There’s still time to take advantage of those nice late-fall days in Vilas County. Here’s a look at a few scenic trails you can hike in the Northwoods of Wisconsin this fall.
A good way to get started is to download the free Map It Vilas County trails app, which is available for Apple and Android devices and allows you to find trails across northern Wisconsin by location, amenities, and more. It’ll even help you navigate your route without a cell signal—learn more and download the app here.
Fallison Lake Trail, Boulder Junction
This beautiful, hilly trail offers outstanding views of Fallison Lake near Boulder Junction. The trail is located in the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest and passes through a wide range of landscapes, from hemlock glades to bogs to forested sections of balsam, pine, and maple. It’s a popular wildlife viewing spot, as beavers, loons, osprey, and eagles are often seen on or around Fallison Lake.
North Lakeland Discovery Center Trails, Manitowish Waters
Enjoy a stroll around Statehouse Lake and along the Manitowish River at this nature preserve in Manitowish Waters. Twelve miles of trails loop through old-growth forest and along bogs. Through October, check out the Breeding Bird Trail, which has signage that highlights birds known to breed along the trail, including sharp-shinned and broad-winged hawks, chipping sparrows, and pine warblers.
Raven Trail, Minocqua
This trail system offers nearly 15 miles of hiking opportunities through beautiful Northwoods scenery along the shores of Clear Lake and Inkpot Lake. Hikers can enjoy loops of 1.4 miles to more than 4 miles, and there is a designated nature trail that has interpretive signage along the route. Leashed pets allowed when there is no snow; a state trail pass is required for the nature trail.
Van Vliet Hemlocks, Presque Isle
A recently developed trail system allows hikers to explore 400 acres and one and a half acres of undeveloped shoreline along Averill and Van Vliet lakes. The scenic old-growth forest features a mix of hardwood and hemlocks, which gives the trail its name.
Learn more about hiking in Vilas County here.
