Top fall hikes in westcentral Wisconsin, Pt. II

Hoffman Hills State Recreation Area

There’s no better way

to experience autumn colors in west-central 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 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Wooded trail passes creek, Red Cedar River

The Birch Creek Trail loops across a wooded
bluff overlooking the Red Cedar River.

Day hikers can enjoy a woodland walk with wildflowers at the Keil Birch Creek Preserve in southwestern Menomonie, Wis.

The 0.75-mile Birch Creek Trail loops through the 28-acre preserve along the Red Cedar River. It is part of the Lower Chippewa River State Natural Area, which mainly protects prairie and oak savanna along the riverway and its tributaries.

To reach the trailhead, from downtown Menomonie take Wis. Hwy. 25 south. Turn right/west onto 490th Avenue, which becomes Scritsmier Avenue, then left/south onto 430th Street/River Heights Road. Park in the cul-de-sac at the road's end and head south onto the trail.

To save the more dramatic views for the hike's end, at the first junction go left/southeast.

Wildflowers
Wild geranium blooms in profusion here during late May through early June. Lavender to purple in color, it has heavily veined five petals about 1-2 inches wide. Colonies in natural woodland openings are formed from long-lived clones of an individual plant. The flower grows all across Wisconsin.

When the trail splits again, continue left/southwest, as this takes you around the full loop.

A couple of other wildflowers that can be seen along the trail are false lily of the valley, starflower, and jack-in-the pulpit.

False lily of the valley's diminutive white flowers sit on a small spike cluster. Also known as the Canada mayflower or the wild lily of the valley, it produces green berries that turn dull red with white speckles. It can be found in both deciduous and conifer woods throughout Wisconsin.

Though small at only a half-inch across, the starflower’s all-white, seven-pointed flower stands out against its leaves like jewel on green velvet. It prefers moist areas and grows in the state's northern half.

Jack-in-the-pulpit blooms in spring. Its erect 2- to 3-inch long flower sits inside a green or purple hood at the top of a single stalk. American Indians cooked its below ground stem as food, so it's sometimes referred to as Indian turnip. The plant contains calcium oxalate crystals, however, so no part of it above ground is edible, as it causes a burning sensation in the mouth.

Birch Creek
At 0.19 miles, Birch Creek comes into view. By early summer, the upper creek usually is dry.

A short by steep side trail heads to the creek. During spring, the spur is worth taking as the creek spills over a small four-foot drop.

At 0.34 miles, a trail joins from the right/north. This is the other end of the trail at the second split when the hike began. Continue left/west.

The intermittent creek has carved a gorge out of the soft sandstone in the bluff. These rock walls grow increasingly striking as the gorge deepens.

At 0.42 miles, a very narrow, steep spur leads to the bottom of the lower gorge where the creek flows into the Red Cedar River. Due to the sheer drop-off, the trail is not recommend for children. Adults would be well advised to not take it either.

River views
Next the trail curves north. The Red Cedar can be seen through the trees on the left/west. The river flows 85 miles from Lake Chetac in Washburn County through the cities of Rice Lake and Menomonie on its way south to the Chippewa River near Pepin.

Maples, pines, aspen, birch and oak grow alongside the trail. Ferns often fill the understory.

At 0.73 miles, the trail arrives back at the stem leading to the parking lot. Go left/north on it.

Leashed dogs are allowed on the trail. Mountain bikes are verboten.

Topo map of the trail:

Learn about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

Great hikes await on St. Croix/Dunn border

Bjornson Education-Recreation Center Loop

If you find yourself traveling the stretch between the Twin Cities and Eau Claire, a few great trails in the Dunn and St. Croix county border area mark excellent spots to stretch your legs.

Most of the countryside there is farmland with steep wooded areas set aside by their owners for private hunting, but that means the few public trails that do exist are great spots for spotting the plentiful wildlife.

Listed roughly west to east and then north to south, those hikes include:
• Glen Lake West Trail – Glen Hills County Park in eastern St. Croix County offers a plethora of trails amid 700 acres of maple, birch and oak hardwoods. This 0.4-mile round trip begins at the north end of the vista overlooking a swimming beach.
• Glen Lake East Trail – This 2-mile round trip trail heads from a high vista to a campground. Park in the lot at the end of Thompson Lane, northwest of Rustic Road 4.
• Wildwood Trail – Former railroad tracks recently were converted into the pretty Wildwood Trail, which connects the villages of Woodville and Spring Valley. The 7-mile (one-way) trail passes scenic farmland and runs through several small woodlands.
• Eau Galle Dam Trail – Day hikers can walk across the largest earthen dam in the Midwest on this trail near Spring Valley. The 0.8-mile round trip hike sits in the popular Eau Galle Recreation Area.
• Crystal Cave tour – Day hikers can explore Wisconsin’s longest cave near the village of Spring Valley. The tour runs about 0.5-miles round trip through 1,300 feet of passageways.
• Bolen Creek State Public Hunting Trails – Primitive trails cut through this small wooded area near Connorsville. Do not visit this area during hunting season. Park off of 1270th Street just west of County Road Q.
• Knapp School Hill Trail – Generations of kids at the local elementary school used to sled down the school-owned hill during recess each winter. In the 1990s, trees were allowed to overtake the hill, but the trails up the sandstone rise remain. Park in the elementary school lot off of Knapp’s Main Street on weekends or during summer.
• Bjornson Education-Recreation Center Loop – A good concentration of trails is at the Bjornson Education-Recreation Center. There day hikers can enjoy a pleasant walk through woodlands and past a small, spring-fed creek on a 1.7-mile loop, which is a set of interconnecting trails at the 443-acre school forest owned by the School District of the Menomonie Area. The entrance is on 160th Street southwest of 700th Avenue.
• Bjornson Education-Recreation Center Back Trail – A logging road heads down a hillside to a ravine created by an intermittent creek and connects with a trail heading to the center’s main campus. Park in a gravel lot off of 700th Avenue east of County Road Q.
• Gilbert Creek Trail – Hikers can walk along bucolic Gilbert Creek, whose banks recently were restored. This is best hiked in spring or in autumn after a hard freeze when grass is low. A small gravel lot sits off of County Road N north of Wis. Hwy. 29.

Learn about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

Red Cedar State Trail runs along scenic river

Red Cedar State Trail at Downsville, Wis.

Among the hiking gems of west-central Wisconsin is the Red Cedar State Trail, an old railroad grade turned multi-purpose trail.

The wide, fairly level trail hugs the scenic Red Cedar River, passing weeping walls and bald eagles nests along the way. Running 14.5 miles one-way, the trail is too long to enjoy via a day hike. But with its many access points, the trail can be done in segments.

Trailheads (from north to south) for the Red Cedar State Trail include:
• Menomonie – The northern terminus of the trail is in Menomonie’s Riverside park off of Wis. Hwy. 29. Park next to the old train depot turned visitor center. The trail heads 2.7 miles south to Irvington.
• Irvington – Access the trail from the parking lot off of Paradise Valley Road immediately north of County Road D/440th Avenue in Irvington. The trail runs north to Menomonie’s Riverside Park and 4.3 miles south to Downsville.
• Downsville – Parking is in Downsville off of County Road C east of Wis. Hwy. 25. The trail can be taken north under the bridge and over the river to Irvington or 6.7 miles south to the Dunnville Bottoms.
• Dunnville Bottoms – The trail crosses County Road Y at the Dunnville Road intersection. Parking is available directly across the river; you’ll have to walk along the county road bridge to the trail access. The trail heads north to Downsville and 0.9 miles south to the Chippewa River State Trail.

The trail ends with a scenic bridge crossing of the Chippewa River and junction with the Chippewa River State Trail. The shortest route to this bridge is via the Dunnville Bottoms access, but parking lots also are available in Durand’s Tarrant Park and in Meridean along the Chippewa River State Trail.

Learn about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

Several excellent trails cross Dunn County

White pines on Tower Nature Trail.

While most of Wisconsin’s Dunn County consists of splendid farmland, the Red Cedar River corridor running south from through Menomonie to the Chippewa River offers outdoor recreational opportunities.

The bulk of the county’s trails are located in or near the city of Menomonie, the county’s most populous community. The city’s name is derived from the local Native American word for “wild rice people,” and is centered on Lake Menomin, a former marshy area along the now dammed Red Cedar River. It is home of the University of Wisconsin-Stout campus and offers several excellent trails, most notably the Red Cedar State Trail.

The former rail line runs 14 miles along the river to the confluence with the Chippewa River. With a limestone surface and fairly flat grade, the easy-to-hike trail offers great views of the two rivers, wooded bluffs, high rock walls, and plenty of wildlife including bald eagles. In Menomonie, park at the Depot Visitor Info Center off of Wis. Hwy. 29 immediately west of the Red Cedar bridge.

Half-a-billion years ago, much of Dunn County was a coastal plain bordering a sea. It has since been uplifted hundreds of feet with erosion over the millennia and the most recent ice ages reducing the terrain to the fairly flat surface that once existed here. Ecologically, it’s part of the Western Coulee and Ridges area.

Five great trails to hike in Dunn County include:
• Menomin Park Loop
• Red Cedar State Trail
• Chippewa Valley State Trail
• Muddy Creek Wildlife Area Trail
• Tower Nature Trail

Learn about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

How to reach Chippewa Valley hiking trails

White pines on the Bjornson Education-Recreation
Center Loop

Wisconsin’s Chippewa Valley – loosely defined as Chippewa, Eau Claire, Dunn and Pepin counties –boasts a number of parks and trails ideal for hiking. Several major highways offer access to the valley.

From the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, take Interstate 94 east. Trails in Dunn and Pepin county trails can be accessed by exiting on Wis. Hwy. 25, while many trails in Eau Claire and Chippewa counties can be reached by exiting onto U.S. Hwy. 53 or U.S. Hwy 12. An easy to reach Chippewa Valley trail from I-94 is the Bjornson Education-Recreation Center Loop.

From northern Wisconsin and Minnesota, take Hwy. 53 south into Chippewa County. Continue south into Eau Claire County or take Wis. Hwy. 29 west to Dunn County. A good valley trail close to northern Wisconsin and Minnesota is the Circle Loop.

From southern Minnesota and Iowa, either Interstate 35 can be taken north to Minneapolis-St. Paul and then I-94 east into Dunn and Eau Claire counties or U.S. Hwy. 63 can be taken north to I-94, which then is traveled east. A fun valley trail that is close to southern Minnesota and Iowa is the Silver Birch Park Trail.

From eastern Wisconsin, either U.S. Hwy. 10 or Hwy. 29 can be driven east to I-94. A good trail for visitors from that area is Lake Wissota State Park's Lake Trail.

From the Upper Peninsula, take U.S. Hwy. 8 west then Hwy. 53 south. Some excellent valley trails along this route are those at the Chippewa Moraine State Recreation Area.

From southern Wisconsin and Illinois, head north on I-94 into Eau Claire County. Among the first trails visitors from that area can reach is the Coon Fork Lake Trail.

Learn more about nearby day hiking trails in my Day Hiking Trails of the Chippewa Valley guidebook.

Hike heads through rare Wis. sand prairie

The threatened red-shouldered hawks can be found in the sand prairies and
oak openings of Wisconsin's lower Chippewa River.

Topo map of  Lower Chippewa River State Natural
Area footpath.

Day hikers can explore a rare savanna and prairie in western Wisconsin at the Lower Chippewa River State Natural Area.

The state natural area actually consists of several disconnected sites along the Chippewa River, stretching across three counties. Many of those sites are inaccessible, but one interesting area than can be walked is northwest of Caryville and makes for an interesting 0.4-miles round trip hike.

To reach the trailhead, from Wis. Hwy. 85 in Caryville, take County Road H north. Turn left/west into the state natural area's parking lot; if you cross the Chippewa River bridge, you've driven too far.

While there’s no designated trail, an out-and-back footpath through the sand prairie and oak openings runs straight from the parking lot’s southwest corner to a small, sparse grove of trees; simply follow the line of the tallest trees in the grass to the grove about 0.2 miles from the lot.

When Europeans first arrived in Wisconsin, the state has more than 7.7 million acres of native prairie; most of it was plowed under for fields or built on for homes. Today, a mere 8000 acres remain.

The LCRSNAs aim to preserve Wisconsin’s few remaining prairies and savannas along the Lower Chippewa River. The collection along the river contains a full 25 percent of Wisconsin's existing prairies and savannas.

Such state natural areas protect a wide range of disappearing animals. In fact, six state-threatened species – the Acadian flycatcher, cerulean, hooded and Kentucky warblers, red-shouldered hawk, and yellow-crowned night heron – all can be found in the LCRSNA. It is one of three places remaining in the world where the endangered Pecatonica River mayfly still exists. Meanwhile, the rare blue suckers, crystal darters, goldeyes, and the paddlefish prefer sections of the Chippewa and Red Cedar rivers next to prairies and savannas.

Upon reaching the grove, turn back for the parking lot.

A segment of the Chippewa River State Trail also runs along the southern edge of the same state natural area.

Learn more about nearby day hiking trails in my Day Hiking Trails of the Chippewa Valley guidebook.

My latest hiking guidebook now on sale

My latest book, Day Hiking Trails of the Chippewa Valley went on sale Monday. The book lists more than a hundred great family-friendly trails in Wisconsin’s Eau Claire, Chippewa, Dunn and Pepin counties. Among them are the Chippewa River State Trail, the Red Cedar State Trail, the Old Abe State Trail, and the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. Two state parks – Lake Wissota and Brunet Island – are explored as well. The book includes a bonus primer about day hiking essentials such as gear, clothing, navigation, and how to avoid various trail dangers. Day Hiking Trails of the Chippewa Valley is available as a paperback and as an ebook on Kindle/ Ebook versions for Nook, iBook/iPad, Kobo, and other formats are coming out later this month.

Learn about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

Parks, trails abound in Chippewa Valley

Brunet Island State Park. Photo courtesy of Wisconsin DNR.

Wisconsin’s Chippewa Valley – loosely defined as Chippewa, Eau Claire, Dunn and Pepin counties –boasts a number of parks and trails ideal for hiking.

Highlighting those attractions are two state parks. Brunet Island State Park covers 1300 acres on the Chippewa River and boasts several quiet lagoons. To the south, Lake Wissota State Park spans over a thousand acres along a reservoir on the Chippewa.

Several minor state public areas as well as county and city parks can be found in the region.

The Chippewa Moraine State Recreation Area at more than 3000 acres in size preserves several unique landforms created during the last ice age. Hoffman Hills Recreation Area covers a little more than 700 acres and includes an observation tower at its highest point.

Each of the Chippewa Valley’s three largest cities operate large parks. Chippewa Falls’ Irvine Park includes a zoo, cave and walk along a creek. Eau Claire’s Carson Park offers historical museums and a trail near the Chippewa River. Menomonie’s Wakanda Park sits on Lake Menomin and adjoins a game park with nature trail.

Four lengthy trails crisscross the valley. The Chippewa River State Trail runs 26 miles along its namesake from Durand to the Lake Hallie area north of Eau Claire. The Old Abe State Trail heads 19.5 miles along the Chippewa River from Chippewa Falls to Brunet Island State Park. The Red Cedar State Trail hugs the Red Cedar River for 14.5 miles from Menomonie to northeast of Durand. Each of those three trails were built on old railroad grades. A fourth trail, the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, marks the farthest advance of glaciers in the last ice age, and runs for 23 miles in Chippewa County, from north of Stanley to northeast of New Auburn.

Learn more about Chippewa Valley day hiking trails in my Day Hiking Trails of the Chippewa Valley guidebook.

Trails explore Chippewa Valley geography

Chippewa River near Ella, Wis. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

The geography of Wisconsin’s Chippewa Valley – defined loosely as Eau Claire, Chippewa, Dunn and Pepin counties – includes three distinct areas. A number of trails allows hikers to explore the landforms.

The Chippewa River runs about 183 miles from northern Wisconsin into the Mississippi River, where sediment helps back up the river and forms Lake Pepin. Only the Chippewa River’s lower 50 miles from the Mississippi River northward is navigable.

About half of Chippewa County – the northeast corner – sits in the Northern Highlands. The site of an ancient mountain range, it is now a hilly region will virtually no lakes or swamps. It mostly belongs to the North Central Forest ecological zone.

Most of Dunn County, the southwestern half of Chippewa County, and the northern and eastern portion of Eau Claire County are in the Central Plain. Half-a-billion years ago, much of this area was a coastal plain bordering a sea. It has since been uplifted hundreds of feet with erosion over the millennia and the most recent ice ages reducing the terrain to the fairly flat surface that once existed here. Ecologically, it’s part of the Western Coulee and Ridges area.

The western edges of Dunn County, much of Pepin County, and the southeastern portion of Eau Claire County is part of the Western Upland. A system of ridges and valleys make up the area around the Chippewa and Mississippi rivers. This region ecologically also is part of the Western Coulee and Ridges area.

Great trails to explore the area’s geography include:
• Jean Brunet Nature Trail (Northern Highlands)
• Tower Ridge Recreation Area trails (Central Plain)
• Tiffany Bottoms SWA trails (Western Upland)

Learn about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

Trails explore Chippewa Valley’s geology

Waterfall at Devils Punch Bowl near Red Cedar River. These rocks were
formed from sediment at the bottom of a sea some 500 million years ago.

The geology of Wisconsin’s Chippewa Valley – defined loosely as Eau Claire, Chippewa, Dunn and Pepin counties – shows two major periods very distant in time. A number of hiking trails offers access to the geological sights.

While rock can be found in Wisconsin’s Chippewa Valley that dates to at least 1.85 billion years, most of the area’s bedrock was formed much later. Prior to 545 million years ago, the four counties making up what is now the river valley sat off the edge of the North American continent near the equator.

Over the next 50 million years, the bedrock for most of Eau Claire and Chippewa counties formed in the Cambrian period and then in the 50 million years following during the Ordovician, the bedrock for Dunn and Pepin counties developed. Most of the sandstone above this bedrock is visible in road cuts and where the Chippewa and Eau Claire rivers have carved through it.

Much of the geological record between 443 million and 1.8 million years ago has disappeared from the Chippewa Valley. During that time, the area probably lay under a sea for several million years with the rest lost to erosion, both from everyday causes such as rain and wind and from the glaciers that swept through the area.

Much of the landscape today in the Chippewa Valley is shaped by the glaciers of the past ice age, which ended about 10,000 years ago. As the glaciers’ advance stopped in northern Chippewa County, sediment brought from those melting ice sheets formed a thin layer over much of the area’s existing bedrock. How the melting ice shaped the Chippewa Valley – the Chippewa River itself was a major channel for the meltwater flowing into the Mississippi River – is a complex story that varies across the region.

Great hiking trails for discovering the Chippewa Valley’s geology include:
• Big Falls Trail (1.85 billion year old rock)
• Irvine Park Loop (rock from Cambrian period)
• Devils Punch Bowl Trail (rock for Cambrian-Ordovician periods)
• Circle Trail (Ice Age moraines)

Learn more about Chippewa Valley day hiking trails in my Day Hiking Trails of the Chippewa Valley guidebook.

Trail heads through Wisconsin game park

Satellite map of Lions Club Game Park Nature Trail.

Day hikers can seek buffalo, elk, deer and waterfowl up close on the Lions Club Game Park Nature Trail in north Menomonie, Wis.

The 0.5-mile loop at the Lions Club Game Park essentially circles a pond with animal enclosures always on at least one side of the trail. There’s no fee to enter.

Feed the animals
To reach the trailhead, from U.S. Hwy. 12/N. Broadway Street in Menomonie, go east on Pine Avenue. Upon reaching Wakanda Park, turn left/north onto Game Park Road. A parking lot is at the road’s end.

Animal pens can be found on the parking lot’s east side. The buffalo enclosure is on the north side.

Upon reaching the buffalo, head right/east on the trail between the fences. The route here cuts between two ponds.

Though a small game park, the buffalo eat about 600 bales of hay a year while the elk scarf down 12 large round bales. If the animals approach you, don’t be afraid – they’re just expecting a little something to eat, and feeding the animals is entirely okay here. All of them enjoy leftover garden greens, especially corn, and the elk particularly like green leaves from deciduous trees.

Waterfowl on pond
At the next trail junction, go right/southeast. You can go the opposite direction, but that heads toward the freeway so can be noisy.

The freeway, though, is the whole reason the park came to be. During the 1950s when Interstate 94 was being built here, community leaders thought adding elk that could be seen from the freeway would be a good way to bring people to town. It worked, and today people still can spy some of the animals, usually the buffalo, as zooming through.

When the trail reaches the next junction, turn right/west. The dirt road going left/east leads to a street. As the trail heads along the south side of pond, look for the ducks, geese and pheasants that have staked out a claim in the wetlands and wooded areas.

Once the trail reaches Game Park Road, turn right/north, walking along the fenced side back to the parking lot. A couple of animal enclosures are located along this leg of the trail.

Learn more about nearby day hiking trails in my Day Hiking Trails of the Chippewa Valley guidebook.

Loop runs alongside west Wisconsin lake

Map of Menomin Loop.

Day hikers can enjoy a pleasant walk alongside a lake and through restored prairie on the Menomin Park Loop in western Wisconsin.

About 12 miles of mountain biking trails and several walking paths head through the county-owned Menomin Park that is largely undeveloped that used to largely be farmland. A great way to see the highlights of the 151.6-acre park is a 1.9-miles lollipop trail.

To reach the trailhead, from Wis. Hwy. 29 in eastern Menomonie, take Red Cedar Drive north. After the street becomes Domain Drive, turn onto the dirt road heading left/north side. A parking lot is the road’s end.

Lake Menomin
From the parking lot, the trail meanders north through a restored prairie land. At the first trail junction, go left/east, beginning the loop.

The trail then curves northwest along Lake Menomin’s shoreline. The quarter of a mile is forested on one side.

At 1009 acres, Lake Menomin is a man-made reservoir caused by the damming of the Red Cedar River. The lake reaches a maximum depth of 34 feet and sports largemouth and smallmouth bass, northern pike, panfish, and walleye.

As the trail curls east away from the lake, it crosses a small stream and turns south, skirting a small wetlands with prairie on the other side. The prairie grasses can get quite tall here in summer. At the next trail junction, turn left/east. There’s a woods on one side and prairie on the other.

Dogs welcomed
Take the next trail heading right/south. This runs through a forested area.

At the next trail junction, go left/east and then at the one after that, turn right/south. This places hikers back on the stem trail leading to the parking lot.

Great news for dog owners: Fido is allowed at the park.

Be aware that various literature sometimes refers to the area as 3M Park or as Lake Menomin Park.

Learn about trail guidebooks available in the Hittin’ the Trail series.

Tour of Wisconsin’s major trees, observation tower await day hikers near Menomonie

Observation tower, Hoffman Hills State Recreation Area

Map of Tower Nature Trail, courtesy of Wisconsin DNR.

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 sports a lot of steep ups and downs, so preschoolers and young elementary children may have trouble making it all the way on their own. It’s a good workout for moderately fit adults, but the payoff – in views and better health – is worth the effort.

To reach the trail, from Exit 45 on Interstate 94 east of Menomonie, Wis., 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.

You’ll find the trailhead is at the center of the parking lot’s east side. The trail is fairly smooth and wide, usually consisting of mowed grass, though some of the slopes are sandy. It’s mostly shaded.

From the parking lot, the 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.

The two trees dominating this section of the trail played an important role in Wisconsin history. Native Americans from this area used birch bark to make canoes, wigwams, baskets and cups. The maple was used by pioneers for furniture and today is a major source of syrup.

As the trail heads downhill, it enters a large stand of red pines. Also known as Norway pines, the tree is named for a town in Maine, not the country, as it’s native only to North America.

At 0.4 miles, the trail reaches the Whispering Pines Group Camp, an open area with a shelter, water pump, pit toilet, and fire pit. Head north at the four-corner trail junction in the camp.

Increasingly rare white pines
The trail continues uphill for another 0.4 miles, with the trail transitioning from red pines to maples. At the next trail junction, go right/east then in about 500 feet go left/north. Watch for blue jays and chipmunks and in the trail sand look for white-tailed deer tracks.

White pines can be found amid the maples in this section of the trail. During the 1800s, white pines were extensively logged off the Wisconsin landscape. What lumberjacks didn’t finish, modern industrialization may complete; white pines are extremely sensitive to air pollution and are rapidly disappearing.

Ridgelines can be followed along two side trails at two different spots in this area. Each adds about 0.45 miles to the hike, though, as they loop off and back onto the main trail.

As the Tower Nature Trail closes on the highest elevation in Hoffman Hills and the surrounding landscape, red oaks begin to dominate. Watch for the aptly named red squirrel, which likes red oaks, and if you’re hiking during early autumn, listen for the plink of falling acorns as they hit the ground.

The red oaks soon give way to white oaks, which brings you to the hill’s crest. At the top is the 60-foot Greg Schubert Memorial Tower, erected during the 1980s by the U.S. Army Reserve.

From the observation tower’s top platform, you can see about six miles in all directions on a clear day. A pretty quilt of farm fields and woodlands stretch below the hill in all directions.

Skirting a meadow, prairie area
Continuing west from the tower, the trail is largely downhill from the tower. Look for sumac, with its red fruit in fall, in the understory.

At the next trail junction, go right/west. You’ll loop around the hill side as losing elevation, passing quaking aspen and then hawthorne and dogwood along the way. Continue straight through the next junction. The route eventually re-enters the stand of red pines that stretches a fifth of mile to the group camp area.

Turn right/west at the next trial junction. You’ll skirt a meadow to your left and a wooded area sporting white ash trees on the right. An extremely hard wood, white ash is used to make baseball bats.

In about a 1000 feet, turn left/south; if you go straight, you’ll end up in the overflow parking lot. The trail’s last 1000 feet pass through a birch stand. To the right between the thin trees you can spot a prairie area across the park road.

At last the trail ends in an open grassy area with picnic tables, water pump and restrooms. The main parking lot is south of the open area.

Be forewarned that a number of trails branch off the main route, so keep an eye on trail markers and posted maps to stay on course. Should you accidentally take the wrong turn, the trail typically will loop back, but you’ll easily add a half-mile or more to your walk.

These adjoining trails do provide an excellent opportunity to teach older children about map reading. They can follow a printed map of the recreation area, and when you see a trail marker, ask them where you are on the map then compare it to the signage, which nicely includes a “you are here” star.

Learn more about Chippewa Valley day hiking trails in my Day Hiking Trails of the Chippewa Valley guidebook.

Day hike to ‘Medieval castle’ in Wisconsin

Mound Hill Park Castle

Topo map of Mound Hill Park Castle Trail.

Day hikers can visit what looks like a Medieval castle in west-central Wisconsin.

A very brief walk – at most 0.2 miles-round trip – the Mound Hill Park Castle Trail – sits atop a tall hill surrounded by an expansive woods. The castle, located at Mound Hill Park in Elk Mound, closes when snow and ice cover the road leading to it.

To reach the trail, from downtown Elk Mound, head north on County Road H/North Holly Avenue. Go right/east onto Elk Mound Hill Road, taking the narrow one-and-a-half lane to the top of hill. A looping parking lot is at the road's end.

From the lot, walk south to a staircase that leads up to the tower. Made of gray stone, it looks more like a turret of a long-since destroyed castle. It has three
floors with its windows offering great views of the village below and the surrounding countryside.

The mound certainly is a good place to build a tower. At 1220 feet elevation, Native Americans once used the hilltop to spot elk and buffalo herds on the plains below.

Because the mound is among the highest points on the horizon, in 1926 a contractor who constructed U.S. Hwy. 12 to the south erected a flagpole on the hilltop. Then in 1934, a tree planted atop the mound was dedicated as a memorial to county postal workers who'd passed away, with soil from each of their routes placed around the tree.

The Works Progress Administration and Dunn County in 1937 constructed the 25-foot high observation tower. Its stones come from a quarry in nearby Downsville while other materials were culled from a village livery stable.

In 1987, the county closed the park, citing issues with the steep road leading up the mound. The castle rose like a phoenix, though – for the next six years, Elk Mound High School students worked to restore the park as part of a community service project. The site reopened as a village park in 1994 with a new flag pole and lighting were later added.

Learn more about nearby day hiking trails in my Day Hiking Trails of the Chippewa Valley guidebook.

Trails follow Chippewa Valley’s history

Red Cedar River along the Red Cedar Trail

Located along Wisconsin’s Chippewa, Red Cedar and Mississippi Rivers, the Chippewa Valley offers plenty of great trails opportunities for day hikers.

Originally the term “Chippewa Valley” referred to the Chippewa River watershed, but in the public’s eye soon came to more narrowly mean the Eau Claire-Chippewa Falls metro area. As the nearby communities of Menomonie and Durand became increasingly intertwined economically with those cities, the “valley” has broadened to include those towns.

Today, hiking trails in the area tend to offer glimpses of the area’s natural beauty that existed before the logging industry cleared the forests. A number of trails also honor the region’s history, from burial mounds and pioneers to logging and the great railroads.

Before Europeans arrived, the Dakota Sioux dominated the Chippewa Valley, and remnants of their presence via effigy mounds still can be found. The first Euro-Americans to explore the region were the French, and Lake Pepin – which the Chippewa River forms by dumping sediment into the Mississippi River – likely was named for two of those adventurers, the brothers Pierre Pepin and Jean Pepin du Cardonnets. These explorers primarily sought a water passageway through North America to the Pacific Ocean, and portages from the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River brought them to the Chippewa River Valley.

In the late 1600s, Frenchman Nicholas Perrot brashly claimed all lands west of the Great Lakes, and for the next century his country dominated mining, trading and trapping in the region. Archeological evidence indicates several French trading posts existed on Lake Pepin during the 1700s.

With the growth of the American colonies on the East Coast, Native American tribes migrated west, leading to conflicts with the already existing Indian nations. Among them was the pressing of the Ojibwa in northern Wisconsin into Dakota Sioux territory. For Euro-Americans, this heightened the value of the Chippewa River as a route between Lake Superior and the Mississippi River to avoid being caught up in tribal tensions.

Great Britain ended French dominance in the area during the French and Indian War of 1754-63, and when the American colonies gained independence, they claimed the area as part of the Northwest Territories.

Wisconsin became a state in 1846, but most of the population lived in the southern portion near the Illinois border. The Chippewa River served as a major route to the great pineries of the north as settlers arrived in the area during the next five decades. The river also was the main waterway for bringing felled logs to sawmills in Chippewa Falls and Eau Claire and then exporting the cut lumber via the Mississippi River to other parts of the rapidly growing United States.

Two of the most famous children’s stories of pioneers – those of Laura Ingalls Wilder and Caddie Woodlawn – both have their origins in the Chippewa Valley. “Little House in the Big Woods,” the first in the Laura Ingalls Wilder series, is set north of Pepin, while the Caddie Woodlawn tales took place south of Menomonie.

With the great forests logged off and arrival of the railroads, agriculture quickly became the mainstay of communities throughout the Chippewa Valley. Dairy farming in particular dominated with manufacturing springing up in the region’s larger cities.

Among the great Chippewa Valley trails to hike area:
• Chippewa River State Trail – Follows Chippewa River on old rail line between Eau Claire and Durand)
• Bjornson Education-Recreation Center Loop – Heads through grove of towering red pines and past ruins of an old dairy farm
• Lake Trail – Passes effigy mounds at Lake Wissota State Park
• Red Cedar Trail – Parallels Red Cedar River on old rain line between Menomonie and Durand
• Tower Ridge Recreation Area trails – Runs through oak forest east of Eau Claire

Learn more about Chippewa Valley day hiking trails in my Day Hiking Trails of the Chippewa Valley guidebook.

Strange orbs haunt Devil’s Punchbowl

Run! This gorge is haunted!

Topo map, Devil's Punch Bowl Trail.

Short day hike heads into
geological wonderland
in west-central Wisconsin

Intrepid souls can explore an allegedly haunted glen in west-central Wisconsin.

A 0.25-mile round trip trail at the Devil's Punch Bowl Scientific Study Area takes day hikers to a waterfall and a gorge carved out of sandstone. Be sure to also keep an eye out for strange balls of light that many claim maneuver about the surrounding woods.

To reach the trail, from Menomonie head west on Wis. Hwy. 29. Turn left/south onto County Road P then left/southeast onto 410th Street. Look for the parking lot on the left/east side of the road between 490th and 450th Avenue.

The hike begins with a descent from the parking lot down a stairs to the waterfall’s lip, which is made of hard sandstone. By midsummer, the stream is a mere trickle; waterflow is fairly good during the spring snowmelt, though. The water drops into the punch bowl, a gorge through which the intermittent stream makes it way to the Red Cedar River.

Into the gorge
Next, return to the parking lot and follow the trail heading southeast. This cuts along the edge of a meadow then enters a woodlands. Once there, a wooden stairs winds to the bottom of the gorge, which is about 60 feet deep.

The gorge is strikingly beautiful, a fern-covered glen with a light sheen of moss growing over the rock walls, as water from the falls fans out across small rocks in the streambed.

The gorge walls are compressed layers of sediment – aka sandstone – which settled at the bottom of warm tropical sea that covered this region around 500 million years ago.

Flooding from glacial meltwater carved out the soft sandstone around 10,000 years ago. Springs now drip water out of the recessed portions of the walls, which in winter results in otherworldly ice formations.

Orbs and gnomes
Beyond the intriguing geology may be something even more fantastic – strange orbs of light that some have reported at the site. These orbs apparently are able to change their size, shape and color, as they shift between trees. Other visitors at night have claimed to hear disembodied voices and strange noises.

Among the rarer stories is that of meeting small, gnome-like people. The pointy-eared creatures (replete with pointed hat) are about three- to four-feet tall.

The creek can be followed east to the river where it first intersects with the Red Cedar Trail. By late June, though, the creek's shores beyond the glen usually are overgrown and generally impassable – unless you're an orb of light, of course.

Learn more about nearby day hiking trails in my Day Hiking Trails of the Chippewa Valley guidebook.

Wetlands deliver primitive hiking experience

Muddy Creek Wildlife Area

Topo map, Elk Mound Swamp trails.

A couple of wetlands offer great bushwhacking country for hikers in west-central Wisconsin.

The Red Cedar Waterfowl Production Area and the Muddy Creek Wildlife Area are both conveniently located near the freeway in western Dunn County. Though there are no marked path, some deer and jeep trails do cut across both areas.

Red Cedar Waterfowl Production Area
From Menomonie, take Interstate 94 east then turn onto County Road B south. Go left/east onto 610th Avenue; turn right/south onto 730th Avenue. A parking lot is on the road’s left/east side. Cross the road and head west into the production area.

A U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service property, the area provides nesting and feeding grounds for waterfowl. Migratory birds – including songbirds – often can be spotted here in spring and fall.

Though only 336.1 acres in size, the production area is a vital zone for waterfowl, as Wisconsin has lost about 2 million hectares of wetland since gaining statehood in 1848. The Red Cedar WPA adjoins the Strehlau Waterfowl Production Area to its north.

Muddy Creek Wildlife Area
From Interstate 94, at Exit 52 take U.S. Hwy 12/Wis. Hwy. 29 west. Watch for the parking area on the highway’s right/north side. A gated jeep trail leads from the parking loop’s northwest corner into a woods that hugs Muddy Creek’s banks.

Most of the state wildlife area’s 4100 acres consists of marshy lowlands, known locally as the Elk Mound Swamp. But amid the wetlands are islands of prairie and woodlands, the latter mainly consisting of aspen, oaks and white pine. Farm fields along the wildlife area’s edges have been converted to tallgrass prairie.

For ecologists, though, the wetlands are what prove most interesting. As a transition zone, the area is one of the few spots in Wisconsin where plant species from both northern and southern sedge meadows can be found.

Bushwhacking tips
While you’ll want to stick to deer trails or vehicle tracks as much as possible when visiting these two areas, that won’t always be possible. Don’t cut grass, however, and tread lightly no matter where you walk.

Be aware that whether you stay on a trail or bushwhack, the ground can be soft and muddy. Because of this, hiking boots definitely are needed during any visit.

You’ll also want to wear pants as the grass often will be high and wet. Avoid denim pants and cotton shirts, which when wet are difficult to dry out, though a cotton/poly combo usually is okay.

Tall grasses are ideal spots for ticks, but they can be kept off you by wearing long-sleeved shirts and tying each pants leg bottom tight over your boots. Always check your body afterward for any hitchhiking critters.

Learn more about Chippewa Valley day hiking trails in my Day Hiking Trails of the Chippewa Valley guidebook.

Great day hikes abound in Menomonie area

Scene alongside the Red Cedar Trail.

River views, an observation tower, and large North American fauna await day hikers in the western Wisconsin city of Menomonie.

The city – whose name is derived from the local Native American word for “wild rice people” – is centered on Lake Menomin, a former marshy area along the now dammed Red Cedar River. Interstate 94 cuts across its north side and U.S. Hwy. 12 through its center and southeast side.

Among the many great day trails in and near town are:
• Caddie Woodlawn Historical Park walking paths – The pioneer homestead home of the girl who inspired the 1935 Newbery Medal for children’s literature is preserved off of Wis. Hwy. 25 about nine miles south of Menomonie. No formal paths exist, but there’s plenty of space to walk about between a log cabin to a more modern farmhouse.
• Hoffman Hills State Recreation Area trails – Several trails run through the state-protected woodlands, including one around two ponds and another to an observation tower. The 705-acre park is off of 740th Street north of County Road E northeast of Menomonie.
• Menomin Mountain Bike Park – Five miles of mountain biking trails and several walking paths head through woods and fields and over water and hillsides; some of them follow Lake Menomin’s east shore. Access the park from a lot at the end of a dirt road off of Domain Drive west of Stokke Parkway.
• Junction Trail – The former rail line turned hiking trail runs between the city library and Oak Avenue on the north side of town. Park along Oak Avenue east of North Broadway.
• Lion’s Club Game Trail – At Wakanda Park, a half-mile nature walk heads past bison, elk and reindeer. Parking is along Game Park Drive north of Pine Avenue.
• Menomonie Dog Park trails – Dog owners can take Rex and Queenie on a variety of walking trails at the 11-acre park off of Brickyard Road north of Wis. Hwy. 29. Dogs must have license and a dog park tag (the latter is available at a park kiosk near the entrance).
• Red Cedar Trail – The former rail line runs 14 miles along the Red Cedar River to the confluence with the Chippewa River. With a limestone surface and fairly flat grade, the easy-to-hike trail offers great views of the two rivers, wooded bluffs, high rock walls, and plenty of wildlife including bald eagles. In Menomonie, park at the Depot Visitor Info Center off of Wis. Hwy. 29 immediately west of the Red Cedar bridge.
• Stokke Trail – The mile-long trail heads alongside a cascades-filled section of the Red Cedar River between Riverside Park off of Wis. Hwy. 29 (where there’s parking) and Second Street NW near the dam that holds back the river to form Lake Menomin.

Learn more about Chippewa Valley day hiking trails in my Day Hiking Trails of the Chippewa Valley guidebook.