There’s no doubt that our great state is absolutely gorgeous. From top to bottom and from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River, we’ve got all kinds of interesting geography that makes Wisconsin a truly wonderful great outdoors experience. This road trip highlights just one part of the state and tries to take you to different types of parks, rivers, lakes and waterfalls to see a wide variety of spots. Not only do each of the stops along this trail provide awesome things to see and do, but the path takes you through some gorgeous spots that invite you to veer off the path and check out even more beautiful Wisconsin great outdoors spots.
You can find an editable version of the map and directions here.
Google Maps
- Cave Point County Park
Flickr/ElvisKennedy There’s a ton of great things to in Door County, but this part displays the beauty of the Lake Michigan coast and the stunning, craggy cliffs created by the Niagara Escarpment.
- Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve
Facebook/BarkhausenWaterfowl This under-appreciated marshy spot near Green Bay features 920 acres of wetlands, forest and meadows which are home to numerous plant and animal species. Wisconsin is home to a ton of bird migrations and you just might find some of those amazing species here.
- Peshtigo River
Facebook/ThorntonsRafting There are a ton of great spots across the state for rafting and floating, but the Peshtigo is some of the best rapids you can find. You’ll love getting to see things from a new perspective as well as attacking the river rapids.
- Long Slide Falls
Flickr/Al This long, steep falls cuts through some beautiful rock formations. Make sure you also take a side trip 1/2 mile away to check out Smalley Falls.
- Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest
Facebook/JoshuaMayer This forest spans 1.5 million acres. Much of it is second-growth as the forest was a major spot for logging in the beginning of the 20th century. You’ll find sugar maple, red maple, mountain maple, white, red, and black oaks, aspen, beech, basswood, sumac, and paper, yellow, and river birch. Coniferous trees, including red, white, and jack pine, white spruce and balsam fir are abundant due to a dense second growth. Eastern hemlock are also present as this is the westernmost limit of its distribution. Tamarack/black spruce bogs, cedar swamps and alder thickets are common.
- Northwoods Land O’ Lakes
Flickr/WIDNR This area is what most imagine when we talk about the Northwoods. Dense forests give way to tons of lakes. It’s a stunning spot with lots of outdoor activity opportunities.
- Copper Falls State Park
Flickr/AaronCarlsen The Bad River and the Tyler Forks come through this 3,000-acre park creating multiple waterfalls. Created by the by the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Works Progress Administration, the park is on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Apostle Islands
Flickr/Cedric Dean This group of 22 islands is home to more than 800 different plant species. Stockton Island has one of the largest concentrations of black bears in North America. The sea caves make for one of the most unique lake shores in the country.
- Amnicon Falls State Park
Flickr/KatieWheeler There are four separate, but easily accessible waterfalls here and some of the bluffs and cliff faces feature rock that is millions of years old. It’s a stunning, unique park.
- Big Manitou Falls
Flickr/Doug Kerr This waterfall on the Black River is Wisconsin’s tallest at 165 feet. It’s carved through basalt and sandstone and sits in Pattison State Park.
What other spots belong on a Wisconsin Great Outdoors road trip? Let us know in the comments.
Google Maps
Flickr/ElvisKennedy
There’s a ton of great things to in Door County, but this part displays the beauty of the Lake Michigan coast and the stunning, craggy cliffs created by the Niagara Escarpment.
Facebook/BarkhausenWaterfowl
This under-appreciated marshy spot near Green Bay features 920 acres of wetlands, forest and meadows which are home to numerous plant and animal species. Wisconsin is home to a ton of bird migrations and you just might find some of those amazing species here.
Facebook/ThorntonsRafting
There are a ton of great spots across the state for rafting and floating, but the Peshtigo is some of the best rapids you can find. You’ll love getting to see things from a new perspective as well as attacking the river rapids.
Flickr/Al
This long, steep falls cuts through some beautiful rock formations. Make sure you also take a side trip 1/2 mile away to check out Smalley Falls.
Facebook/JoshuaMayer
This forest spans 1.5 million acres. Much of it is second-growth as the forest was a major spot for logging in the beginning of the 20th century. You’ll find sugar maple, red maple, mountain maple, white, red, and black oaks, aspen, beech, basswood, sumac, and paper, yellow, and river birch. Coniferous trees, including red, white, and jack pine, white spruce and balsam fir are abundant due to a dense second growth. Eastern hemlock are also present as this is the westernmost limit of its distribution. Tamarack/black spruce bogs, cedar swamps and alder thickets are common.
Flickr/WIDNR
This area is what most imagine when we talk about the Northwoods. Dense forests give way to tons of lakes. It’s a stunning spot with lots of outdoor activity opportunities.
Flickr/AaronCarlsen
The Bad River and the Tyler Forks come through this 3,000-acre park creating multiple waterfalls. Created by the by the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Works Progress Administration, the park is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Flickr/Cedric Dean
This group of 22 islands is home to more than 800 different plant species. Stockton Island has one of the largest concentrations of black bears in North America. The sea caves make for one of the most unique lake shores in the country.
Flickr/KatieWheeler
There are four separate, but easily accessible waterfalls here and some of the bluffs and cliff faces feature rock that is millions of years old. It’s a stunning, unique park.
Flickr/Doug Kerr
This waterfall on the Black River is Wisconsin’s tallest at 165 feet. It’s carved through basalt and sandstone and sits in Pattison State Park.
Looking for more Wisconsin waterfalls? Check out The Remote Wisconsin County Home To 10 Magical Waterfalls Is Sure To Inspire You.
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