Wolf River Dalles & Tea Kettle Rapids

Wolf River Dalles

Menominee County is chock full of amazing natural beauty along the Wolf River.  Next spot is a 2-for-1 starting at Tea Kettle Rapids which is more of a small shelf waterfall but called rapids by name. Just a few hundred yards downstream is also Wolf River Dalles.  This is the best photo I could get … Read more

Big Smokey Falls

Big Smokey Falls - Downstream view above the first falls

From Big Eddy Falls it only takes a short & scenic drive north on WIS 55 to reach Big Smokey Falls.  The area is open to the public but I’ve heard they sometimes charge a $5 fee during the peak summer months.  Views upstream on the Wolf River are quite serene by contrast. A large … Read more

Keshena Falls

Keshena Falls - Main falls view

My journey today is now carrying me into Menominee County through the Menominee Indian (Native American) reservation.  Next destination is Keshena Falls, an amazing waterfall & rapids on the Wolf River. A small bridge allows the road to cross the largest rapids.  The river gets very wide in this spot and splits around a central … Read more

Gilmer Falls

Gilmer Falls - Looking downstream above main falls

Welcome to the start of my July road trip circling the state of Wisconsin!  First stop is at Gilmers Falls (aka as Ziemers Falls) on the Red River in Gresham, Wisconsin.  Access is very easy by hiking down a very short slope from a dirt parking area. Swarms of White Admiral butterflies were sunning themselves … Read more

New Glarus Woods State Park

New Glarus Woods State Park - Havenridge Nature Trail

Starting to head back towards home but had enough time to visit New Glarus Woods State Park in New Glarus, Wisconsin for a quick hike. The park is on the smaller side with only one main parking lot (camping is available here too but is small & crowded for my likings).  I started on the … Read more

Yellowstone Lake State Park

Yellowstone Lake State Park - Lake View

For this weekend’s trip I decided to stay at Yellowstone Lake State Park in Blanchardville, Wisconsin.  The park seems popular for fishing & boating but not so much for the hiking trails – time for me to figure out why. The 455-acre lake is a man-made reservoir created by damming the Yellowstone River.  I’m finding … Read more

Gibraltar Rock

Gibraltar Rock State Natural Area

Our short ferry ride across Lake Wisconsin was specifically because it’s the fastest way to reach Gibraltar Rock State Natural Area from the north.  This is also a section along the Ice Age Trail. The trail is mainly pine and cedar but has a wide variation depending on where you are.  Trails today were quite … Read more

Parfreys Glen

Parfreys Glen State Natural Area - Parfreys Glen Falls

No more taking chances – our next destination was a surefire 5-star hiking and waterfall experience at the beloved Parfreys Glen State Natural Area.  We arrived relatively early and even got parking inside the parking lot (and not down the street!). The trail is a 1.1 mile in & out hike that starts very easy … Read more

Dells of the Wisconsin River

Dells of the Wisconsin River State Natural Area - Green Shelf Fungi

Our next hike was another 50/50 shot – this time we are trying to see the waterfalls at Witches Gulch from above without paying the $30 boat tour costs.  Trail head can be found north of Chula Vista resort on River Road and is simply labeled on maps as “Dells of the Wisconsin River“. No … Read more

Pewits Nest State Natural Area

Pewits Nest State Natural Area – Cliffs on Lower Trail

Next stop was a 50/50 chance at seeing some amazing waterfalls and a rocky gorge at Pewits Nest State Natural Area. The trail here is composed of crushed gravel and seems very new.  It also appears the wooden fences are very new.  First we tried to access on the path to the right of this … Read more