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| Colorful leaves surround Lapham Peak in autumn. |
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| Plantation Path map. Click for larger version. |
The ADA accessible 1.8-mile Plantation Path loops past prairie and through a woods of red and white oak, quaking aspen, 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.
To reach the trail, from Delafield, take County Road C south. Turn left/east toward the park office. Park in the Homestead lot.
The paved trail leaves from the lot’s eastern side. In short order, the trail splits from the Kame Terrace and Kettle View trails. Go right/south.
Fall leaves along the trail range from the cinnamon of northern red and yellow of white oaks to the reds of black cherry and golds of quaking aspen. But for the white oak, the trees make up a classic southern dry-mesic forest.
At intersection marker E21, the trail divides, beginning a set of three loops. Head right/northwest. The route described here follows the three loops’ eastern sides.
Red and white oak
Found on the trail’s uplands is the northern red oak. The third most common tree in Wisconsin – nearly 1 in 11 of the state’s trees is a red oak – it’s also enormous. Growing quite straight and very tall, the red oak can reach up to 92 feet high with a trunk diameter of 39 inches. In old growth forests, the red oak soars even taller, and some even have been measured at 141 feet high. Red oaks grown in open areas, such as lawns, tend to be stouter, though, but can have a trunk diameter of up to 6.6 feet.
A XXL tree like the red oak also produces big acorns; in fact, the acorns are the largest of all Wisconsin’s oaks, measuring 1-1/8 inches long. With acorns that size, the tree is fairly easy to spot in autumn. The thoroughly fissured bark on mature red oaks is another giveaway.
The trail soon reaches a T-intersection, which marks the beginning of the second loop. Continue straight-left/south.
Also look for the white oak on the trail. White oaks primarily grow in the western and central parts of Wisconsin, so it’s a rare sight in this area of the state. You easily can spot the tree because of its scaly, ash gray bark. They grow up to 80 feet tall with a massive canopy.
The tree is extremely long-lived, lasting for around 200-300 years. One white oak in New Jersey was known to be more than 600 years old before dying.
At the trail’s next T-intersection, you’ve come to the beginning of the third loop. Continue straight-left/southwest.
Black cherry, quaking aspen
Watch for the black cherry tree on the trail’s higher ground. Eleven species of cherries grow in Wisconsin, and all are shrubs or small trees with the exception of the black cherry, which can grow quite tall. It’s easy to identify in a woods, as the bark is smooth and highly colored with small broken lines; it looks somewhat like the old punch cards used to store computer data.
The black cherry delights hikers during two seasons – autumn when its edible cherries ripen and its leaves turn color, and spring when its sweet-scented white flowers open.
At intersection marker E25, a connector trail leaves the Plantation Path and heads left/west. Take it to the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, where you’ll turn right/west.
Another tree you’ll see plenty of on the Plantation and the Ice Age trails is the quaking aspen. It’s the most common of the 35 populus tree species – which includes poplar, aspen, and cottonwood – across North America. A pioneer species, it quickly replaced the continent’s many forests when they were logged off in the 1800s. Prevention of forest fires has allowed the quaking aspen to maintain its hold. It is the most abundant and widespread tree in neighboring Minnesota.
The quaking aspen’s flat, spade-like leaves flap at the slightest breeze. In autumn when the leaves turn amber, that makes for quite a show, especially so on trees that grow at least six stories tall and that under ideal conditions can reach 10 stories.
Observation tower
At the next trail junction, turn right/north for the observation tower. Lapham Peak is the highest point in Waukesha County. The observation tower rises 45 above that. On a clear day, from the tower’s top you can see all the way to the Illinois border.
Upon coming down from the tower, head north. Walk along the edge of the Tower Parking Lot and the road. Enter the parking lot for the Hausmann Nature Center. Spend some time taking in the exhibits and if with the kids the children’s interactive area at the center. Then take the connector at the building’s back to the Plantation Trail. Go left/north.
Other trees in the woods include black oak, shagbark hickory, red maple, basswood, paper birch, and white pine.
At intersection marker E21, turn left/southwest. This is the stem trail that heads back to your parking lot.
