Point Beach Ice Age Trail - Two Rivers

Two Rivers (Manitowoc Cty)

I joined the Fox Cities (Appleton) Backpackers Group, which is where I have leapt from the safety of my little day hikes to real hiking, with people even. Thankfully my first group hike was not an official group hike, but rather a day hike. An 8 or 9 mile hike (felt like 10 miles). Even while writing this the next day, my hips are on fire.

Things I was smart about: wearing jeans and a sweater. Things that were not so smart: using sunscreen instead of bug spray.

Our trek started at Neshota Park in Two Rivers which is where we picked up the trail and followed it north for a long, long, long time. My companions were Leslie and Ron, Judy and Dan. They all were were in much better shape and I lagged behind for a good part as I stopped to take a few shots. Carrying a full bladder didn't help either.

The lunging garter snake was the best part of the trip. He/She was clearly protecting a nest (I don't know if male snakes even stay after the female lays her eggs, I doubt it).

Joining a hiking group presents a bit of a problem for me. My focus is no longer enjoying being outdoors, but to take photos - not just photos representative of where I've gone, but to improve my skill and to be creative with those pictures that will hopefully inspire others to visit. I don't think I can do both when hiking as a group.

This post is supposed to be about the Ice Age Trail, and not about my ramblings on photography. I will try to remain on task here on out.



Wheretofind:  Heading east from Oshkosh, the drive was 1-1/2 hours, and there was constructions on Hwy 10 that sent us on backroads, which is nice for a Sunday drive, though not so fun when you are trying to meet a group of strangers at a place you've never seen before.

What to expect: Depending on how where you pickup the trail, you could easily hike 10 miles.
We started from Neshotah Park in Two Rivers and the distance to Point Beach State Park is just over 4 miles, then I believe we walked as far as Lake Dr, which is where Leslie's Prius was waiting for us to escape the mosquitoes. I tried getting a fix through Google maps.  There are several places to hook up to the Ice Age Trail.

Rocky Arbor State Park - Wisconsin Dells

Rock and Wood
Originally uploaded by jw_creations

West of Wisconsin Dells (Sauk Cty)

I didn't expect to blog about this park until I had a chance to check it out. Since my introduction to Flickr I have come to appreciate the talents of others to reveal the beauty of Wisconsin in a way that I never could. What I liked most about this picture was the timeless quality - one could just as easily expect to see a wooly mammoth as a couple of American hikers.

This park is only open for camping starting Memorial Day (May) to Labor Day (Sept) with day use available year round. There is a short nature trail and wild raspberries are free for the taking. What information I was able to find on the internet, the description reminds me of what Roche-a-Cri State Park is like. Heavy on the camping, and not much of anything else.

My own trips to the Dells usually entails finding the least expensive way to wile the day without bringing home unwanted visitors. Specifically, ticks. When I make my way to Sauk County my purpose would be to review Rocky Arbor and hopefully find some county parks.

Wheretofind: Located 5 minutes northwest from Wisconsin Dells, travel time from Oshkosh 1 hour, 45 minutes (from Fond du Lac you can follow Hwy 23 west,southwest to Wis Dells).

Kohler-Andrae State Park - Sheboygan

Sheboygan (Sheboygan Cty)

Used to be called Terry Andrae State Park.   I have mixed feelings about this park. It is right on the lake which is great for those who want to avoid the crowd at any other beach and you don't have to go far to get a snack or go to the bathroom. It has a very nice Interactive Nature Center; however you wouldn't know that as I could not find any mention of it anywhere except for the Wildernet.com site I stumbled onto, which I now have bookmarked. It is called The Sanderling Nature Center,

You know, one shouldn't have to work so hard to get information....which confirms yet again why I should continue putting this blog together. Well, enough about me for now.

On a humorous note, the DNR page boasts it being ' naturally air conditioned'.

Typically there is about a 10-degree difference lakeside (don't quote me on this, I'm using my 'feels-like' barometer, though I will accept the credit if I am correct). On most days that means, bring a jacket, just in case.

Where to find: From I-43 take Cty Rd OK/V (exit 120) east, turning right onto Cty Rd V about 2 miles. Cty Rd V will curve left (north) to the northern trail head and P1 Parking, but you to reach the nature center,continue straight on Beach Park Ln. It will fork in a few places but you want to be going south and P3 Parking is the nature center. (map)

What to expect:   * Park Permit required (day passes can be purchased).  Sand, and lots of it everywhere. Lots of camping available, though in reading the reviews on the WILDERNET site, there is a mention about ANTS. Also, there is Looping and Non-Looping, specifically: Creeping Juniper Nature Trail, and Woodland Dunes Nature Trail (ADA segment) -- I don't know if this trail is linked with WOODLAND DUNES NATURE CENTER (Manitowoc-Two Rivers area), that part I am still researching and will update accordingly (at this point I'm thinking there's no connection).

One final note: I am totally thrilled to have found the Wildernet.com site. To be honest, it is exactly what I envisioned this blog to be, but even more technical than what I have the patience for. When surfing, you will have to scroll down to find more information and the Trip Reports which is the the area for reading the reviews, just like my site. And you have to be registered, just like my site.

Parfrey's Glen State Natural Area - Baraboo

(Sauk Cty) see also Devil's Lake State Park

Anyone else misspelling the name of this park? It took me a while to realize that it's Parfrey not Palfrey. Not to mention that it is frustrating when the Baraboo area's websites take you to dead links. I'd rather be rickrolled. At any rate, since it is a State Natural Area, a sticker is required. If you plan to make the trip, make a day of it and get as much use out of that $18 that you had to spend (unless you have a spare $5 for a daily pass).

If being surrounded by rocks makes you a bit squeamish this place is not for you. When I was climbing around Horicon Ledge (Dodge Cty Ledge), the thought occurred to me that the forces of nature will eventually make these rocks unstable and today could be that day.

My curiosity of course won out, and I lived to see another day.



Flickr seems to be the only place online to find the best photos of the places I love to visit, and until I get a decent camera (or learn how to take good pictures, that might help) I will pay my due diligence by paying homage to the author of these wonderful images.


Wheretofind: Travel time is about 1 hour, 50 minutes from Oshkosh, only a 1/2 hour from Wisconsin Dells and 15 minutes from Devils Lake State Park.

What to expect: Rocks, slippery moss, jutting rocks, and boulders that kids will have a tough time staying away from. * Park Permit required (day passes can be purchased). 

If you are a parent and are worried that you kids may hurt themselves, let me just say that they can get hurt here, but unlike Horicon Ledge, there is no Ledge because they hiking at the bottom of the ravine as opposed to having free access to the top of the ledge. If I am wrong, please let me know.

High Cliff State Park - Sherwood

Sherwood,(Calumet Cty)

On the northeast shore of Lake Winnebago, this beautiful hunk of rock was once a working limestone quarry where Hungarian immigrants were housed during the excavations from 1895 to 1956. At the base of the hill (can't miss it) is the only standing building from that operation and tells the story of the miner and laborers and how they fared during this time period.

Apparently there is a 12 foot statue of Winnebago Indian Chief Red Bird. Right now I am racking my brain as to where it is located. I am thinking it is on the upper section by the ranger tower (it's not). On the DNR site, the statue has the power to give us pause to consider the past....(wait for it)... and the future. Was the statue Wisconsin's gift to the Ho-Chunks for allowing their Chief to die a common prisoner? History is strangely mute on the subject.

Wheretofind: Travel time from Oshkosh area is about 40-45 minutes from Hwy 41 North to Cty Hwy 10/114.  From Fond du Lac it's almost an hour from Hwy 55 North to Cty Hwy 114.  Entrance is at Pigeon Road.

What to expect: * Park Permit required (day passes can be purchased). Upper/Lower sections that have natural and paved trails (see map), ranger tower, camping and picnic areas, ruins of limestone kiln, Indian effigy mounds and letterboxing locations!. And there's cliffs.  On the lower section there is a General Store/museum that sell candy and ice cream. I seem to recall also an independently owned shop that sells concession type foods like hot dogs, burgers, ice cream and soda.  This is also on the lower area, nearby a small cemetery.  

Before I forget, there is non-profit organization called Friends of High Cliff whose members help support the park by fundraising events in order to pay for a year round naturalist to provide educational workshops and are responsible for the efforts in preserving it's history.

State Parks

I have a major blindspot for state parks, probably because I hate shelling out money for a park sticker that I may use maybe 1-2 times a year. That being said, there are state parks here that deserve acknowledgment and I would be remiss if I avoided posting those places.