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| The red columbine grows on slopes in wooded areas. |
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| Eagle Peak Trail topo map. Click map for larger version. |
The Eagle Peak Trail takes you to the park’s highest point. Though short at 0.8-miles round trip, it climbs 120 feet in elevation, including up stone stairs.
To reach the trailhead, from the junction of U.S. Hwy 8 and Wis. Hwy. 35 east of St. Croix Falls, take the latter south. Turn right/west onto Park Road and head into Interstate. Drive past the Lake O' the Dalles. When the road curls west, turn left/south onto a spur road to the Silverbrook Trailhead. A small parking lot is at the end of the spur road; use the southernmost of the two parking lots.
The hard-packed dirt trail begins at the Pines Group Camp. A short side trail passes a traprock quarry built by the CCC during the 1930s on its way to South Campground.
Interesting volcanic rock formations line the path. They formed 1.1 billion years ago when this part of North America was splitting apart, much like Africa's Great Rift Valley is today.
Red columbine
Standing out amid the blue-gray rock during May and June is red columbine. Also known as Canadian, Canada, wild and eastern red columbine, it's the only native version of this much beloved lower found in the state.
The striking blossom has yellow petals with red sepals and spur-shaped petals. It is about 1–2 inches long and nods on a stem above the leaves. Nectar sits in the spur's round end, attracting butterflies, ruby-throated hummingbirds, and bumblebees.
During early summer, the caterpillars of Columbine Duskywing feed on the leaves, which are fern-like and grouped in threes. They grow from the plant's base and off the flower stems.
Eagle Peak provides an ideal environment for the red columbine. The plant thrives on slopes as well as woodlands and meadows, all of which are found on the trail. Drought-resistant, the plant does well on rocky soil, and much of Eagle Peak is covered in eroding volcanic rock.
Wild geranium
The European columbine - also known as the garden columbine - grows in Wisconsin as well but is not native. It appears wild in just five of the state's counties. The red columbine, however, is found throughout Wisconsin.
More than 60 species of columbine call North America home. All of them are new to the continent, having come from Asia over the Bering Land Bridge about 10,000 to 40,000 years ago. Many of the species in North America have evolved variously shaped and colored flowers as adapting to new habitats and pollinators.
Another pretty spring wildflower found along the trail is wild geranium. Lavender to purple in color, it has heavily veined five petals about 1-2 inches wide. Colonies in natural woodland openings are formed from long-lived clones of an individual plant. Wild geranium grows all across the state.
The highlights of the trail definitely are the columbines and ancient rock formations, as trees block much of the view at the peak's top. Once you reach the summit, though, there's room on exposed rock for a picnic or at least to rest a bit. After taking a break, retrace your steps back to the parking lot.
