THIS STORY IS PART OF OUR WINTER SPORTS PLAYBOOK. READ MORE HERE.
Winter hiking has a certain magic to it, but also presents unique challenges. The difference between a good winter hike and a bad one isn’t just the trail you pick; it’s about knowing what kind of experience you want, and being prepared for the weather.
“Probably the most important thing is to make sure that you’re comfortable,” says Cassie Rincon, family programs manager for Schlitz Audubon Nature Center. Many layers, including those made of wool, can help keep your core warm without overheating on the trail.
Flat paths tend to be safest to hike in the winter. But anytime snow or ice melts and then freezes overnight, things can get dicey regardless of the incline, Rincon says. “I highly recommend having a pair of ice cleats,” she adds.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
Where you choose to go depends on what kind of experience you’re looking for, be it a winter workout or a casual stroll to spot seasonal phenomena. For example, trails along Lake Michigan can be ideal places to see ice volcanoes – eruptive formations that accumulate at the shoreline.
But the key to any good hike, Rincon says, is to pick a trail you can return to over and over. “That’s when you start noticing the changes,” she says. Maybe it’s an animal you haven’t seen before, or the development of new buds on the trees, signaling the start of spring. Winter doesn’t last forever!
Five Trails to Explore
1. Lake Park Loop
Oak Leaf Trail, East Side (8 miles)
2. Forked Aster Hiking Trail
Bender Park, Oak Creek (3.7 miles)
3. Central Wetlands Loop
Schlitz Audubon Nature Center, Brown Deer (1 mile)
4. Glacial Drumlin State Trail
Waukesha to Dousman (11.9 miles)
5. Yellow Loop Trail
Fox River Park, Waukesha (1.5 miles)
