A Hike with a View

This afternoon we took a lovely hike up here in the North country near Eagle River, WI. One wouldn't know to look at the area today but this  area used to be a very prosperous lumber town in the early 1900's. The idea of sustainability of this endeavor was given very little thought as the area was stripped of most of its trees after 13 years of a mill producing some 140,000 ft of lumber/day. As fast as it had become prosperous it became a ghost town.

At the beginning of the Star Lake trail the trees are all similar in size as this area is a Pine Plantation Farm, the first of its kind started by E.M. Griffith, a progressive state forester who thought this would be a perfect idea since it is surrounded by a lake to protect it from fire.

The pine needle dirt path was interspersed with wooden plank bridges to help one transverse the boggy areas.  

And the other 1.5 mile goes around the perimeter of the Star Lake.


In fact, I think a reviewer's comments sum up the experience quite well: "Few short trails offer such a strong sense of place as the Star Lake Hiking Trail does. Long stretches of windswept lake views and an intimate bog are part of its tour of a narrow peninsula protruding into Star Lake. " 

The path took us through the damp woods where we saw interesting mushrooms ...

some small wildflowers

and a very lone loon

who seemed to follow us as we walked the part of the trail along Star Lake.

Natureman said the area reminded him of the Boundary Waters with the quietude and absence of houses. And actually until we neared the end of the trail we didn't see any houses across the lake and just one boat interrupted the soft sound of our footsteps and voices.

If you are up in this area and would like an easy walk for the entire family, this is the one...

As one of the benches reminded the visitor:

This trail was the perfect addition to our trip out of the End of the Rainbow Valley...