Wisconsin hiking guide says fall, winter are best times to explore the outdoors

As a kid living in Grafton, Kenneth Casper was drawn to Wisconsin’s many hiking trails as a way to experience the great outdoors. 

Even when he left the state for a short time to live in Connecticut as an adult, his passion for hiking continued, and so did his love for blogging his travels.

When he returned to the Badger state, Casper set out to hike the entire Ice Age Trail in 2014. That’s when he launched the Wisconsin Explorer blog, meant to serve as a resource for other outdoor enthusiasts. 

“There’s always something in the great outdoors that really speaks to me,” he told WPR’s “Morning Edition”.

Since starting the blog, Casper has traveled to nearly 300 places throughout Wisconsin to bike, camp, canoe and hike. 

He has, of course, spent time on the popular Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and the North Country Trail in northern Wisconsin. But the state offers more than 2,500 trails and several “fall off the radar,” he said. 

Casper shared his favorite fall recreation destinations with WPR host Alex Crowe.  

The following has been edited for clarity and brevity.

Alex Crowe: Where have you been so far this fall?

Kenneth Casper: In September, I was up in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness for a week. Then, in late September, we had a run of really good weather. I went to a place up the road from Eagle River called Sylvania Wilderness, which is across the border in (Michigan’s) Upper Peninsula. It was a fantastic trip. It was really colorful with the leaves and I got a great show of Northern Lights. I had a terrific time for four days just pedaling and fishing in the wilderness.

AC: What are some other places you recommend going to this time of year?

KC: I like to do most of my canoe camping in the northern part of the state.

One of the best places I found this year is the Northern Highlands American Legion State Forest. There’s flatwater, lakes, rivers and they’re all connected by portages. You can find free campsites at the last minute and you can get immersed in the wilderness. 

As we’re progressing through the later portion of fall, it’s better to focus your hiking and outdoor activities on the southern part of the state. My favorite is the Driftless area. There are a lot of hills and rivers and plenty of forests. 

AC: Is there any place that you’re planning to go that people should also consider?

KC: I might find my way to Richland Center, and then drive toward the heart of the Driftless area, which is the Kickapoo River Valley Reserve. Along that path, you’ll be able to stop at places like the Pier County Park–Rockbridge, which is this really interesting short hike. You go through a stone tunnel and come out by a little creek. There are plenty of fall colors to see there.

Then, you hop back in the car and make your way up to Wildcat Mountain State Park. There are a number of great hikes. My favorite one there is the Hemlock Trail, which is on the other side of the road from the state park. It starts down by the canoe launch.

It’s a pretty hard trail because it’s a lot of climbing, but you are in the trees and you have beautiful views of the Kickapoo River along the way.

AC: Where should people go that aren’t as well known?

KC:  As we make our way through November, one thing that people don’t think about is off-the- grid camper cabins. In the Burnett County Forest, you can reserve it and you hike in just a couple miles. There’s no electricity or plumbing, but there is a pot belly stove so you can be warm, stay overnight and be really immersed in the wild.

One of my favorite times of the year for hiking is actually in winter, so if you have the right gear, if you dress appropriately, you can always be out there, and you’ll be surprised at what you encounter.