Wisconsin has loads of great beaches, and unlike other states, they don't tend to be horribly crowded. But it's always cool to go to a beach that's pretty desolate. One of Wisconsin's best kept beach secrets is a beach up in Madeline Island. We are talking about the beach at Big Bay State Park.
Gorgeous sand surrounds you, and its smooth texture feels great under your feet.
One of my favorite things about life in the Badger State is that we get to enjoy all four seasons. And as wonderful as summer is, there may be no better season than autumn, because there are so many things to do in Wisconsin in fall. Of course, one of my favorite things to do is to get out in nature, hop on a trail, and find the state's best fall colors. I think an awesome place to bathe in the beauty of our state's fall foliage is Interstate State Park, which is not only a beautiful spot in its own right, it shares part of its landscape with two incredible National Park Service units.
Interstate State Park - Wisconsin's oldest - is perched on the banks of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, between the small towns of Dresser and St. Croix Falls along the Minnesota border. A National Park Service unit, the riverway includes the length of the St. Croix River upstream of Stillwater, Minnesota, as well as much of the Namekagon River in Wisconsin. With the exception of a few small river towns, the St. Croix and Namekagon are mostly wild and undeveloped. In addition to NPS campsites and facilities, you'll find several parks along the banks of the rivers, including Interstate. In these stretches, the land along the rivers is jointly managed by NPS and the state or local land manager, like the Wisconsin DNR.
This makes Interstate a wonderful park for enjoying fall foliage, because you'll not only be able to immerse yourself in the trees, lakeshore, and forested trails in the park, you can take in all the splendor of autumn on both sides of the river valley.
The park's trees are mostly hardwoods, like maples and oaks, which means you'll be treated to bright, blazing colors in the autumn. I think the 1.5-mile Summit Rock, River Bluff, and Echo Canyon Loop is the best trail for enjoying the foliage. It's an easy, relatively level footpath that includes stretches of forested trail along the shore of Lake O' the Dalles, as well as the river bluffs.
You can also hike a stretch of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, which is also a NPS unit, in the park. Its western terminus is located on a bluff above the St. Croix River.
Whether you live in western Wisconsin or are looking for a fall foliage day trip in the the Badger State, you won't go wrong with Interstate State Park as a destination. If you want to stay in the park, its two campgrounds have 82 sites. Visit the park on the web for more information or to make reservations. If camping's not in the plans, the Dalles House Motel is nearby. AllTrails Plus is a great source for hiking maps and trail info.
Have you visited Interstate State Park in the autumn? Let us know in the comments, and be sure to share your favorite places to see fall foliage in Wisconsin.
The Breathtaking Small Town State Park In Wisconsin That We Can’t Stop Thinking About
Explore the historic town of Merrill, Wisconsin, and the natural beauty of Council Grounds State Park. Enjoy fishing, hiking, and dining at local favorites.
Merrill is a small town in north-central Wisconsin that's surrounded by the state's gorgeous Northwoods. It was these forests that first drew Europeans to the area when what is now Merrill was settled as a logging camp in the early 19th century. Long before the arrival of settlers, however, this area was home to generations of Ojibwe (Chippewa) people, a heritage that's reflected in the name of the small-town Wisconsin state park located just outside of Merrill: Council Grounds State Park.
Now a bustling community of just over 9,000 people, Merrill got its start as a logging camp known as Jenny Bull Falls. With a prime location on the Wisconsin River, the town is home to several historic buildings and monuments that highlight its prominence as a center of commerce and trade in the region.
Just outside of Merrill, though, you'll find a small park, Council Grounds State Park, that preserves a piece of the natural history - with a nod to the human history - of the area before the town was settled. With access to the Wisconsin River and Lake Alexander, the park is popular for fishing and other water-based recreation.
Anecdotal evidence describes this spot along the Wisconsin River as an important meeting place for the area's Native peoples. Whether this is the case or not, the Ojibwe of the region were certainly familiar with this place on the river, as it lay on the water routes between their traditional summer and winter camps.
What the park does preserve, though, are stands of native red and white pines. These are the trees that first drew loggers to the area, and they are far scarcer today than they were at the time Merrill was settled.
A trip to Council Grounds State Park and the charming town of Merrill definitely belongs on your Wisconsin bucket list. You can learn more about the park and the hiking opportunities there on AllTrails Plus. Check out the state park's page on the DNR website for information about camping and boating. If you're looking for a dining suggestion while you're in the area, I recommend checking out Los Mezcales in Merrill - it's one of our favorite Mexican restaurants in Wisconsin.
Have you visited Council Grounds State Park near Merrill, WI? Let us know in the comments, and be sure to shout out some other awesome, small-town state parks in Wisconsin.
