Backpacking Wisconsin's Northwoods: [Northern Highland - American Legion State Forest]


Why visit Northern Highland - American Legion State Forest?

The forest, at over 236,000 acres, covers portions of three counties and has more than 900 lakes within its borders. A variety of recreational opportunities are available, including hiking, biking, camping, canoeing, kayaking, and boating. During the winter, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and snowmobiling are popular activities.

Where is Northern Highland - American Legion State Forest?

Northern Highland - American Legion State Forest is located in northern Wisconsin. Nearby cities, in the area of the state affectionately known as "The Northwoods," include Rhinelander, Eagle River and Minocqua. The forest is located approximately four hours from Milwaukee, 3 and 1/2 hours from Madison, and three hours from Green Bay.  

What should one expect on the trails in Northern Highland - American Legion State Forest?

On our last trip, we visited the Escanaba Trails and the Lumberjack Trails, which are linked by a connecting trail. Forest roads cross the trails in a few locations and can provide a detour, if the mosquitoes are particularly bad on the trails. 

The trails passed mostly through wooded area, and the trail surfaces were primarily dirt, grass, rocks, and sand. In some areas, especially on the connecting trail, the grass was rather tall, and opting for long pants may be a good idea in these areas, even during the warmer months. The trails ran adjacent to several lakes and the Manitowish River, providing scenic views. Expect rolling terrain, and a few steep hills. We encountered several large trees downed across the Lumberjack Trail during our last visit. There were restrooms located near the trailhead of the Escanaba Trail, and there was a shelter with a fire ring located along the trail.

During the late spring and summer months, a high volume of aggressive mosquitoes should be expected. One should also be aware of the possibility of encountering ticks during this time frame. Inspect your body daily, after hiking in the forest, and be prepared with a removal kit, or tweezers, should you find a tick attached to your skin.

The trails are multi-use. We did see some bikers near the Escanaba trailhead, during our last trip in July, but we didn't see any people, other than boaters, once we got deeper into the forest. Year-round hours are 6:00 AM - 11:00 PM, daily.


Are pets allowed in Northern Highland - American Legion State Forest? 

Leashed pets are allowed on the Lumberjack Trail, Powell Trail, and the Shannon Trails.

Pets are generally welcome in Wisconsin State Parks and Wisconsin State Forests, as long as they are attended and kept under control at all times. Pets must be kept on a leash no longer than eight feet. Please remember to properly dispose of any waste created by you our your pet!

Additional information on bringing your pet to Wisconsin State Parks, provided by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, can be found here.


Is camping allowed in Northern Highland - American Legion State Forest?

There are a variety of camping options available in the forest. With modern campgrounds, group campgrounds, rustic campgrounds, and primitive campsites, as well as backcountry camping availability, the forest has something to suit almost any camping preferences.

We highly recommend reviewing the forest's camping page for additional details.

On our last trip, we opted for backcountry camping. While a permit was required, the permit was easy to obtain and was free of charge. For additional information on backcountry camping regulations, as well as a link to the permit application, visit the forest's primitive camping page.


Is there a fee to hike in Northern Highland - American Legion State Forest?  

Many areas of the forest, including campgrounds, do require a vehicle admission fee. The daily fee is currently $8 for vehicles with Wisconsin license plates and $11 for vehicles with out-of-state plates. Annual Wisconsin State Parks vehicle admission stickers can be purchased for $28 or $38, respectively.  


Useful links:

Northern - Highland American Legion State Forest website (WI DNR) 

Hiking trail maps 

 

Check out the YouTube video! 


 

 

 

Location: Northern Highland–American Legion State Forest, 4125 County Highway M, Boulder Junction, WI 54512, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hiking After Work in Tucson, Arizona - [Brown Mountain Trail]

Image
  Where is Brown Mountain located? Brown Mountain is located about 30 minutes west of downtown Tucson, Arizona. Brown Mountain and Brown Mountain Picnic Area, where the trailhead is located, are within Tucson Mountain Park. The trailhead is just south of Kinney Road, on McCain Loop Road. What should one expect when hiking Brown Mountain? The hike is approximately 4.8 miles round-trip. The trails are mostly rock and gravel, with some loose rock present. We would definitely recommend wearing appropriate hiking footwear when hiking at Brown Mountain. The trail is, however, well-marked and well-maintained. While the altitude is not breathtaking, at a maximum of 3,098 feet, it is high enough to provide great views of the surrounding area. There are plenty of views throughout the trail, as there are dual peaks, and a section of the trail is an exposed ridgeline. The views only require a modest effort, as there is only about 400 feet of elevation gain on the trail.  Tucson Mountain Park is g
Read more

Overnight Backpacking Loop in Virginia: Three Ridges Wilderness

Image
  Where is the Three Ridges Wilderness? The Three Ridges Wilderness is located in Virginia's George Washington National Forest, about 30 miles southwest of Charlottesville. There is parking at Reids Gap (at the intersection of the Blue Ridge Parkway and Virginia 664). It's also possible to start from the Appalachian Trail trailhead at Tye River. Why visit the Three Ridges Wilderness? The Appalachian Trail (AT) runs through the Three Ridges Wilderness, which is reason enough to visit. This loop features some spectacular views along the AT and a series of waterfalls and pools on the Mau-Har side of the loop.  What should one expect on the trails in the Three Ridges Wilderness? If you are not accustomed to hiking in the mountains, this will be a strenuous hike. If you are, this will probably be a moderate hike. The trails are rocky and uneven in many places, so be sure to wear proper footwear and watch where you place your feet. Much of the hike is spent ascending or descending
Read more

White Mountains - Day 4 [Franconia Brook Trail]

Image
Despite the rain and strong winds overnight, we had slept soundly and for many hours. As we ate breakfast, we thought about the first foods we would eat once we emerged from the forest. When we began our final day of hiking, only about eight miles separated us from our original starting point.    The brooks, which we would have to cross a few times over the course of the day, were swollen from the previous day's rain. We marveled at the sheer power of the water crashing over the rocks as we left the campsite. Further down the trail, we passed through an area that was somewhat flooded out, due to the combination of precipitation and beaver activity.      While much of the second half of the trip was wet, the sun reappeared to lift our spirits as we hiked towards the finish. As we neared the Lincoln Woods Trail, we began to encounter other hikers more frequently. As we officially exited the Pemigewasset Wilderness, we stopped to chat with a group who had spent the night at Guyot Camp
Read more