Get out and explore

by Claire Smith

When I think of Wisconsin, three of its most overplayed legends immediately come to mind: cheese, cows and the Green Bay Packers. However, these aren’t Wisconsin’s finest assets. Hands down, Wisconsin’s finest feature has to be its wide expanse of trails for hiking, walking, biking, snowshoeing and snowmobiling, among other recreational activities. 

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Web site crows about Wisconsin's more than 3,060 miles of recreational trails. That’s only counting state parks, forests, trails, wildlife areas and other Department of Natural Resources lands. That is only a small fraction of the overall natural landscape Wisconsin has to offer. However, state-controlled areas are destinations in which individuals can optimize all of the outdoor resources without any question of trespassing.

No matter which area of the state you call home, the natural beauty that Wisconsin has to offer is always a short distance away. Heck, any of Wisconsin’s forests, parks or trails is less than a day’s drive away. Even if you live in an urban area, getting to the “country” or a lake is usually no more than a 20-minute ride. 

So enough already, forget renewing your gym membership, put on the proper outdoor attire, grab any special equipment that you may need and hit the road.

If you are going to be near the southeastern corner of the state, Geneva Lake is definitely worth checking out. The lake and surrounding is a tourist hotspot, especially for Chicagoans. The 26.1 mile lake path is a secret treasure for hikers as well as a sightseer’s dream destination.

The path runs around the perimeter of the lake. The trail can be tackled with a day-long marathon excursion or split up into a few more manageable segments. The trail tours hikers past turn-of-the-century mansions, many of which were erected after the Chicago Fire when many Chicagoans relocated to Lake Geneva while the city was being rebuilt. There are a variety of guides that give the history of the homes on the trail including “Walk, Talk and Gawk” which is available at the Breadloaf Bookstore in downtown Lake Geneva.

Moving onto western Wisconsin.  If you happen to be close to the La Crosse area, take a hike up Granddad’s Bluff to what is considered to be Wisconsin’s best view.  The easiest way to get to the top of this 580-ft. bluff is to either walk or ride up Granddad Bluff Road to the top of the bluff. Once you reach the top, your reward gazing out over the city of La Crosse and the Mississippi River Valley. Whether you stick to the road or venture out onto one of the trails, no trip to the bluff is complete without stopping at the Alpine Inn, located high atop the bluff, for some food, drinks and games.

If you happen to be venturing into Northern Wisconsin, then Nicolet National Forest is the place to be. This hiking, boating, fishing and rafting mecca is located across more than 661,000 acres. It has 1,170 lakes, over 400 spring ponds and more than 40 miles of white water canoeing rivers. If this isn’t enough to convince you to check it out, then be amazed by the 800 miles of hiking trails. And get this: you can camp here too, so your visit doesn’t have to be limited to one day. When you decide you are having too much fun or get too tired, whichever comes first, you can pitch your tent and settle in for an extended period.

My final suggestion for making the most of Wisconsin's scenic trails is located in the eastern part of the state. This state forest is separated into two separate, non-continuous parts; a northern segment and a southern segment. Yes, that’s right. I’m talking about Kettle Moraine State Forest, northern and southern units. These parks stretch as far north as Glenbeulah and reach down as far as Whitewater. More than 100 miles. Both parks feature more than 30,000 acres of glacial hills, lakes, forests and grasslands. These forests aren’t just any other state forest; the Northern Forest is internationally known for its unique glacial features. If you’re looking for a little education with your exercise, check out Old World Wisconsin, located in the southern unit, which is Wisconsin’s largest outdoor museum of rural life.

close this window to return to CURB