This Rural Road Trip Will Lead You To Some Of The Best Countryside Hidden Gems In Wisconsin
By Ben Jones|Published August 10, 2022
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Ben Jones
Author
Ben Jones is at heart an adventurer who delights in inspiring others. A former reporter and photojournalist, he explored towns large and small as a Wisconsin correspondent for USA Today. He later became a lead photographer and senior copywriter for an award-winning destination marketing agency, before founding Boldland Creative, a company that produces photography, video, and other content for travel destinations. Jones has completed photography and content projects in more than 15 states and when he’s not looking through a camera or at his Macbook you’ll find him exploring the world’s lakes and forests.
The secret is out on many of Wisconsin’s beautiful parks, but when you’re waiting in line on a park road, or jockeying for parking, you might wonder if you’ve truly getting away from it all. So if you want to enjoy a little peace and solitude, rest assured there are some wonderful natural areas that are just waiting to be discovered! Here’s a rural road trip through the beautiful Wisconsin countryside that will take you to five awesome hidden gems.
The drive travels east to west and covers nearly 100 miles. It takes a little over two hours to do the drive, although you’ll want to allow more time to take in the natural areas on the route.
This 200-acre natural area in Ozaukee County is completely undeveloped – be prepared for a hike through the fields. You’ll be treated to the sight of a pristine 26-acre lake that has a shoreline that’s completely undeveloped. Enjoy the beauty and solitude of a truly wild place.
This natural area in Washington County is part of the Kettle Moraine State Forest. The property is actually two separate parcels and both are rich in wildlife and have terrain that was sculpted by glaciers that moved through Wisconsin thousands of years ago.
This natural area in northwestern Washington and northeastern Dodge counties is as vast as it is beautiful. The property includes 5,500 acres of state-owned land and 300 acres of publicly accessible easements. The property includes wetlands, marsh and forest, as well as the East Branch of the Rock River. If you enjoy bird watching, you’ll love this parkland!
The next stop on our road trip takes us to a nearly 1,600-acre natural area in Columbia County. The Paradise Marsh State Wildlife Area is covered by sweeping grasslands, vast wetlands, and a lush wooded area. It's a great chance to see what the landscape of Wisconsin was like, long before settlers developed the land.
This 2,500-acre property is just east of Portage in Columbia County. It includes beautiful Swan Lake and it’s a great place to see migratory birds.
Once you’ve taken in this beautiful stretch of Wisconsin via the above rural road trip, here are some more awesome ideas for unforgettable Wisconsin road trips to tackle!
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