Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest

Located in the extreme northwest portion of Wisconsin, Chequemegon-Nicolet (sho-wah-magon) National Forest encompasses more than 800,000 acres of pristine forest, lakes and streams, offering unparalleled opportunities for hiking, swimming, canoeing, kayaking and fishing. For hardcore hikers, sixty miles of the 3,240-mile-long North Country National Scenic Trail goes through the Chequamegon. The trail stretches through New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin and North Dakota and is managed in its entirety by the National Park Service. The other two hundred miles of trails interlacing the forest are good for all levels of ...

Located in the extreme northwest portion of Wisconsin, Chequemegon-Nicolet (sho-wah-magon) National Forest encompasses more than 800,000 acres of pristine forest, lakes and streams, offering unparalleled opportunities for hiking, swimming, canoeing, kayaking and fishing. For hardcore hikers, sixty miles of the 3,240-mile-long North Country National Scenic Trail goes through the Chequamegon. The trail stretches through New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin and North Dakota and is managed in its entirety by the National Park Service. The other two hundred miles of trails interlacing the forest are good for all levels of hiking. The four-mile-long Black Lake Trail tells the history of logging in the area and how growth was re-started in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Core (CCC) and the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Hiking St. Peter’s Dome Trail will bring you to the highest point in the forest, or hike the shorter interpretive trails with signposts describing the abundant flora, fauna and wildlife. And, once the winter snow flies there’s cross country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and dog-sledding.

About the Expert

Frances Folsom is the author of CitySpot Palermo, a contributor to the Reiskits guides to Milan and Italy's Lakes Region, and Thomas Cook's Independent Traveller USA.