WI posters? Recs for hiking weekend

[RoxMonster]

DH and I are thinking about going somewhere in southern WI for a long weekend over Indigenous Peoples Day weekend in Oct. It would be Sat-Monday. We're from central IL but would be dropping our dog off with my parents in northern IL about 20 min from the WI border, so we though southern WI could be nice.

What we are hoping for: an area with a state park or forest or at least lots of hiking or biking trails. We'd love to spend most of the time just outdoors seeing any fall color there is. I wouldn't mind having a glass of wine or something at a winery if there was outdoor seating. We won't be eating out, so we would need local restaurants that do carry out or delivery. That's it. Just wanting a change of scenery but still want to be as safe as possible. I have looked at Devil's Lake SP but I think that's a bit far. It's 2.5 hours to my parents' and then that would be another 2 hours. Another option I've seen is the Eagle, WI area with Kettle Moraine State Forest. Any opinions on that? Or another area entirely? I'd love a unique place to stay like a cabin or B&B but I'd also want a really good cancellation policy, so I might have to stick with a hotel.

I've been to Lake Geneva probably 30 times, and while I love the town, I don't think I want to go there again and during COVID. Most of what we do is going to shops, going out to eat, when we're there, and I wouldn't be doing that now. Not wanting a big city like Madison or MKE right now. We've also done Galena, IL before and I was honestly a bit bored there lol. I would really be bored during COVID I think, so that's out also.

[jnibean]

I don't usually post on this board, but I live in Wisconsin and just wanted to let you know that if you don't already have a state parks parking pass you won't be able to park in any of the actual lots in our state parks. They typically sell a day pass at the ranger stand, but because of covid those are closed and the only way to get a parking pass is to buy a full year pass online.

If you have a parking pass, Devil's Lake is absolutely beautiful, especially in early October. There are lots just outside the park that you can park in for $10 and then walk into the park. We drive through there at least once a week for something to do (we hadn't yet bought our annual pass when they closed for covid) and I miss actually going!

ETA: Devil's Lake is in Baraboo, WI, about 3 hours from the border of Illinois, but absolutely worth the drive.

[RoxMonster]

Aug 29, 2020 14:27:53 GMT -5 jnibean said:

I don't usually post on this board, but I live in Wisconsin and just wanted to let you know that if you don't already have a state parks parking pass you won't be able to park in any of the actual lots in our state parks. They typically sell a day pass at the ranger stand, but because of covid those are closed and the only way to get a parking pass is to buy a full year pass online.

If you have a parking pass, Devil's Lake is absolutely beautiful, especially in early October. There are lots just outside the park that you can park in for $10 and then walk into the park. We drive through there at least once a week for something to do (we hadn't yet bought our annual pass when they closed for covid) and I miss actually going!

ETA: Devil's Lake is in Baraboo, WI, about 3 hours from the border of Illinois, but absolutely worth the drive.

Thanks for the info. So you are able to buy a pass online and then park in the park, correct? I don’t mind buying a yearly pass even if we don’t use it again. I like supporting the parks.

[pinkpeony08]

You could look up by Kohler/Sheboygan area - we just went to Kohler Andre state park this summer and it was beautiful. I've heard good things about Harrington beach state park as well. You may be able to find a rental on the beach around there too. Same thing about the state parks - you can just by one now online and you should be set.

If you don't want to go that far, Grant Park in Milwaukee is great and always feels like I've gone a lot further away than I have. South Shore park in Milwaukee is an outdoor beer garden with a beautiful view - very spaced picnic tables.

[sakura]

Devil’s Lake is beautiful in the fall, but also wildly popular. If you’re looking to get away from people and be a little less Covid-concerned, that might not be the place.
Wollersheim Winery has a beautiful outdoor setting with some nice outdoor rec options nearby, but also very popular.
The Driftless area (SW WI) has dynamic topography compared to the rest of the state. Check out the Lower WI River Road Scenic Highway and see if anything along it catches your interest.
Or the Elroy-Sparta bike trail (rails-to-trails) is an easy ride and has 3 cool old train tunnels that you pass though.

[jnibean]

Aug 29, 2020 17:28:12 GMT -5 strawberry said:

Aug 29, 2020 17:08:40 GMT -5 RoxMonster said:

Thanks for the info. So you are able to buy a pass online and then park in the park, correct? I don’t mind buying a yearly pass even if we don’t use it again. I like supporting the parks.

. Yes. I purchased a year long pass online. I don’t remember if daily passes were available online.

You can purchase the yearly pass online, but not the daily pass.

[waverly]

I thought Kettle Moraine state park was very nice. We camped and went to the beach. We did not hike and were there only a short time, so I don’t know a lot about it. I think the town is pretty small- not a ton of restaurants, but there are some and a grocery store.

[m15]

We are big state park visitors. Both Kohler Andre and Devil's Lake are absolutely gorgeous parks, but they have also been closing at capacity every weekend by noon. They're popular during a normal season, but WI parks have seen an insane uptick in visitors this year. I am from Central IL and live in Central WI. Rib Mountain is also beautiful in the fall as well as Dells of Eau Claire park. They have chair lift rides as well in fall. It is about 6 hours from Decatur. I would say if you can do a "weekend" during the week, you will enjoy your trip much more!

[m15]

Oh and daily passes are not available online either this year. Just yearly.

[RoxMonster]

Yeah some of our popular state parks in IL like Starved Rock have also been overwhelmed with visitors during COVID. Unfortunately, because I'm a teacher, I can't take days off during the week so I am stuck with a weekend.

It looks like there might be some other natural areas near Baraboo like Mirror Lake SP that might be slightly less busy? I was thinking if we did something like that on our first day, we could get to Devil's Lake (if we decide to go there) really early on Sunday morning to hopefully beat the crowds.

[nicolewi]

ARe you coming from the western edge of the bottom of Wisconsin, central, or eastern?

I would probably avoid Devil's Lake if you don't want crowds. Wyalusing on the far western corner might work for you, but if you are coming from the Chicago side, that's a super long drive. I'm assuming Door County is too far? I mean, that totally fits what you want and would be beautiful in fall.

[RoxMonster]

Aug 30, 2020 11:45:32 GMT -5 nicolewi said:

ARe you coming from the western edge of the bottom of Wisconsin, central, or eastern?

I would probably avoid Devil's Lake if you don't want crowds. Wyalusing on the far western corner might work for you, but if you are coming from the Chicago side, that's a super long drive. I'm assuming Door County is too far? I mean, that totally fits what you want and would be beautiful in fall.

I adore Door Co, but yes, probably too far. From our home in central IL it's like 7 hours. My parents (where we have to stop en route) are near the Rockford area. I think something on the west side of the state might be OK. I'll check out the distance.

[freshsqueezed]

Kettle Moraine is very popular with the locals. If you go to Eagle there are a few other interesting places to check out. I’m not sure about cabins, etc.

[scout8]

I really enjoyed Kettle Moraine. I also like the LaCrosse/driftless area, but that may be too far for you.

[m15]

Aug 29, 2020 20:39:54 GMT -5 RoxMonster said:

Yeah some of our popular state parks in IL like Starved Rock have also been overwhelmed with visitors during COVID. Unfortunately, because I'm a teacher, I can't take days off during the week so I am stuck with a weekend.

It looks like there might be some other natural areas near Baraboo like Mirror Lake SP that might be slightly less busy? I was thinking if we did something like that on our first day, we could get to Devil's Lake (if we decide to go there) really early on Sunday morning to hopefully beat the crowds.

Mirror lake is nice! We were just there last week. We also ate outside at a new place called B-Lux. We all enjoyed our meals!

[jnibean]

Aug 29, 2020 20:39:54 GMT -5 RoxMonster said:

Yeah some of our popular state parks in IL like Starved Rock have also been overwhelmed with visitors during COVID. Unfortunately, because I'm a teacher, I can't take days off during the week so I am stuck with a weekend.

It looks like there might be some other natural areas near Baraboo like Mirror Lake SP that might be slightly less busy? I was thinking if we did something like that on our first day, we could get to Devil's Lake (if we decide to go there) really early on Sunday morning to hopefully beat the crowds.

Mirror Lake is really nice, and usually not very busy.  When H and I have done Devil's Lake if we're there by 7 we can get a lot of hiking done before it gets really busy at around 11.  This was all pre covid of course, so I'm not sure if it gets busier earlier or not.  It should be a bit less busy in the fall than it would be during the summer.  We drove through just yesterday at around 10:30 and it wasn't super crowded yet.

B Lux does have really good burgers, and the restaurant next door, Pizza Pub has amazing pizza.  They also have an outdoor seating area if that interests you.  Otherwise there's a Mexican restaurant in Baraboo called Jose's that is my favorite place to eat.  I'm not sure they have outdoor seating though (they used to have outdoor seating but they are always so busy that they enclosed it and I'm not sure if it's been opened back up due to the pandemic or not). 

[sunnysally]

We just spent the weekend at Governor Dodge State park. There were really nice hiking trails and the campsites were also nice. We stayed in the Cox Hollow campground.

[lilac05]

We have been to Governor Dodge State Park a few times this year and like it. I don’t know what else is in the area, though, because we don’t stick around. House on the Rock is nearby (probably not of interest at this time) and there are quite a few really interesting Frank Lloyd Wright (or inspired) homes in that general area if that interests you.

[RoxMonster]

Thanks everyone! So many possibilities to check into.