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| Autumn view from Rib Mountain. |
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| Gray Trail map. Click for larger version. |
The 1.8-mile round trip Gray Trail traverses Rib Mountains’ north and south slopes. A brief side trip on the Blue Trail leads to the observation tower.
To reach the trailhead, 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.
The first junction is at 0.1 miles. The Yellow Trail splits left/south. Continue right/west. You’re at 1700 feet above sea level.
Ancient volcanoes
About 1.45 billion years ago, a string of volcanoes stretched along what is now the west side of Interstate 39. Rib Mountain’s current location was at about the center of the volcanic region, known as the Wolf River Batholith.
The trail gradually climbs until reaching Cobler’s Nob. The Yellow and Gray trails split here at 1750 feet elevation and then rejoin. Stay on the Gray Trail be going left/west.
Deep below the volcanoes, magma that fed them cooled and hardened into rock. Over time, erosion reduced these craters to just their roots, which is what remains today between Rib Mountain south to Mosinee. Those roots are still impressive – Rib Mountain is a four mile-long ridge of ancient, hard quartzite that at 1924 feet is Wisconsin’s third highest point.
The trail rejoins at 0.41 miles and 1840 feet elevation and then splits. Go left/southwest. Along the way, you pass Sunrise Lookout.
Autumn glory
As September comes to a close, trees for miles around and on Rib Mountain turn brilliant yellows, oranges and reds. For a bird’s eye view of the harvest colors across the mountainside, 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.
At the next junction, the trail meets the Lower West Yellow Trail from the left/southeast. Continue right/northwest. The CCC Gazebo is to the trail’s left/west.
The mountain got its name from the Ojibwe, who called the nearby Rib River O-pic-wun-a-se-be. The first part of the word means rib.
The Gray Trail crosses the park road at 0.68 miles and 1880 feet elevation. From there, leave the Gray Trail and walk straight-northwest alongside the road.
Observation tower
On the left side, pick up the Blue Trail at about 0.78 miles and go west. This leads to directly to the observation tower, which sits at 0.88 miles and 1920 feet elevation.
From the 60-foot tower’s top, you can see about 30 miles on a clear day. To the northeast is Wausau and the Wisconsin River, the latter of which runs to the southeast. Big Rib River is immediately north. Marathon City and a vast patchwork of farmland and tiny woods is to the west and Mosinee to the south.
Spend some time as well enjoying and scrambling over the ancient rocks at the summit. One of them – the Queen’s Chair – is perfect for a selfie.
After taking in the sights, retrace your steps back to the parking lot.
