More than 100 years ago, a woman sat in the forest, listened to the sound of the wind in the trees, and imagined a cathedral. In those days, the forest was disappearing, because of fast-moving logging operations across the Northwoods. But thanks to this woman’s recognition of a special place, these old trees were saved and the area is now one of the state’s most magical hiking spots. Here’s what you need to know about this lovely old-growth forest in Wisconsin.

You’ll find Cathedral Pines in Oconto County, within the Chequamegn-Nicolet National Forest. The trailhead is less than three miles southwest of Lakewood.
Alltrails / Nancy Vrabec
There are a lot of beautiful places in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. The forest covers more than 1.5 million acres, and while it feels wild, beautiful, and pristine, most of it was logged in the early 20th century.
Alltrails / Rachel Ingram
Not all the trees fell to the saws of loggers though. In the early 1900s, a woman named Lucy Rumsey Holt brought her children to the area that’s now Cathedral Pines. She was moved by the sound of the wind through the towering trees that reminded her of a cathedral.
Alltrails / Samantha Rushing

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She persuaded her husband, William, to spare the area from logging – he was head of a big logging company. He agreed and the land was protected forever.
Alltrails / Nancy Vrabec
The land stayed in the family for many years before it was sold to the U.S. Forest Service in 1968. Today a hiking trail gives visitors a taste of what Wisconsin was like before European settlers arrived.
Alltrails / Nancy Vrabec
The hike has a steep section but the trail is magical. The massive conifers began growing here between 1735 and 1740 – decades before the United States was a country!
Alltrails / Samantha Rushing

The property has a small gravel parking lot and the trail is less than a half-mile long. Take your time though, and enjoy the magic of this old-growth forest in Wisconsin! Learn more on the state Department of Natural Resources website. If you love wild trails, here are some that will take you through every month of the year!

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Cathedral Pines State Natural Area, Cathedral Dr, Lakewood, WI 54138, USA