Here’s The Ultimate Bucket List For Wisconsinites Who Are Obsessed With Nature
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Daniella DiRienzo
Author
Can’t get enough of Mother Nature and all of her amazing creations? Well, you’re in luck. Here in the Badger State, we’ve got lots of places where you can experience the great outdoors. From parks and trails to wildlife-related fun, the opportunities are virtually endless. Read on for a few of our favorite places to get in touch with nature.
Natural beauty is abundant at this Sturgeon Bay county park, which is most known for its underwater caves and limestone cliffs. Picnic tables, grills, fire rings, a well and restrooms are a few of the park’s other features.
There’s a lot to love about this park, including ancient lava flows, deep gorges, and cascading waterfalls - Copper Falls, Brownstone Falls, and Red Granite Falls. A variety of hiking and biking trails wind through the park, making it easy to explore all its perks.
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If it’s variety you’re after, the award-winning Rotary Botanical Gardens won’t disappoint. Spanning 20 acres, the grounds boast 4,000 varieties of plants, which are scattered throughout 26 different gardens. Bursting with undeniable beauty, the gardens feature an array of themes, including French formal and English cottage gardens.
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Offering 700 acres of wild fun, this sanctuary features live animal exhibits, educational displays, miles of hiking and skiing trails, and an array of wildlife viewing opportunities.
Whether you’re an avid hiker or just looking for a way to spend some time outdoors soaking up beautiful views, Lion’s Den won’t disappoint. Like something straight from a fairy tale, the nature preserve's namesake trail leads through an enchanting forest before meandering down into a gorge. And while the scenery along the way is stunning on its own, the views of Lake Michigan at the end of the hike are out of this world.
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Undeniably enchanting, this 26-mile trail (don’t worry, you don’t have to hike the whole thing) boasts expansive estates, colorful gardens, bridges, stepping stones, and other fairytale-like features.
Founded in 1940, this nature preserve boasts 775 acres of unspoiled landscape. Immersing yourself in the lovely surroundings is incredibly easy thanks to an 8-mile trail system, which is suitable for hiking, jogging, bird-watching, and cross-country skiing.
Wisconsin’s oldest state park just so happens to be home to one of the state’s best natural wonders - the Dalles of the St. Croix River. An incredible geologic gem, the Dalles formed when melted glacier water flowed through the St. Croix valley, carving gorges and cliffs into the hard basalt lava rock that filled the area. In addition to the Dalles, the park offers lots of opportunities for outdoor fun, including hiking, camping, fishing, and rock climbing.
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At 1,565’, St. Peter’s Dome offers seemingly never-ending views of the surrounding Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Along the 4.2-mile hike to the dome, you’ll find a detour to another of the natural area’s perks – Morgan Falls, a 70’ waterfall that cascades over several granite ledges.
A must-visit for any nature lover, this is the only place where you can see all 15 of the world's crane species. Its surroundings are just as impressive since its situated amidst the farmlands of southern Wisconsin. Guided tours, nature trails, and a gift shop stocked with nature-related items from around the globe are just a few other perks of the site.
So, have you been to all of the amazing places mentioned above? Did you learn about some new spots? Have a place to add to this list? Tell us in the comments section.
Can’t get enough of the great outdoors? Click here.
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Featured Addresses
5360 Schauer Rd, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235, USA
36664 Copper Falls Rd, Mellen, WI 54546, USA
1455 Palmer Dr, Janesville, WI 53545, USA
1660 E Shore Dr, Green Bay, WI 54302, USA
511 High Bluff Dr, Grafton, WI 53024, USA
N2062 S Lake Shore Dr, Lake Geneva, WI 53147, USA
4815 N Lynndale Dr, Appleton, WI 54913, USA
Wisconsin 35, WI-35, St Croix Falls, WI, USA
Forest Rd 199, Wisconsin, USA
E11376 Shady Lane Rd, Baraboo, WI 53913, USA