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| Wood ducks spend part of their year at Jones Spring. |
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| Jones Spring area map. Click map for larger version. |
The 4.7-miles looping Red Trail runs through Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. This trail is best done in early spring before the ground has thawed or in late fall after a freeze, as parts of it can be overgrown by summer and too muddy to cross.
To reach the trailhead, From Townsend, take County Road T south. Turn right/west onto Unity Drive then right/west onto Sawyer Lake Road (Forest Road 2122). After crossing Mary Creek, park at the road going left/east into the woods.
Take the stem trail east to the Red Trail. In 0.2 miles at the next junction, you’ve reached the loop. Go left/south.
The loop runs atop a low ridge here. It passes a small pond on the left/east and then Jones Springs.
Wildflowers
The next junction, in a clearing at 1.7 miles, is a stem trail heading right/west to a parking lot off of Jones Spring Road. Continue left/southwest.
A hardwood forest dominates this section of the walk. A number of wildflowers can see here and in the nearby wetlands. Among them are butterfly milkweed, Indian pipe, Northern blue iris (usually blooming in June or July), and partridge berry.
At 2.4 miles, the trail arrives at the bottom leg of the loop. The leg is shared with the Yellow Trail. Go left/northeast.
The trail passes through a wetlands then crosses Mary Creek. Mud can be deep in sections – be forewarned that at times of the year it can be impassable, at least not without sinking up to your knees into the mire. Because of that, you may need to turn back here.
Wood ducks
Along the way through the wetlands areas, you may see wood duck boxes aimed at increasing the wood duck population.
Adult male wood ducks are quite striking. Their plumage is multicolored and iridescent with a white flare running the neck’s length. The eyes are red with black pupils.
Even if you don’t see a wood duck, you probably will hear one. The male’s call is a rising jeeeeee while females squeal cr-r-ek, cr-e-ek if alarmed and do weep do weep when fleeing.
Habitat loss and overhunting for meat and European hat fashions nearly wiped out the wood duck in the 1800s. New conservation laws and measures helped the wood duck begin rebounding by the 1920s. Today, Wisconsin is prime breeding ground for the aquatic fowl.
The next junction, at 3 miles, is at Fanny Lake’s southwest corner. The Red and Yellow trails split here. Turn left/north to start a new leg of the Red Trail loop.
Jones Spring Impoundment
After the trail curves west, it climbs a low ridge. The Jones Spring Impoundment, a six-acre pond and marsh, is on the trail’s right/north side at 4.3 miles. Sometimes sandhill cranes hang out at the wetlands.
The trail then crosses Mary Creek again.
The next junction, at 4.4 miles, heads northwest to Sawyer Lake Road. Continue left/southwest on the Red Trail.
Look for a trail going right/west at 4.5 miles. This is the stem trail that leads to your parking lot.
Dogs are allowed to use the trail but must be leashed. Be sure to bring insect repellent.
