21 Of The Best Places To Go Hiking In Wisconsin

Wisconsin is a beautiful state with tons of great hiking trails. Whether you are looking for an easy hike for the whole family to enjoy or a more difficult hike to challenge yourself, there’s sure to be a Wisconsin hiking trail you will love. Here are 21 of the Best Places to Go Hiking in Wisconsin, organized by difficulty level. We’ll start with the easiest hikes first.

Easy Wisconsin Hiking Trails

These trails are perfect for families with young kids and hikers of all ages who want to enjoy some natural beauty on hikes that aren’t too demanding. Some of these Wisconsin hiking trails are also accessible for wheelchairs and strollers.

Sentinel Trail to Lone Pine Trail Loop

Peninsula State Park, Fish Creek

Starting off our list of best places to go hiking in Wisconsin, this popular 2.1 mile loop located in Peninsula State Park is flat and well-marked, making it a great Wisconsin hiking trail for families. You will walk through a hardwood forest full of beautiful trees and plenty of shade. Make sure to check out Eagle Tower, a fully accessible 850-foot walkway through the trees ending at a 63-foot tower with incredible views of the forest and Green Bay. People of all mobility levels, including strollers and wheelchairs, can enjoy the tower with ease using the fully paved walkway.

Green Tree Loop

Schlitz Audubon Nature Center, Milwaukee

The Green Tree Loop is an accessible Wisconsin hiking trail looping around the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center. This is a very easy trail, great for all skill levels with lovely views of trees and meadows. You’ll end up at the Mystery Lake Boardwalk where you can find all sorts of wildlife including frogs, turtles, and native birds such as Tree Swallows, Baltimore Orioles, and the Great Blue Heron. If you want to get your heart rate up, check out the 60-foot observation tower for incredible views of the surrounding area, including Lake Michigan. Before you leave, stop in at the nature center to enjoy the art, live animals, and interactive exhibits.

Bay View Trail

Big Bay State Park, Madeline Island

If you enjoy scenic water views, you will love this hike on Madeline Island. The views of the rocky coastline and blue waters of the lake are incredible. The Bay View Trail in Big Bay State Park connects to the Woods Trail, making a loop that is about 3 miles long. The trail is soft dirt and well-maintained. Cell service can be spotty here, so make sure to download a map of the area ahead of time.

Burroughs Memorial Trail

Big Bay State Park, Madeline Island

This is another great trail for hiking in Wisconsin, also located on Madeline Island. It is an out-and-back trail that is just over a mile. It is somewhat narrow but not heavily trafficked, so it’s a great choice if you enjoy more solitude. Keep an eye out for wildlife such as red squirrels, otters, deer, weasels, and raccoons. The trail ends at a bluff with a lovely hemlock grove.

Red Granite Falls Trail

Copper Falls State Park, Mellen

This wooded hike is about 2.5 miles. It is mostly flat and wide with a few small ups and downs. Red Granite Falls is really more of a series of rapids than a true waterfall; however, the great thing about this hike is that you are able to climb on and around the rocks once you reach the falls. The cool water will feel great after your hike on a hot summer day.

Doughboy Trail

Copper Falls State Park, Mellen

This hike is an easy 1.7 miles round trip with a few hills. It is a popular hike due to the incredible scenery, including several waterfalls. You will love the breathtaking views this hike has to offer! It is open year-round and makes for a great hike in any season. Though not all sections of the trail are open in winter, there is still plenty to see and enjoy any time of year.

Morgan Falls

St. Peter’s Dome Recreation Area, Mellen

If you like a short hike with an amazing view, you will love this next Wisconsin hiking trail. The Morgan Falls trail is a little over a mile in and out. It ends with views of the 70-foot Morgan Falls. This is a great hike to do in the autumn when the leaves are changing; the fall colors are absolutely amazing and make the hike that much more enjoyable! You can easily complete this hike in an hour, but take more time to enjoy the scenery if you like!

Monches

Ice Age Trail, Hartland

This section of the Ice Age Trail is just over 3 miles from point to point. You will enjoy lovely views of the Oconomowoc River, and the trail features some bridges and boardwalk sections. If you enjoy the gentle sounds of flowing water, you will love this trail. The trail is well-marked and includes a good mix of flat spaces and easy hills. The trail can be rocky in places, so watch out for that.

Moderate Wisconsin Hiking Trails

If you are looking to find trails for hiking in Wisconsin that are a bit more of a challenge, check out one of these hikes! Many of these hikes are still accessible to different skill levels, but they may be steeper or have rougher terrain than the easier hikes listed above.

Wren Falls

Casey Sag Road, Saxon

First on the list of moderate trails for hiking in Wisconsin, the 6.2-mile out-and-back hike through Wren Falls is full of interesting sights. You will see lovely views of the river, two waterfalls, and several overlooks, including a 300-foot viewpoint over Upson Lake. You’ll even pass by an abandoned gold mine. This trail is rustic and narrow, but blue paint marks the trees along the trail, making it easy to find your way.

West Bluff Trail

Devil’s Lake State Park, Baraboo

The West Bluff Trail is one of the most scenic hiking trails at Devil’s Lake State Park. This trail is just under 3 miles with an elevation gain of 419 feet. You will walk high up on 100-200 foot quartzite cliffs, looking down onto the lake as you go. There are many interesting rock outcrops to see, and you might even spot a hawk or an eagle soaring above the cliffs.

Eagle Trail

Peninsula State Park, Ephraim

Do you enjoy wildflowers? This 2-mile loop trail is a beautiful place to look for wildflowers in the spring and summer months. The trail is relatively short, but it is uneven and rocky with some steep climbs, making it more challenging than some of the easier trails for hiking in Wisconsin on our list. There are several parking areas available with different starting options for this loop.

Willow Falls

Willow River State Park, Hudson

This hike is steep in many places with a total elevation gain of 360 feet. The stunning views of the beautiful Willow Falls at Willow River State Park are worth the effort! This hike is only 2 miles long, so you can take it slow to make it a bit easier if you like and take your time enjoying the views along the way, including many vibrant wildflowers.

Lost Creek Falls

Cornucopia

This 2.2-mile trail ends at another stunning waterfall. When you get there, take a walk behind the waterfall for a unique and scenic view. This hike is kid-friendly, but the trail can be rocky and uneven with tree roots sticking up in the trail in many places. If you have a walking stick, you may want to bring it for this hike, as that can make it easier to navigate the uneven terrain.

Lost Canyon Trail

Governor Dodge State Park, Dodgeville

This 3.4-mile loop is well-maintained and composed of mostly smooth terrain. The hiking trail is full of scenic views and ends at a waterfall. If you want to hike down to the waterfall, that part of the trail is more steep and rocky. It isn’t too difficult, but may be challenging for kids, so keep that in mind if you are bringing little ones with you.

Meyer’s Beach Sea Cave Trail

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Bayfield

This trail starts out easy with boardwalks and bridges over some streams and small ravines, but it gets harder further in. Don’t let the easy start fool you! Later on the trail is much more uneven, and it can be steep going up and down the ravines. The views of the sea caves from above, however, are worth the more strenuous trip. Plan for about 2 1/2 hours to fully enjoy this interesting area. The trail is about 4.6 miles long out and back.

Parfrey’s Glen Trail

Parfrey’s Glen State Natural Area, Merrimac

This is a very popular 1.7-mile hike. It is a gradual climb that gets harder as you get closer to the waterfall. Getting all the way to the waterfall requires crossing boulders and water, which can be a fun part of the hike if you are up for that kind of adventure. A good waterproof pair of shoes will make navigating the slippery boulders easier, helping you make the most of the hike. To beat the crowds, go early in the day.

Difficult Wisconsin Hiking Trails

If you’re an experienced hiker looking to challenge yourself while hiking in Wisconsin, check out one of the hiking trails below! These hikes include steeper climbs and sometimes dangerous terrain. Keep reading to learn more about these challenging hikes.

Perrot Ridge to Brady’s Bluff

Perrot State Park, Trempealeau

This 3.3-mile loop trail takes you to the summit of Perrot Ridge. You will see beautiful views of the Mississippi River and Brady’s Bluff. The hike starts out with a gradual climb and gets steeper near the summit of Perrot Ridge. The downhill section immediately after the summit is very steep, so be careful in that area. This trail is a beautiful place to watch the sunset, so try going in the late afternoon sometime. You won’t be disappointed!

Balanced Rock Trail

Devil’s Lake State Park, Baraboo

You will have stunning views of Devil’s Lake on this .7 mile out-and-back trail. The trail is steep and rocky and can be quite strenuous. It is possibly one of the most difficult hiking trails in Wisconsin with its 635-foot total elevation gain and 69% slope. You are definitely going to want proper shoes for this trail, as it can be slippery. Don’t miss the interesting balanced rock formation that is about .4 miles up the trail.

Devil’s Doorway Loop

Devil’s Lake State Park, Baraboo

If you are up for two tough hikes in a row, you can combine the Devil’s Doorway trail with the Balanced Rock trail. This trail is also steep and quite difficult, but it provides breathtaking views of Devil’s Lake. The trail is narrow and there are some dangerous drop-offs, so this is not a hike to bring young children on. The trail is named for the Devil’s Doorway rock formation that is quite fascinating to see. The trail markers here can be hard to spot, so keep an eye out to make sure you don’t miss them.

Marengo River and Porcupine Lake via North Country Trail

Chequamegon National Forest, Clam Lake

This 19.4-mile point-to-point trail isn’t too tough to navigate, but it is quite long, which is why it’s included in the difficult section of our list. The path is mostly dirt with some rocky sections. There are several overlooks, and it is especially beautiful in the fall when the leaves are changing colors. There can be a lot of pests on this hike, such as ticks and mosquitos, so don’t forget to bring bug spray and make sure to wear proper clothing.

Levis Mound

Levis/Trow Mound Recreational Area, Clark County

Last but not least on our list of best places for hiking in Wisconsin is Levis Mound! There are 41 miles of looping trails in Levis Mound that you can wander as you please. Trails are well-maintained and clearly marked with trail markers along the way. There are some steep areas, so you will definitely get a good workout. This Wisconsin hiking trail is popular with mountain bikers, which can be a great way to see a lot of the trail in less time than it would take hiking.

Which trail will you try first?

With so many great hiking trails in Wisconsin, the hardest part is deciding which one to check out first! Which one of these incredible hikes are you looking forward to trying on your next hiking adventure?

Ready for more Wisconsin expeditions? Check out our recommendations below:

• 40 Of the Best Places to Go Camping in Wisconsin
• The 13 Best Places For Glamping in Wisconsin