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Wisconsin is an outdoor lover’s paradise, with rivers, lakes, forests, prairies and beaches around every corner. The book “50 Hikes in Wisconsin” by John and Ellen Morgan is just the book you need to find the trail that is suited to your needs.

The authors wrote:

A book that represents trails all across the state.

A book with trails that will get you huffing and puffing and sweaty.

A book with trails that would be worth visiting more than once.

A book that offers information about the natural features you will be hiking past.

And most importantly, a book with trails that are only loop trails.

In this book you will find a range of trails with a range of difficulty. The trails themselves are found in 33 different counties. They include hikes in:

State parks, forests, and recreation areas

County parks

City parks, nonprofit conservancies and sanctuaries

University arboreta

National forests

Areas administered by the National Park Service, including a national lakeshore and parts of the Ice Age and North Country Trails

Two of the trails are found on remote islands, unpopulated during the colder months and accessible only by boat or passenger ferry during the warmer months.

Each chapter includes basic information on the hike itself including:

Location

Distance

Approximate time to hike the trail

a difficulty rating ranging from 1 to 5 (5 being very difficult)

A topographic map

An overview of the trail, including natural history and historical information about the area

A step-by-step walk-through of the trail itself that gives information on footing, terrain and scenery.

I was intrigued by the book, so my family and I decided to hike some of the trails recommended. We chose Jersey Valley County Park for our first hike.

Unfortunately the lake was drained, I believe due to contamination. A stream does run through the basin and we saw a few ducks and an egret. Our dogs scared up a turkey on the trail. We enjoyed the hike, due to the beauty of the area and the solitude.

For our second hike we chose Wildcat State Park. The authors write that it is deep in the heart of the coulees and hills of the Kickapoo River Valley that ginseng grew in wild abundance throughout much of the 20th century. Thus, when Edna and Edward Lord showed up at Wildcat Mountain to escape lung problems in the city, ginseng turned out to be just what the doctor ordered.

The Old Settler’s Trail is fun and diverse. The forest of red pines you hike through is very unique. The day was windy and the tops of the pine trees were weaving and creaking, while the rest of the forest was quiet.

“50 Hikes in Wisconsin” is a must read for those who like to hike or if you just want to step out of the rat race and enjoy some peace and quiet. The natural history and historical information for each area is very interesting and the step-by-step walk-through of the trail is accurate and helpful.

Check out our five county branches in Bangor, Campbell, Holmen, Onalaska and West Salem for more books on hiking and other ways that you can enjoy the great outdoors this summer.

Paula Martinmaki is a La Crosse County Library System staff member at the Holmen Area Library.

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