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| La Salle Falls Trail |
There’s no better way
to experience autumn colors in northeast Wisconsin 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 across northeast Wisconsin to hike. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.
Iron County
An impressive waterfalls surrounded by a gorge of fall colors awaits on the Potato River Falls Trails. Three paths for a combined 0.5-mile round trip heads to a series of cascades and falls that drop about 90 feet over the Potato River. One trail heads to the 40-foot drop over the Upper Falls, a second trail to the-50 foot Lower Falls, and another to a lookout. Red, yellow and orange leaves line the gorge below the falls, and fallen leaves float and swirl upon the flowing river. From Hurley, take U.S. Hwy. 2 west. Turn left/south on Wis. Hwy. 169. Go right/west on Falls Road. The trail leaves from the Potato River Falls Campground.
Vilas County
Among the best spots to enjoy fall colors is a lakeshore, especially deep in a wooded area. The 0.55-mile ADA accessible Tom Roberts Nature Trail in Northern Highland American Legion State Forest fits the bill, heading through a mixed forest of sugar maple, white birch, and large-toothed and trembling aspen, balsam, and red and white pine with great views of Muskellunge Lake. Whitetail deer, ruffed grouse, coyote and fisher tracks often are spotted on the trail. From Woodruff, take U.S. Hwy. 51 north. Turn right/northeast onto County Road M and then right/east on County Road N. Go left/northeast on the road to Crystal Lake Campground then left/north on Crystal Lake Road. Park at the Nature Center.
Florence County
Yellow-leaved birch and evergreen cedar and pine line a waterfall at the end of the LaSalle Falls Trail. The 1.9-miles round trip partially heads along the Pine River to the 20-foot high waterfalls, which slides down a long rock ledge. LaSalle Falls is the highest waterfall in this part of the state. From Florence, take County Road N south. Turn right/west on County Road C then right/north onto LaSalle Falls Road. After crossing Halls Creek, park in the lot on the right/north side of the road. Leashed dogs are allowed on the trail.
Forest County
The 1-mile Franklin Nature Trail loops through varied sights that are particularly splendid in autumn. The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest trail begins in mixed hardwoods full of yellow and orange leaves then passes stands of towering white pines and huge hemlocks. A boardwalk winds 400 feet over a bog where tamaracks turn the color of brass. From Eagle River, take Wis. Hwy. 70 east. Turn right/south onto Military Road/FR 2178 then left/east onto Butternut Lake Road/FR 2181. Stay on Butternut Lake Road/FR 2181. The parking lot is in 4.4 miles on the right/south.
Oneida County
Day hikers can enjoy amber-leaved, trembling aspens with a lake view during autumn on the Madeline Lake Trail System. Consisting of four stacked loops, the third longest of them – the Blue Trail at 3.83 miles – offers the most views of autumn leaves and Madeline Lake as well as a couple of ponds. In autumn, the aspens add more than color to the evergreen forest. They are, as one local noted, Wisconsin’s natural wind chime. The aspen’s flat leaves flutter at just the hint of a breeze; their rustle is pronounced yet gentle and soothing. From U.S. Hwy. 51 in Woodruff, go east on Wis. Hwy. 47. Turn left/east onto County Road J and then left/north onto Rudolph Road. Look for the trailhead on the road’s right/east side. The trail sits in the Northern Highland American Legion State Forest near the popular Minocqua-Woodruff resort area.
Fortunately, there are plenty of great autumn trails across northeast Wisconsin to hike. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.
Iron County
An impressive waterfalls surrounded by a gorge of fall colors awaits on the Potato River Falls Trails. Three paths for a combined 0.5-mile round trip heads to a series of cascades and falls that drop about 90 feet over the Potato River. One trail heads to the 40-foot drop over the Upper Falls, a second trail to the-50 foot Lower Falls, and another to a lookout. Red, yellow and orange leaves line the gorge below the falls, and fallen leaves float and swirl upon the flowing river. From Hurley, take U.S. Hwy. 2 west. Turn left/south on Wis. Hwy. 169. Go right/west on Falls Road. The trail leaves from the Potato River Falls Campground.
Vilas County
Among the best spots to enjoy fall colors is a lakeshore, especially deep in a wooded area. The 0.55-mile ADA accessible Tom Roberts Nature Trail in Northern Highland American Legion State Forest fits the bill, heading through a mixed forest of sugar maple, white birch, and large-toothed and trembling aspen, balsam, and red and white pine with great views of Muskellunge Lake. Whitetail deer, ruffed grouse, coyote and fisher tracks often are spotted on the trail. From Woodruff, take U.S. Hwy. 51 north. Turn right/northeast onto County Road M and then right/east on County Road N. Go left/northeast on the road to Crystal Lake Campground then left/north on Crystal Lake Road. Park at the Nature Center.
Florence County
Yellow-leaved birch and evergreen cedar and pine line a waterfall at the end of the LaSalle Falls Trail. The 1.9-miles round trip partially heads along the Pine River to the 20-foot high waterfalls, which slides down a long rock ledge. LaSalle Falls is the highest waterfall in this part of the state. From Florence, take County Road N south. Turn right/west on County Road C then right/north onto LaSalle Falls Road. After crossing Halls Creek, park in the lot on the right/north side of the road. Leashed dogs are allowed on the trail.
Forest County
The 1-mile Franklin Nature Trail loops through varied sights that are particularly splendid in autumn. The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest trail begins in mixed hardwoods full of yellow and orange leaves then passes stands of towering white pines and huge hemlocks. A boardwalk winds 400 feet over a bog where tamaracks turn the color of brass. From Eagle River, take Wis. Hwy. 70 east. Turn right/south onto Military Road/FR 2178 then left/east onto Butternut Lake Road/FR 2181. Stay on Butternut Lake Road/FR 2181. The parking lot is in 4.4 miles on the right/south.
Oneida County
Day hikers can enjoy amber-leaved, trembling aspens with a lake view during autumn on the Madeline Lake Trail System. Consisting of four stacked loops, the third longest of them – the Blue Trail at 3.83 miles – offers the most views of autumn leaves and Madeline Lake as well as a couple of ponds. In autumn, the aspens add more than color to the evergreen forest. They are, as one local noted, Wisconsin’s natural wind chime. The aspen’s flat leaves flutter at just the hint of a breeze; their rustle is pronounced yet gentle and soothing. From U.S. Hwy. 51 in Woodruff, go east on Wis. Hwy. 47. Turn left/east onto County Road J and then left/north onto Rudolph Road. Look for the trailhead on the road’s right/east side. The trail sits in the Northern Highland American Legion State Forest near the popular Minocqua-Woodruff resort area.
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During the first week of October, fall colors usually are at their peak in Minocqua, where the Bearskin Trail rambles through woodlands and and past lakes on its 16-mile path over a former railroad bed. From downtown, the trail crosses leaf-strewn footbridges over Minocqua Lake and then a connecting stream to Kawaguesaga Lake, all tucked in a forest of yellow and orange hardwoods mixed with white and red pines. A round-trip walk to Baker Lake covers about 3 miles. From U.S. Hwy. 51, go west on Front Street for parking and access to the trail, which starts behind the post office. 