Wisconsin’s Best Hiking Trail Is A Short, But Sweet Wilderness Adventure

Not all rewarding hikes need to be an all-day endeavor.

While there are some hikes in Wisconsin (and across the border in Minnesota) that offer a great payoff after a considerable investment of time and effort, there are plenty of hikes that provide a great experience without devoting a whole day to the adventure.

That's the case when it comes to the best hike in Wisconsin, according to the folks at Reader's Digest. In a recently published piece from the publication, they named the best hiking trails in each state across the country.

While the ranking from Reader's Digest offers options of varying lengths and difficulties, a sizable number of their highlighted trails are 5 or more miles in length. Across the border in Minnesota, for example, the Superior Hiking Trail earns top billing. While not everyone will hike the entire length of the trail, it offers over 300 miles of hiking opportunities.

The best trail in Wisconsin, according to Reader's Digest, is among the shorter options they list around the country. While it may be short, that doesn't mean it isn't worth checking out!

What is Wisocnsin's best hiking trail?

According to the folks at Reader's Digest, Wisconsin's best hiking trail is the stretch of trails at Amnicon Falls State Park, just southeast of Superior, Wisconsin.

With just under two miles of trails in the park, you can explore all of what the park's trails have to offer in a relatively short period of time - seeing some beautiful sights along the way.

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Reader's Digest categorized this as an easy hiking trail, which is best to visit during most of the year, with their recommended window being between March and October. They highlight the natural landscapes of the park, formed by earthquakes half a billion years ago. Included in that is the Amnicon River and a series of waterfalls along the river in the park.

Along with the natural sights, visitors will also find themselves wanting to grab a photo of the Horton Bridge, which is a 55-foot-long covered bridge that spans over the river in the area of the lower falls. The bridge was originally a roadway bridge, moved to the park in 1930 with the roof being added in 1939. Named for the designer Charles M. Horton and known for its unique design, this is one of only 5 Horton bridges that are known to exist.

The 1.8 miles of trails in the park partly consist of the Thimbleberry Nature Trail, which is 0.8 miles long, creating a loop along the Amnicon River. The remaining trails in the park offer viewing of the river's cascades and waterfalls, as well as nature viewing.

You can see the park's trail map here.