It was a hot, late summer day, and I just wanted to put my feet in a clear water stream…read more My husband suggested Scuppernong Springs as a possible option. We'd never been but decided to give it a try. We had heard it was a brook trout habitat so my husband brought his fishing gear. There may be some spots to fish but I think you'd have to veer farther off the main trails than we did, so we didn't actually get in any fishing. But, since that was an afterthought, no matter! Did I dip my toes in a clear stream? I did. There's one main trail and several others that branch off from the main trail. We were able to wander a bit, dip our toes in a spot where the spring is coming straight out of the rocks, see what looks like boiling sand (spring water bubbling out of the sand), and wander through the rocky stream with our pants rolled up trying to get a pic of a water snake eating a fish like we were kids. It's a beautiful area for a hike and can't recommend the toe dipping enough. Get to it!

This trail is an excellent alternative to the longer, more strenuous nearby Scuppernong Trails just…read moreeast of here. But unlike those color coded trails, there's more to see along this 1.2 mile trail. Some of the springs are just mesmerizing. Seeing water bubble up from underwater sands is almost hypnotic. Other springs flow out of the ground and hillsides. Although shorter than even the shortest of the neighboring trails, definitely plan on spending an hour here, you'll be stopping often to take in the many features along the trail.

We were driving from Madison to Kopps in Brookfield and decided to stop by this forest since we've…read morepassed it so many times. We parked at the south unit, where there's plenty of parking, and set out on the trail during the first week of September. Be prepared for mosquitoes; definitely bring repellent and consider wearing dark-colored clothing. The trails are generally well maintained, though some areas have taller shrubs. We saw a couple of Indian springs. Overall, it's a fairly easy and enjoyable hike.

The Kettle Moraine State Forest (southern unit) encompasses a few campgrounds, many hiking trails,…read moreOttawa Lake, and is home to two of the best mountain biking trails in the State. Easily accessible from Madison, Milwaukee, Chicago, it feels remote without being too far from the closest cities. I've camped in the Pinewoods Campground here for many falls- and biked both the Emma Carlin and John Muir Trails. The mountain biking is great, but (as a novice) I always bump the given difficulty levels up a notch. Medium is Difficult, etc. Ottawa Lake campgrounds is good for families who want direct access to the Lake. The Lake has a beach, a fishing pier, a dog pier, kayak/canoe launch. Pinewoods sites are actually really secluded. True to name, they're amongst towering pines. The facilities are cleaned once a day. Scuppernong Trail is a great system of a few hikes amongst the pines, and the Scuppernong Springs Nature Trail is an easy hike with bubbling springs, that the family will love.

Easy access from Road ZZ, Dousman, WI. $8 parking fee (Wisconsin residents) or $11 (non-residents)…read more Annual passes also available ($28 residents; $38 non-residents). Plentiful parking. Clean restroom with pit toilets. Picnic tables. Benches. We enjoyed a 3.2 mile hike here. The "red loop" is a 2.3 mile loop to/from the parking lot. We wanted to cover a bit more distance -- so we added a portion of the green loop and the lollipop loop to the observation overlook. (Total distance was 3.2 miles with the amended route). The red loop is the park service as "short and narrow with steep terrain. You'll pass through pine plantations and hardwood forest." We particularly liked this segment, shaded and with the scent of pine. It also appears that some recent work has been done to clear underbrush. The segment of the "green loop" that we did is described as "a roller coaster of hills that you won't soon forget." We found this to be accurate. The trails are well-maintained, with excellent signage along the way. There are regular signs that identify where you are on maps, as well as regular blazes. There are regular benches if you want to stop for a snack. Much of these trails are at least partially shaded with only limited segments and times (noon!) that are in full sun. We saw a fair number of other hikers, perhaps a total of 10-12, even on a Wednesday morning. We also saw a bit of wildlife -- a very fat turkey, butterflies, and bumblebees. (there are also supposed to be ticks, so be careful). Two thing prevent me from giving a 5-star rating. (1) park policy allows pets on the hiking trails if they're on a leash. However, all SIX dogs that we saw were off-leash until the owner saw us. In one case, a large dog came running towards us (with no owner in sight) while we were eating our lunches. Thankfully, he obeyed when my husband told him to sit. (Full disclosure. I'm rather afraid of dogs after having been bit). (2) the park also allows hunting, and suggestions to wear bright clothing and to inquire about hunting seasons. However, no park personnel were on-site and, signage suggested that there's a long-g-g hunting season (Sept 1 to end of May). (May 10, 2023).

A great trail close to the Milwaukee area. Scuppernong has three different trails, intermediate…read moreand advanced levels. My husband & I really enjoyed it. The area is very clean, and very well kept. I highly recommend to check the Ice Age Trail website before visiting. They have great resources to prepare you for your visit, and even suggestions on where to go in the area depending on your type of visit.m, as well. This is a trail for active people, who are looking to be out in natural trails. Come early, and you'll feel like you have the place to explore all to yourself.

Really enjoyed the terrain and the trail. The paths are clearly marked in some areas, but once you…read moreenter the open park, there are no signs and clear paths to continue the trail. The volunteers have done an exceptional job clearing the debris so that all hikers can enjoy a pretty lengthy distance. It's great to bring your pets along for the hike. There are a few parts where the steps and incline are quite steep-- so be cautious.

Easy segment with lots of exposure to sun. The low lying land can accumulate rain and cause a…read morebunch of mud though.

This beautiful park is located about 15 minutes east of the I-94 freeway. There is a driveway that…read moreleads to a large parking lot far enough away that one cannot hear automobiles from the adjacent road. The park hosts a large pavilion (it can be rented out) with a lot of picnic tables that are like brand new, grills, nice indoor bathrooms, a softball diamond, a large playground, a basketball goal, a sand volleyball court, horseshoe pits, and plentiful areas for picnics. During the time of my first visit, I was unable to explore the hiking trails that lead through the natural areas of prairies, woodlands, and wetlands. However, I was able to enjoy the tranquility of the surround landscape while discussing upcoming plans with friends. There were a couple family with kids playing at the playground and a man walking his dog along the edge of the manicured lawn and prairie plants. The lights are on a timer at the Pavilion and turned on at dusk. The women's restroom was clean and I did not see any spiders (this is extremely important to me.... I hope it continues to remain spider free!). After a Google search, I discovered this park was created recently to serve as a "pollinator paradise" that also slows runoff from the surrounding landscape into the Pike River. *my heart* It's everything I went to graduate school for and then some. This is an ideal place for a nature hike, meeting, taking your kids to play, picnic, family reunion, bridal/baby shower, etc. I was really impressed with the up-keep. Although it is a 35 minute drive, I plan on returning to explore the hiking trails with my pup and meeting up with friends. This is definitely a successful project that was completed by Mount Pleasant and Root-Pike WIN (with assistance from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, Fund for Lake Michigan, and other partnerships). 5 stars!!!

I stopped in for a quick visit on a beautiful afternoon. The sun was shining, it was quiet and I…read morefelt perfectly at ease in this beautiful setting. I pulled in and got out of my car wondering what I was going to see. There was a cute round stone table with seating, tons of beautiful trees and a very well manicured walking path. Since the day was so lovely, I took my time and enjoyed the solitude. Being a weekday afternoon, I only saw one other couple going for a stroll. There is a map that lays out the walking trail. It consists of a nice big circle approximately a mile long. There is sun and shade on the trail. This was my first visit but I can imagine this trail being gorgeous in all four seasons. I highly recommend visiting here if you are looking for an easy hike that isn't too long or too steep. Next time I'll visit the adjoining Ten Chimneys when it is open.

When I visit the Elkhorn Wisconsin area I always make time for a hike on the beautiful Nordic…read moretrails. They offer seven trails brteeen .6 and 9.2 miles, which are designated as beginner, intermediate, or advanced. The 2 mile red intermediate trail is perfect as it's about 45 minutes and gets your heart pumping with some steeper elevations.

Quiet, serene and peaceful are words that come to mind when hiking through the Nordic Trail Head. A…read morebreathe of fresh air and a totally enjoyable experience. We haven't even touched a fraction of the trails available to hike down here. This particular location is in the Southern Kettle Moraine forest and takes about an hour or so to get to out of Milwaukee. It is across the street from the famed mountain bike course, John Muir trail system. We were so kindly given some advice and it was wisely heeded. The trails we went on were excellent. Rolling hills and bluffs, some in the woods and some not. Either way we took a 4.5 mile-ish jaunt through the area and were just in awe! It was simply spectacular! Wisconsin in general has some of the best well marked trails one could ask for. We spent most of the time with our dog off leash walking the trail as the place was literally dead! I think that this trail goes slightly unnoticed because of the mountain biking trail next door. This equaled a win win for us! We will be back soon as I want to do the entire 9 mile stretch. Love some Wisconsin hiking! It is the best!

This is one of the best things I've done in Wisconsin EVER. I'm so mad I didn't take this walk…read moresooner. We started near the library and walked a little over 2 miles, and then back (4.4 miles total). The homes, lake, landscaping, scenery is just amazing. I am going to come back and hope to do other areas of the path. The 2 miles we did do not have any bathrooms, so plan ahead! There was plenty of road parking, but you DO have to pay parking meter.

Lake Geneva Shore Path runs along the entire lake. On the 26 mile path you'll pass historic estates…read morewith beautifully sculptured gardens and landscapes. History serves that 2500 BC to 1836 AD Chief Big Foot and his Potawatomi tribe walked this path between their villages. The path has been preserved nicely by all the estate owners that live on the lake. The path is rugged in places made up of brick, wood, stones, boulders and slate. It's an enjoyable walk with plenty of breathtaking views and colorful inlets that change in the seasons!