 |
| Hoffman Hills State Recreation Area |
to experience autumn colors in west-central Wisconsin than a hike.
The brilliant yellows, oranges and red of maples to the scarlet
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 west-central Wisconsin to hike. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.
Barron County
A walk through pleasant wooded areas and scenic farmland await users of the Wild Rivers Trail near Rice Lake. The first half mile north of the Tuscobia Trail heads through a typical deciduous forest that Wisconsin is famous for. In autumn, the trail’s varied trees amaze in an array of red, yellow and orange leaves. Upon reaching 29th Avenue, the woods gives way to pretty farm fields that look best when green in August, so turn around there. Park north of the Rice Lake city limits at the Tuscobia Trail junction on County Road SS, near its intersection with U.S. Hwy. 53. The parking lot sits east of County SS, and you’ll need to take the Tuscobia Trail west across the highway to reach the Wild Rivers Trail then go north through Haugen.
Dunn County
Day hikers can see a dozen major trees that dominate Wisconsin forests while heading to a 60-foot observation tower in Hoffman Hills State Recreation Area. The roughly two-mile Tower Nature Trail heads up then downhill though a stand of birch and maple with an understory of ferns. During autumn, the yellow birch and red maple leaves make a splendid display. At the top is the 60-foot Greg Schubert Memorial Tower. From the observation tower’s top platform, you can see about six miles on a clear day. A pretty quilt of farm fields and woodlands stretch below the hill in all directions. From Exit 45 on Interstate 94 east of Menomonie, take County Road B north. Turn right/east onto 650th Avenue, which eventually becomes County Road E. Follow County Road E/730th Street as it goes north. The highway zigzags to the park entrance, which is a little more than a mile north of 690th Avenue. Follow the park entrance road to the main parking lot.
Pepin County
Day hikers can explore a bluff steeped in majestic white oaks and legend high above Lake Pepin. The Maiden Rock Bluff Trail runs 1.4-miles round trip in west-central Wisconsin overlooking beautiful Lake Pepin. It’s located in the Maiden Rock State Natural Area, which preserves a blufftop prairie that turns golden in autumn. From Stockholm, take County Road J north. Turn left/northwest onto County Road E then go left/west into Long Lane. The road dead ends at a grassy parking lot on the blufftop. A trailhead is a few yards east of the lot and heads north from the road.
Pierce County
Hikers can walk through a rare old growth oak forest on the Purple Trail at Kinnickinnic State Park. The 1.2-mile loop sits near the confluence of the St. Croix and Kinnickinnic rivers. Pioneers and 19th century logging companies cut most of the trees in this part of Wisconsin, but the trail passes through one of the few woodlands to escape the ax. The oaks are majestic, especially when their leaves turn tan, orange and brown in autumn. The trail includes a deck overlooking the confluence where eagles can be spotted. From Prescott, take Wis. Hwy. 29 east then turn left/north County Road F north. Turn left/west onto 820th Avenue then left/south into the park; follow the entry road west all of the way to its end and park in the St. Croix Picnic Area Lot.
St. Croix County
Tucked within Wisconsin’s dairy country is a hilly, wooded region that gives day hikers the chance to get back to nature. Glen Hills County Park offers a plethora of trails amid 700 acres of maple and oak trees. The 2-mile round trip Glen Lake East Trail goes downhill to a campground. Before hitting the trail, though, head to a scenic overlook of Glen Lake, ringed by red pines and hardwoods. From U.S. Hwy. 12 in Wilson, take County Road W north. Turn left/north onto Rustic Road 4 then go left/northwest onto Thompson Lane, which dead ends at the parking lot.
Fortunately, there are plenty of great autumn trails across west-central Wisconsin to hike. Some are right out your back door, while some are a day trip that you can do in an afternoon.
Barron County
A walk through pleasant wooded areas and scenic farmland await users of the Wild Rivers Trail near Rice Lake. The first half mile north of the Tuscobia Trail heads through a typical deciduous forest that Wisconsin is famous for. In autumn, the trail’s varied trees amaze in an array of red, yellow and orange leaves. Upon reaching 29th Avenue, the woods gives way to pretty farm fields that look best when green in August, so turn around there. Park north of the Rice Lake city limits at the Tuscobia Trail junction on County Road SS, near its intersection with U.S. Hwy. 53. The parking lot sits east of County SS, and you’ll need to take the Tuscobia Trail west across the highway to reach the Wild Rivers Trail then go north through Haugen.
***
An array of autumn colors await in the Barron County Forest-Silver Creek Unit southwest of Barron. A roughly two-mile trail runs through the forest’s heart, which is dominated by tan- and russet-leaved oak, amber, orange and red sugar maple, and amber-colored yellow birch, accented with some evergreen hemlock. From Barron, take U.S. Hwy. 8 west. Turn left/south onto County Road P/Sixth Street. Go left/west on County Road D/Seventh Street then left/south on Fifth Street. At the junction with Sixth Avenue, park off the side of the road. The forest road going east enters the Silver Creek Unit. Several miles of other trails in the county forest are used by mountain bikers.Dunn County
Day hikers can see a dozen major trees that dominate Wisconsin forests while heading to a 60-foot observation tower in Hoffman Hills State Recreation Area. The roughly two-mile Tower Nature Trail heads up then downhill though a stand of birch and maple with an understory of ferns. During autumn, the yellow birch and red maple leaves make a splendid display. At the top is the 60-foot Greg Schubert Memorial Tower. From the observation tower’s top platform, you can see about six miles on a clear day. A pretty quilt of farm fields and woodlands stretch below the hill in all directions. From Exit 45 on Interstate 94 east of Menomonie, take County Road B north. Turn right/east onto 650th Avenue, which eventually becomes County Road E. Follow County Road E/730th Street as it goes north. The highway zigzags to the park entrance, which is a little more than a mile north of 690th Avenue. Follow the park entrance road to the main parking lot.
***
Beautiful fall colors line the northern end of the Red Cedar Trail in Menomonie. Running 14.5 miles alongside the Red Cedar River, among its most scenic portions is the 1.6-mile (3.2-miles round trip) section from Riverside Park to a creek flowing out of the Devil’s Punchbowl. Amber-, orange, and crimson-colored maples, yellow-leaved aspen and birch, and russet-hued oak can be found alongside the trail. From downtown Menomonie take Wis. Hwy. 29 west. Upon crossing the Red Cedar River bridge, turn at the second left (or south) into Riverside Park. A parking lot sits next to an old train depot turned visitor center, with the trail leaving from the lot’s south end.***
For more Dunn County trails, see Day Hiking Trails of the Chippewa Valley.Pepin County
Day hikers can explore a bluff steeped in majestic white oaks and legend high above Lake Pepin. The Maiden Rock Bluff Trail runs 1.4-miles round trip in west-central Wisconsin overlooking beautiful Lake Pepin. It’s located in the Maiden Rock State Natural Area, which preserves a blufftop prairie that turns golden in autumn. From Stockholm, take County Road J north. Turn left/northwest onto County Road E then go left/west into Long Lane. The road dead ends at a grassy parking lot on the blufftop. A trailhead is a few yards east of the lot and heads north from the road.
***
Day hikers can enjoy a walk alongside a lake and through the woods on the Silver Birch Park Trail. The 0.6-mile round trip trail runs through Silver Birch Park to Holden Park Campground. As if it were a mirror, Silver Birch Lake impressively reflects the blue sky and clouds on days when the wind is low. The reflection seems to stretch forever – not surprisingly as the lake’s surface area covers 145 acres. A tree canopy covers the walking path, which makes for a nice autumn stroll when leaves change color. From Durand, head west on Wis. Hwy. 25 then turn left/south onto County Road P. Go left/south onto Silver Birch Road. At County Road NN/Round Hill Road, turn right/west. The next left/south is the park entry road. Pierce County
Hikers can walk through a rare old growth oak forest on the Purple Trail at Kinnickinnic State Park. The 1.2-mile loop sits near the confluence of the St. Croix and Kinnickinnic rivers. Pioneers and 19th century logging companies cut most of the trees in this part of Wisconsin, but the trail passes through one of the few woodlands to escape the ax. The oaks are majestic, especially when their leaves turn tan, orange and brown in autumn. The trail includes a deck overlooking the confluence where eagles can be spotted. From Prescott, take Wis. Hwy. 29 east then turn left/north County Road F north. Turn left/west onto 820th Avenue then left/south into the park; follow the entry road west all of the way to its end and park in the St. Croix Picnic Area Lot.
***
Amber, orange and crimson leaves surround and reflect off of the blue waters at Nugget Lake County Park east of Ellsworth. The Nook Trail and the Lake Overlook combine for a mile-long round trip that gets you up close to 117-acre Nugget Lake and to a great vista of it. From Ellsworth, take U.S. Hwy. 10 east. Turn left/north onto County Road CC then right/east onto County Road HH, which curves south. The park entry is on the road’s right/west side. Park in the lot where the road runs out.St. Croix County
Tucked within Wisconsin’s dairy country is a hilly, wooded region that gives day hikers the chance to get back to nature. Glen Hills County Park offers a plethora of trails amid 700 acres of maple and oak trees. The 2-mile round trip Glen Lake East Trail goes downhill to a campground. Before hitting the trail, though, head to a scenic overlook of Glen Lake, ringed by red pines and hardwoods. From U.S. Hwy. 12 in Wilson, take County Road W north. Turn left/north onto Rustic Road 4 then go left/northwest onto Thompson Lane, which dead ends at the parking lot.
