Black River State Forest

Black River State Forest covers 68,000 acres of mixed forest, wetlands, and open prairie east of Black River Falls. It's the main reason to stop in this part of Wisconsin: the network of ATV and snowmobile trails is one of the most extensive in the state, and in summer the forest offers hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and paddling on the Black River.

The forest contains several campgrounds that serve as bases for extended stays. In autumn the hardwood colour is good — oaks, maples, and aspens turning through September and October. The Black River itself is a decent paddling stream in spring and early summer when the water level is adequate, with sections ranging from flat water to moderate rapids.

things to do sight nature hiking
A story
The forest was established in 1957 and covers 68,000 acres of sandy outwash plain left by the last glaciation. The Black River runs through it in a series of falls and rapids that gave the town its name. The falls themselves — a series of cascades where the river drops over sandstone outcrops — were a gathering place for the Ho-Chunk Nation for generations before European settlement.