Top Ten Hiking Trails in Wisconsin

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Hiking at Devil's Lake

Wisconsin hosts tens of thousands of miles of foot trails. Most of these miles are on unmarked and unmapped logging trails in the national forests Up North.

Vast networks of ski trails, snowmobile trails, bike trails, footpaths, and abandoned roads combine into a labyrinth of potential walking routes. However, the majority of Wisconsin's hikers stick to established hiking routes in state parks and on the two national scenic trails crossing the state: The Ice Age National Trail and the North Country National Trail. Of these trails, the best offer scenic wonders, athletic challenge, uninterrupted length, and amenities for hikers such as parking, water, restrooms, and camping.

Methodology: Absolutely no scientific method used here, no survey conducted. You'll find other great trails in WI, but hike these 10 trails and you will not be disappointed. 

Exploring the Kickapoo Ice Caves

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Kickapoo Valley Reserve Ice Cave - View from within cave K2 on the  maps on this page

At least six ice caves dazzle hardy winter hikers with veils of nature sculpted ice falls in the Kickapoo Valley. One cave is easy to access on a family friendly trail at Wildcat Mountain State Park. Two frozen falls are located on an unmarked trail beside Weister Creek in the Kickapoo Valley Reserve (KVR). Another three ice caves are located at the bottom of a deep ravine accessed by tramping down an unmarked trail in the KVR off Corps Road.

Hiking the Ice Age Trail LaBudde Creek Segment

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Ice Age Trail Labudde Creek Segment

The Labudde Creek trail is an easy 3.35 mile segment of the Ice Age National Trail. The trail crosses the Labudde Creek State Fishery Area in Elkhart Lake. The area features hills that are small and easy rolllers. A stretch of the trail is currently routed on roads. 

Hiking the Ice Age Trail Greenbush Segment

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Ice Age Trail Greenbush Segment

One of the oldest and most epic of the Ice Age Trail segments The Greenbush trail cuts around and through the vast kettles of the Northern Kettle Moraine State Forest. The Greenbush Segment is a moderate to difficult 8.4 mile length of footpath. It is served by a number of parking lots, a large group camp, an Adirondack style backpackers shelter, water pumps, picnic areas, and vault toilets along its densely forested length. The Greenbush segment connects directly to the Parnell Segment and is separated by a several miles from the Labudde Creek Segment. 

Hiking the Ice Age Trail Slinger Segment

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Ice Age Trail Slinger Segment

The Ice Age National Trail has been intentionally routed through the heart of historical town centers. These "Trail Towns" offer long distance hikers a chance to recharge, clean laundry, and stop in at a tavern for a burger and a beer. The Slinger Segment routes hikers between the Pike Lake and Cedar Lakes Segment through downtown Slinger. It is a 2 mile route that mainly follows roads and sidewalks. A short wooded hill climb on the between Highway 60 and Howard Avenue.

Hiking the Ice Age Trail Cedar Lakes Segment

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Ice Age Trail Cedar Lakes Segment

There's a lot of future trail development required before the Cedar Lakes Segment will connect between the Slinger and West Bend Segments. For now the Cedar Lakes Segment is a 2 mile long linear easy footpath that cuts through valleys between the Polk Kames outside Slinger. You'll find a large parking lot off County Highway NN. The trail area includes two other trails so you can make this hike into a 4 mile lollipop. 

Hiking the Ice Age Trail Forestville Segment

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Ice Age Trail Forestville Segment

The Forestville Segment of the Ice Age National Trail covers 9.8 miles between the Sturgeon Bay Segment and the Kewaunee Segment. The trail is very easy; paved with crushed stone and flat. The trail segment follows the Ahnapee State Trail - a Rails to Trails bicycle trail. Through hikers will find camping along the trail and lodging in Algoma.

Hiking the Ice Age Trail Kewaunee River Segment

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Ice Age Trail Kewaunee River Segment

The Kewaunee River Segment is an 11.7 mile length of the Ice Age National Trail. It follows a leg of the Ahnapee State Bike Trail from Kewaunee to Casco - almost always within view of the Kewaunee River. There are many sites and attractions along the way. The trail is also well serviced with campgrounds, hotels, and parking lots. 

Hiking the Ice Age Trail Sturgeon Bay Segment

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Ice Age Trail Sturgeon Bay Segment at Potawatomi  State Park

Sturgeon Bay is the gateway to Door County. The city straddles the north and south sides of a major shipping channel between Lake Michigan and Green Bay. On the south side of the channel the stone wall of the Niagara Escarpment is exposed as it rises above this maritime sea village. Peeking out above the trees and with sweeping views of the channel the Potawatomi State Park observation tower marks the Eastern Terminus of the Ice Age National Trail. Traditionally, this is the end point of a 1200 mile journey across Wisconsin from the Western Terminus at Interstate State Park.

The Sturgeon Bay Segment is a 13.8 mile trail segment beginning outside Sturgeon Bay on the Ahnapee State bike trail. It follows the bike trail into Sturgeon Bay where the trail tracks along sidewalks to the harbor at Sturgeon Bay. It then turns off to northwest and follows along the shoreline into Potawatomi State Park. Eventually, the trail climbs the Niagara Escarpment and ends at a marker installed below the observation tower. 

Hiking at Riveredge Nature Center in Newburg WI

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Riveredge Nature Center

The name Riveredge says it all - it as a nature center wrapped around the Milwaukee River with a focus on ecological education. Riveredge Nature Center provides for an escape into unspoiled natural environments in the Milwaukee metro area. Its strong focus on youth education programming and innovative outreach has inspired naturalist programs at other regional organizations such as Milwaukee's Urban Ecology Center and The Ridges Sanctuary in Bailey's Harbor.

Riveredge features several miles of networked walking and hiking trails. Among the most popular is a trail that follows the banks of the Milwaukee River. This 2.25 mile double loop trail is easy and appropriate for hikers of any fitness level.

Hiking Sand Cave Trail at Wyalusing State Park

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Sand Cave at Wyalusing State Park

The Sand Cave Trail is an easy to moderate footpath at Wyalusing State Park. It begins at the interpretative nature center and heads down the river bluff into verdant ravines as it leads to Sand Cave. A second spur trail loop takes hikers to Little Sand Cave. Total miles for both trails as an out and back adds up to 1.75 miles. Some of the hill climbs on the return trip can be arduous making this a moderate level trail that will require some athletic fitness.  

Hiking the Ice Age Trail Holy Hill Segment

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Ice Age National Trail - Holy Hill Segment

The Holy Hill Segment of the Ice Age National Trail is a 7 mile single track footpath through the Kettle Moraine region west of Milwaukee. The iconic Holy Hill Shrine with its twin towers that can be seen from several counties in all directions sits atop one of the tallest kames in this hilly terrain. Deep kettles and glacial lakes spot the low areas beneath dramatic mounds of glacial till. The trail cuts a winding path through this forested and hilly terrain.  

Hiking the Ice Age Trail Dunes Segment

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Ice Age Trail Dunes Segment in Two Rivers WI

The Dunes Segment of the Ice Age National Scenic Trial is a 2.7 mile linear footpath through Woodland Dunes State Natural Area in Two Rivers WI. This trail features a surprising mix of natural sights: boardwalks through forested wetlands, deep old growth cedar forests, open prairies, and dense hardwood forest.

This short, flat, and relatively easy trail can be hiked by anyone of any athletic ability and is ideal for families with young children. An adjoining loop trail maintained by the Woodland Dunes Nature Preserve allows this trail to be done as a 3 mile lollipop.

The Dunes Segment connects the urban paved Manitowoc Segment with the trail town sidewalk route of the Two Rivers Segment. 

Villa Terrace Decorative Art Museum in Milwaukee

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Portico of the Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum in Milwaukee WI

Perched on a the high bluff near Lake Park in Milwaukee, with unobstructed views of Lake Michigan, Villa Terrace was built as the home of A.O. Smith president Lloyd Smith. Today it is a public museum of decorative arts. It is open to the public for tours and browsing rooms which have been repurposed to art galleries. Villa Terrace is a Milwaukee landmark, recognizable from the lake front and Lincoln Memorial Drive by its signature Scaletta d'Aqua - a waterfall cascading down a staircase descending the bluff. 

Hiking the Ice Age Trail Merton Segment

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The Merton Segment of the Ice Age National Trail is roughly 3 miles of trail and 2 miles of precarious roadside walking. A short footpath follows the Bark River and then connects to the Bugline trail via Dorn Road. Most of the miles are on the paved Bugline Trail. Another short footpath cuts along next to the Oconomowoc River. Some scenic views are offered along the Bark River, but otherwise this trail is a here-to-there incomplete connection between the Hartland Trail and Monches Segment. 

Hiking the Ice Age Trail Delafield Segment

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Bark River on the Ice Age Trail Delafield Segment

The Delafield Segment of the Ice Age National Scenic trail is 2.8 miles of very easy walking along roads, a riverwalk and a paved bike path in Delafield WI. It connects the Lapham Peak Segment to the Hartland Segment. The town center of Delafield is quaint and offers locally flavored shopping and great restaurants. Long distance hikers can also stop to do laundry and refresh food and supplies. 

Hiking the Ice Age Trail Monches Segment

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Ice Age Trail Monches Segment

The Monches Segment of the Ice Age National Trail is a 3 mile moderate level footpath in northern Waukesha County. It follows and crosses the Oconomowoc River. This woodsy trail winds through low lands before progressing up a level 5 mountaineering rated climb. 

Hiking the Ice Age Trail Loew Lake Segment

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Ice Age Trail Loew Lake Segment

The Loew Lake Segment of the Ice Age Trail is a 4.8 mile linear footpath in the woodsy lake country on the county line of Waukesha and Washington Counties. It follows the Oconomowoc River north towards Loew Lake. Loew lake is a unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest. 

A Zoo in Baraboo - Ochsner Park

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Ochsner Park Zoo in Baraboo WI

The Ochsner Park Zoo is a fee free zoological gardens in Baraboo WI. It has expanded from the two pens which housed a bear a goat in the corner of to park to a more comprehensive zoo with exotic animals as well as common Wisconsin wildlife.

Today you can see Black bears, arctic and gray wolves, white tailed deer, llama, snowy owls, goats, barred owls, great horned owls, brown capuchin moneys, a Canadian lynx, ducks, swans, prairie dogs, all while chickens roam the grounds. In 2018 a new River Otter Exhibit is scheduled to be opened. 

Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom

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Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom

West of Baraboo, in the beautiful scenery of the Baraboo Range, the small town of North Freedom chugs to life each morning as tourists and railfans line up to ride a vintage train. The Mid-Continent Railway Museum displays restored rail cars, steam engines, diesels, snowplows, a vintage depot, and a village of restored railroad related buildings.

The highlight of a visit to the Railway museum is the chance to ride in vintage railcars on various themed adventures from the Pumpkin train to the Beer and Pizza Train. With close proximity to the tourist mecca of Wisconsin Dells, the trains at North Freedom are abuzz with laughing and smiling families on any given weekend. Visit the Mid-Continent Railway Museum Website to check out schedules and fees.