Day Trip to Wildcat Mountain State Park
On a beautiful summer Saturday, myself and fellow Youth Ambassador Natalie Koffarnus headed out to Wildcat Mountain State Park for a day trip. This was the first time that either of us have been to this park and we were pleasantly surprised.
We met at the park around 10am and stopped in the brand new Visitor Center for a map of the park. After studying the map a little bit, we decided to take a hike on the Old Settler's Trail. The trail was about 2.5 miles long. It took us about 2 hours to finish because we were frequently stopping to take in the scenic beauty. The hike takes you along ancient sandstone cliffs and through hardwood and pine forests. A must hike.
After the Old Settler's Trail hike we took a lunch break and planned our next hike. We headed down to the Kickapoo River and watched some canoers and kayakers paddle by. We strolled along the river until we reached the beginning of the Hemlock Trail. This trail was a very unique 1.3 mile loop. Along the way there were interpretive signs describing the diverse environment. This trail was a little more difficult as it had a steady uphill climb, but we were rewarded with one of the best views overlooking the valley down to the River.
We were both very surprised by this park and what it had to offer. Definitely a must-see gem of the Wisconsin State Park system. To learn more about the history of this park, or just more about the park in general, check out the Wildcat Mountain page on the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources website.
And be sure to check out the video of our adventure below:
Published: 07/24/2012
