miles, rounding the northern side of Upper St. Croix Lake. Watch for signs saying the North Country Trail is “1000 Feet Ahead”, then turn into the boat landing where you can park.

Across the road from the parking lot, the trail heading right/northeast is the Bois-Brule-St. Croix Historic Portage Trail. The boardwalk trail heads left or directly north.

Continental divide
An elevated boardwalk takes hikers through a conifer swamp at the bottom of a narrow valley. The valley is part of a continental divide – all rivers to the south ultimately feed the Mississippi River while those to the north flow into the Lake Superior, which is part of the St. Lawrence watershed.

In short order, the boardwalk crosses St. Croix Creek. You’ve now entered the heart of Brule Bog. Ferns and moss, as well as several varieties of orchids, cover the ground while white cedar, balsam fir, and spruce crowd out the sunlight.

Several rare plants and animals can be found in the bog. Among the insects you’ll quickly notice is the zebra clubtail dragonfly. Songbirds include the black-backed woodpecker, golden-crowned kinglet, Lincoln’s sparrow, olive-sided flycatcher, and saw-whet owl. Plants include the sheathed and sparse-flowered sedges and the endangered Lapland buttercup.

The sense of having traveled back in time to the ancient Carboniferous Period is temporarily interrupted as the trail crosses County Road P, which runs smack down the middle of the bog.

Rebounding land creates bog
After County Road P, the boardwalk trail veers northwest. You’ll come to the edge of the bog against a hillside, where the trail begins to meander. The uplands above the bog consist of sandy pine barrens.

Some 9,000 years ago as the Ice Age ended, a river flowing from the much higher Glacial Lake Duluth carved out the valley where the Brule River, this bog, and Upper St. Croix Lake now exist. Released from the retreating glacier’s weight, the land rose, causing water to flow in the opposite direction. As Lake Superior’s depth gradually dropped and the flow of the prehistoric river declined, we were left with the terrain that exists today.

The boardwalk ends at a spur off of Croshaw Road. This is the turnaround point.

A final note: You’ll definitely want to apply insect repellant before hitting this trail, and be sure to carry it with it in case it sweats off.

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