Devil's Lake State Park

Did you know there is an awesome 1,200-mile hiking path that spans the entire state and passes just north of Chippewa? Well put your eyes back in and grab your hiking boots. Massive glaciers sculpted our landscape so attractively that Illinois gets sweaty just looking at us. The Ice Age Trail is a great way to see it all.

Starting in Door County, it swoops down through Milwaukee, brushes the bottom of the state and sticks its tongue out at Illinois before it shoots up through Madison, Wausau, and along the Chippewa River all the way to its finish on the St. Croix River in Polk County where it high fives Minnesota. The trail snakes through towns, dips down through valleys, and soars up to hilltops, rushes through prairies and forests, and provides a heart-stopping view in all seasons.

Bird watching, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, camping, hunting, fishing, biking, horseback riding, and snowmobiling are also great ways to enjoy the trail. You should, however, check for entrance fees, permits, and regulations depending on the area you plan on visiting before you whip out your tent, snowmobile, or horse.

How do you get to it? We have several access points a mere 20 minute drive north of Chippewa Falls at Brunet Island State Park, Firth Lake, the Harwood Lakes, and the Chippewa Moraine National Scenic Reserve. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start exploring!