There’s no denying that hiking is one of the most fulfilling activities you can do. You become immersed in nature and discover worlds you never knew existed. However, a lot of people don’t hike because they consider it to be intimidating. Specifically, they feel like they aren’t in good enough shape to start. No matter what your fitness level or body type is, you can start hiking. Here are 10 easy hikes to get you hooked on hiking. They’re also some of the best hikes in Wisconsin.

  1. Devil’s Lake State Park

Ryan Affleraugh/Flickr Many people visit this state park each year due to its amazing rock formations and gorgeous large lake. If you plan to visit, make sure to hike the Devil’s Doorway Trail, which is half a mile, and the Grottos Trail, which is .7 miles. Devil’s Lake State Park, S5975 Park Rd, Baraboo, WI 53913, USA

  1. Madeline Island

uwwees/Flickr Known for kayaking, the striking Apostle Islands can also be explored on foot. Big Bay State Park is a wonderful place to explore. The Boardwalk Trail is just one mile. Madeline Island, Wisconsin, USA

  1. Peninsula State Park

Jim Bauer/Flickr Get a great view of Green Bay from the scenic overlooks at this state park. The Lone Pine Trail is just half a mile, and you go up a bluff and through a forested area. The Vita Course Trail is one mile and is relatively flat. Peninsula State Park, 9462 Shore Rd, Fish Creek, WI 54212, USA

  1. Rib Mountain State Park

flickr/Al This state park is located on top of a hill that is a billion years old. Yes, you read that right. There are also nearly 12 miles of hiking trails. But walk as far or as short as you want. 4200 Park Rd, Wausau, WI 54401, USA

  1. Perrot State Park

Aaron Carlson/Flickr This state park has 500-foot bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River. Take the Brady’s Bluff Trail, which is only .7 miles but gives you this stunning view pictured here. This bluff raises over 400 miles above the river. Perrot State Park, 26247 Sullivan Rd, Trempealeau, WI 54661, USA

  1. Governor Dodge State Park

Joshua Mayer/Flickr Steep hills, bluffs, and deep valleys define this state park. Take Cave Trail (1 mile) to go by Thomas’ Cave, a large cave. The .5-mile Gold Mine Trail goes through both forest and prairie. Governor Dodge State Park, 4175 WI-23, Dodgeville, WI 53533, USA

  1. Mirror Lake State Park

Corey Taratuta/Flickr This lake is so named because it’s crystal clear. There are also a couple of short trails here. The Ringling Pass is just .3 miles, the Nature Trail is .7 miles, and the Kilbourn Trail is .8 miles. E10320 Fern Dell Rd, Baraboo, WI 53913, USA

  1. High Cliff State Park

Royal Broil/Flickr This state park contains a large rock escarpment that goes from here all the way to New York’s Niagara Falls. The Indian Mound Trail is .6 miles and goes through Indian burial mounds. The Lime Kiln Trail is less than one mile and goes by lime kiln ruins. n7630 State Park Rd, Sherwood, WI 54169, USA

  1. Horicon Marsh

chumlee/Flickr These trails take you through the largest freshwater cattail marsh in the United States. It’s also home to 300 species of birds. The Indermuehle Island Loop is only .8 miles. Horicon Marsh, Wisconsin, USA

  1. Kohler-Andrae State Park

charlie vinz/Flickr While here you’ll enjoy some of the only sand dunes in Wisconsin. Short trails include the Black River Marsh Boardwalk (.25 miles). You can also hike the Creeping Juniper Nature Trail, a .5-mile trail going around the nature center. Kohler-Andrae State Park, 1020 Beach Park Ln, Sheboygan, WI 53081, USA

Looking for more of the best hikes in Wisconsin? Check out these trails!

Ryan Affleraugh/Flickr

Many people visit this state park each year due to its amazing rock formations and gorgeous large lake. If you plan to visit, make sure to hike the Devil’s Doorway Trail, which is half a mile, and the Grottos Trail, which is .7 miles.

Devil’s Lake State Park, S5975 Park Rd, Baraboo, WI 53913, USA

uwwees/Flickr

Known for kayaking, the striking Apostle Islands can also be explored on foot. Big Bay State Park is a wonderful place to explore. The Boardwalk Trail is just one mile.

Madeline Island, Wisconsin, USA

Jim Bauer/Flickr

Get a great view of Green Bay from the scenic overlooks at this state park. The Lone Pine Trail is just half a mile, and you go up a bluff and through a forested area. The Vita Course Trail is one mile and is relatively flat.

Peninsula State Park, 9462 Shore Rd, Fish Creek, WI 54212, USA

flickr/Al

This state park is located on top of a hill that is a billion years old. Yes, you read that right. There are also nearly 12 miles of hiking trails. But walk as far or as short as you want.

4200 Park Rd, Wausau, WI 54401, USA

Aaron Carlson/Flickr

This state park has 500-foot bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River. Take the Brady’s Bluff Trail, which is only .7 miles but gives you this stunning view pictured here. This bluff raises over 400 miles above the river.

Perrot State Park, 26247 Sullivan Rd, Trempealeau, WI 54661, USA

Joshua Mayer/Flickr

Steep hills, bluffs, and deep valleys define this state park. Take Cave Trail (1 mile) to go by Thomas’ Cave, a large cave. The .5-mile Gold Mine Trail goes through both forest and prairie.

Governor Dodge State Park, 4175 WI-23, Dodgeville, WI 53533, USA

Corey Taratuta/Flickr

This lake is so named because it’s crystal clear. There are also a couple of short trails here. The Ringling Pass is just .3 miles, the Nature Trail is .7 miles, and the Kilbourn Trail is .8 miles.

E10320 Fern Dell Rd, Baraboo, WI 53913, USA

Royal Broil/Flickr

This state park contains a large rock escarpment that goes from here all the way to New York’s Niagara Falls. The Indian Mound Trail is .6 miles and goes through Indian burial mounds. The Lime Kiln Trail is less than one mile and goes by lime kiln ruins.

n7630 State Park Rd, Sherwood, WI 54169, USA

chumlee/Flickr

These trails take you through the largest freshwater cattail marsh in the United States. It’s also home to 300 species of birds. The Indermuehle Island Loop is only .8 miles.

Horicon Marsh, Wisconsin, USA

charlie vinz/Flickr

While here you’ll enjoy some of the only sand dunes in Wisconsin. Short trails include the Black River Marsh Boardwalk (.25 miles). You can also hike the Creeping Juniper Nature Trail, a .5-mile trail going around the nature center.

Kohler-Andrae State Park, 1020 Beach Park Ln, Sheboygan, WI 53081, USA

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The OIYS Visitor Center

best hikes in wisconsin March 24, 2022 Jennifer Young What three kid-friendly trails in Wisconsin are also some of the easiest to hike? Wisconsin boasts numerous trails of all difficulty levels. In fact, some are easy enough for kids to hike. Listed below are three of the best kid-friendly trails around Wisconsin. These easy hikes in Wisconsin also belong on your bucket list.

  1. Lion’s Den Trail Wisconsin’s scenic Lion’s Den Trail is located within Lion’s Den Gorge Nature Preserve near Grafton. This 2.1-mile loop trail is mostly used for hiking, running, and walking, and it’s best used from April through October.
  2. Cave Point Lakeside Trail Located in Cave Point County Park is Wisconsin’s Cave Point Lakeside Trail. This 1.6-mile, out-and-back trail is popular for hiking and walking during warmer months, and snowshoeing during the cold, winter months.
  3. Maribel Caves Trail Wisconsin’s Maribel Caves Trail is located in Cherney Maribel Caves County Park. It’s a 3.3-mile loop trail that’s primarily used for hiking, running, and fishing. You’ll likely see a variety of wildlife while exploring this trail. What’s one of the most scenic hikes in Wisconsin that’s perfect for including on a family day trip? Nothing beats a family day trip, especially when it comes to exploring the outdoors together. Wisconsin has many trails that are great for including on a family day trip. One in particular is the Devil’s Lake via West Bluff Trail, which is located in Devil’s Lake State Park near Baraboo. This 4.8-mile loop trail has a moderate level of difficulty and is great for exploring from July through November. If you’re currently planning a day trip to the Baraboo area and enjoy hiking, don’t forget to add this scenic trail to your itinerary.

The OIYS Visitor Center

best hikes in wisconsin

March 24, 2022

Jennifer Young

What three kid-friendly trails in Wisconsin are also some of the easiest to hike? Wisconsin boasts numerous trails of all difficulty levels. In fact, some are easy enough for kids to hike. Listed below are three of the best kid-friendly trails around Wisconsin. These easy hikes in Wisconsin also belong on your bucket list.

  1. Lion’s Den Trail Wisconsin’s scenic Lion’s Den Trail is located within Lion’s Den Gorge Nature Preserve near Grafton. This 2.1-mile loop trail is mostly used for hiking, running, and walking, and it’s best used from April through October.
  2. Cave Point Lakeside Trail Located in Cave Point County Park is Wisconsin’s Cave Point Lakeside Trail. This 1.6-mile, out-and-back trail is popular for hiking and walking during warmer months, and snowshoeing during the cold, winter months.
  3. Maribel Caves Trail Wisconsin’s Maribel Caves Trail is located in Cherney Maribel Caves County Park. It’s a 3.3-mile loop trail that’s primarily used for hiking, running, and fishing. You’ll likely see a variety of wildlife while exploring this trail. What’s one of the most scenic hikes in Wisconsin that’s perfect for including on a family day trip? Nothing beats a family day trip, especially when it comes to exploring the outdoors together. Wisconsin has many trails that are great for including on a family day trip. One in particular is the Devil’s Lake via West Bluff Trail, which is located in Devil’s Lake State Park near Baraboo. This 4.8-mile loop trail has a moderate level of difficulty and is great for exploring from July through November. If you’re currently planning a day trip to the Baraboo area and enjoy hiking, don’t forget to add this scenic trail to your itinerary.

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

Wisconsin boasts numerous trails of all difficulty levels. In fact, some are easy enough for kids to hike. Listed below are three of the best kid-friendly trails around Wisconsin. These easy hikes in Wisconsin also belong on your bucket list.

  1. Lion’s Den Trail

Wisconsin’s scenic Lion’s Den Trail is located within Lion’s Den Gorge Nature Preserve near Grafton. This 2.1-mile loop trail is mostly used for hiking, running, and walking, and it’s best used from April through October.

  1. Cave Point Lakeside Trail

Located in Cave Point County Park is Wisconsin’s Cave Point Lakeside Trail. This 1.6-mile, out-and-back trail is popular for hiking and walking during warmer months, and snowshoeing during the cold, winter months.

  1. Maribel Caves Trail

Wisconsin’s Maribel Caves Trail is located in Cherney Maribel Caves County Park. It’s a 3.3-mile loop trail that’s primarily used for hiking, running, and fishing. You’ll likely see a variety of wildlife while exploring this trail.

What’s one of the most scenic hikes in Wisconsin that’s perfect for including on a family day trip?

Nothing beats a family day trip, especially when it comes to exploring the outdoors together. Wisconsin has many trails that are great for including on a family day trip. One in particular is the Devil’s Lake via West Bluff Trail, which is located in Devil’s Lake State Park near Baraboo. This 4.8-mile loop trail has a moderate level of difficulty and is great for exploring from July through November. If you’re currently planning a day trip to the Baraboo area and enjoy hiking, don’t forget to add this scenic trail to your itinerary.