Council Grounds State Park

Council Grounds State Park - Sunset across the Wisconsin River

After another hour driving, home for tonight is Council Grounds State Park.  Thankfully this park is smaller and can be done in about an afternoon.  I wasted no time setting up camp before setting out on the trails. Big Pines Nature Trail -> Unmarked Trail -> Red Trail Right from the campgrounds you can hop … Read more

Big Falls (Kennan, WI)

Big Falls (Kennan, WI)

Another quick waterfall stop in Kennan, Wisconsin at Big Falls County Park & Campground.  Access to the falls is extremely easy via a short staircase from the parking area down to the Jump River. Views down stream are breathtaking in their own right… But views upstream of Big Falls (also known as Jump River Falls) … Read more

Interstate State Park – Part 2

Interstate State Park - Horizon Rock Trail / Ice Age Trail segment

Midday detours were complete and I was back at Interstate State Park for part 2 of my visit.  Goal for the afternoon was to hike all the remaining trails which I was able to complete minus one or two small connecting paths. Eagle Peak Trail Starting from my campsite, I walked through the parking area … Read more

Straight Lake State Park

Straight Lake State Park - Rainbow Lake

Another detour on the way back to my campsite was to check out Straight Lake State Park.  As Wisconsin’s newest park (founded in 2002), it’s still relatively primitive which typically means less people & less disturbed nature.  I decided to take a quick trek around the Rainbow Lake Loop Trail and leave the rest for … Read more

Interstate State Park – Part 1

Interstate State Park - Ice Age Trail western terminus overlooking St. Croix River

Yesterday I arrived at Interstate State Park, setup camp, and almost immediately set off searching for waterfalls in the surrounding area.  Not quite sure I did it in that order, just a habit when I’m camping at a site for multiple nights my first day is always getting the “lay of the land”.  Weather was a … Read more

Copper Falls State Park – Part Two

Copper Falls State Park - Tyler Forks Falls/Dells

Woke early to finish what I missed yesterday at Copper Falls State Park (see part 1 by clicking here).  This time I stayed east of the Bad River and made the loop counter-clockwise.  Still amazes me this was built by the Doughboys WWI veterans and CCC so long ago – can you imagine making these … Read more

Cummins Falls State Park

Cummins Falls State Park - View across the Blackburn Fork State Scenic River

After leaving Waterloo Falls, I was itching to do some actual hiking.  Next stop was Cummins Falls State Park which was only 15 minutes away by car.  Weather today was nearly perfect – sunny and about 60 degrees, which felt like summer compared to what I left in Wisconsin. I started by hiking the Upstream … Read more

Natural Bridge State Park

Natural Bridge State Park

Fall colors are upon us here in Wisconsin.  With a late October warm pattern pushing temps into the 70s, I booked last-minute vacation and hit the road.  Full trip starts here on Thursday 10/19 and ends late Sunday 10/22 – stay tuned for more posts, there were over 10 stops and it takes time for … Read more

Rocky Arbor State Park

Rocky Arbor State Park

Last stop for my short weekend trip on 8/5/17 was Rocky Arbor State Park.  It’s one of the smaller parks (244 acres) and is sandwiched in between busy highways I-94 and Hwy 12.  It can be easily hiked in an hour or two with features including rock bluffs and a variety of plant life. I took … Read more

Bighorn National Forest – Tensleep Canyon Interpretive Site (Redux)

Bighorn National Forest - Tensleep Canyon Interpretive Site

Final stop for me today on the Cloud Peak Skyway National Scenic Byway at the Tensleep Canyon Interpretive Site pullout. A sign adjacent to the pullout details the Leigh Creek Monument, a stone construction left atop the cliffs in honor of English nobleman Gilbert E. Leigh who perished by falling 100 feet off the cliff … Read more