The weather has changed for the better and this afternoon is blue skies with only partial clouds and some great sunshine. With the lack of available daylight hours I’m wasting no time. Drove out to the Eagle Panorama for a hike on the Eagle Trail. Not surprisingly views in cheerful conditions are better than what I saw in the rain yesterday.
The Eagle Trail starts by heading west and then down the bluff across some rocks that can get quite slippery with leaf cover and from recent rain. Sign posts mark this clearly as “DIFFICULT TRAIL” and I would say that compared to Wisconsin’s geography that is probably accurate (though as compared to ratings of big rocky trails in the western U.S. I’d call this one easy or moderate at best).
Here’s another signpost where the Eagle Trail splits – east is the Eagle Trail, west is the Minnehaha Trail. I included this one to show more of the small rocks, fallen logs, and sometimes muddy holes. More than anything I would say slippery rocks always make me the most nervous especially when heading downhill. Take your time in these spots, going slow is always better than going to the hospital.
In some of the lower areas there have been boards put down to help prevent damage to the terrain and to keep hikers from sinking into mud holes.
Another challenging feature of this trail are the sections of exposed tree roots often covered in needles or leaves making for very effective tripping hazards. Even still overall I would say this trail really isn’t too bad and I’d consider it more moderate than difficult so don’t let the ratings scare you away!
One sign you definitely should respect is the one that says “STAY ON TRAIL LOOSE ROCKS ABOVE.” Becoming a pancake a la Wiley Coyote falling boulders will end your hiking trip quite abruptly.
Some spots also have narrow rock steps which again get very slippery with all the spray from the lake.
Here’s a look at the waves on the lake today. Wind is still whipping even though rain & clouds are dispersed. Five foot waves, cold waters, and likely a good undertow makes for poor swimming conditions so stay dry at all costs!
The entire Eagle Trail runs along the coastline and from here you can see the tiny Horseshoe Island in the near distance across the water. Apparently there are some old residences and hiking trails out there, would be a great kayaking day-trip during the summer under more favorable conditions.
The most challenging section of trail in my opinion are these one or two spots right along the coastline where erosion has collapsed parts of the trail and you have to scramble on very narrow footing. Failing to stay on trail you will end up falling into Green Bay which is more dangerous than you may think.
The reward for traversing the ragged coastline are spectacular views of the Niagara Escarpment cliffsides. There are several “caves” in the cliff right on the trail – not sure if you are allowed to explore inside or not, I chose not to just in case this is bat habitat to help protect from spreading white nose fungus unknowingly.
Another view of the rocks at the base of the cliffs in this area. I’m assuming the caves/holes are created from erosion and fracturing of the stone over a long period of time. Wonder how many hundreds or thousands of years it took to make this happen?
Here’s the most awe-inspiring and humbling view in my opinion. Looking up the cliffs makes you feel very small. Something about being humbled against forces of nature like this always help me put things in perspective.
The remainder of the low-lying coastal trail is slightly uphill with a combination of all previous hazards like covered roots and rocks and sometimes mud. Again, take your time and tread carefully to stay on both feet.
Another sign that should command absolute respect is the “SENSITIVE AREA KEEP OUT” marker. Often times these are put in place due to a vulnerable plant or animal habitat. Help protect natural life, your Instagram isn’t important enough to make a species extinct.
This particular marked location is a bit interesting. There does appear to be a cave in the rocks but I don’t think black bears are in this area much. I wonder what is important here? Maybe it was put in place to protect the rocks against climbers causing damage? Not sure and I was not able to figure out from local park staff either.
Eventually the trail starts climbing more steeply and departs from the coast. More rocky and slippery leaf-covered steps lead us back up the cliffside.
This area of the park also makes up the Beech-Maple Forest State Natural Area. Along the route there are educational signs about things like Beech Bark Disease that impact the ecosystem.
As we continue to climb back upwards eventually you will reach Eagle Terrace, a large rocky ledge overlooking Eagle Harbor. Not shown here but beyond this sign is an access road with lots of parking and picnic areas for families to enjoy.
Historical sign “A Road Less Traveled” detailing how this area of the park is not frequented by visitors as often as the rest of the park. It also details the horrific relocation of Native Americans off their own lands by the U.S. Government, a despicable history written in blood but a history that should be acknowledged so that future generations know the truth.
Today’s scenery over Eagle Harbor is fantastic. Fall colors are mostly finished by now but some yellows and oranges remain on the tree line. This would have looked even better a week prior but I’ll take it for sure.
Here is what the terrace looks like as we continue to ascend the rocky stairs. Disappointing to see all the graffiti damage, but otherwise it is a great sight to behold. I was the only person here for a very long time just enjoying the views. One of the hidden gems of the park.
After climbing the steps back up across the parking area, the return trip to the Eagle Panorama parking lot is a gentle short trail through a quiet part of the forest. Overall couldn’t be more pleased with this loop, if you have the time and physical ability to cover the terrain don’t miss it!
Hiking Data
Here is the track recording for my loop. Starting at the Eagle Panorama you can see the trail leads away to the west at first and down the cliff, then leads all the way back east along the coast. Climbing back up the cliff and Eagle Terrace it then connects back to the start atop the bluffs.
Distance for the loop is just shy of 2.2 miles and elevation gain is right around 200 feet. As you can see from the graph, most of the elevation is in a very short section both on the way down and back up.
