Hiking
Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest
Hiking is a good way to get close to nature and better understand your natural environment. The NHAL has 11 trails designated for hiking. There are also hundreds of miles of old logging roads, less-traveled town roads, forest access roads and snowmobile trails that offer good hiking opportunities. A state trail pass is not required for hiking or snowshoeing on any trails, though a pass may be required by bikers or cross-country skiers on certain trails.
Hiking trails
Tom Roberts Trail — 0.55 miles
The Tom Roberts Memorial Trail is an accessible trail. It is also perfect if you want to take a short, easy hike on this paved path. The half-mile loop ambles through a mixed coniferous-deciduous forest of balsam, red pine, white pine, sugar maple, white birch and large-toothed and trembling aspen. The overlooks offer beautiful views of Muskellunge Lake. It's an ideal spot to look for spring flowers and birds. Also keep an eye out for deer, ruffed grouse, coyote tracks and fisher tracks. No pets allowed. A vehicle admission pass is required.
Tom Roberts was a Bureau of Forestry Protection and Reforestation section chief who passed away on Aug. 5, 2000, after a courageous battle with cancer. During his entire 31-year career, Tom worked to protect one of the state's most important renewable resources—our forests. His tireless efforts improved the forests of Wisconsin and the individuals with whom he worked.
North Trout Trail — 1 mile
The North Trout Trail is one of the easiest trails to hike in the state forests. This trail is a 1-mile loop trail meanders around a mature black spruce-tamarack bog. The trail also winds its way along the Trout Lake shoreline, offering a beautiful view of the lake. This is a wonderful trail to hike in spring because of the abundance of wildflowers. Watch for the moccasin flower, trailing arbutus, Canadian mayflower, star flower, blueberry and barren strawberry. This trail is not groomed during the winter months. A vehicle admission or state trail pass is not required.
Star Lake Trail — 2.5 miles
The Star Lake Trail is a moderately hilly trail with loops of 1 and 2 miles long. This historical trail winds its way through what was, in the early 1900s, a pasture for horses hauling logs from the surrounding woods to the Star Lake Mill. This trail is also the site of some of the first tree plantings in Wisconsin. The red pine plantation research plot trees still on this site were planted as 2-year-old seedlings in 1913 from seed stock grown at the old Trout Lake Nursery. In summer, this trail is a great place to see blue flag iris, pipsissewa, various Pyrola species, one-flowered wintergreen and Indian pipe. A vehicle admission or state trail pass is not required.
Fallison Lake Trail — 4 miles
The Fallison Lake Trail is one of the longest in the state forest and more strenuous than other forest trails. The longest trail loop is 2.5 miles. This trail rolls through a mixed coniferous-deciduous forest of balsam, red pine, white pine, sugar maple, white birch and large-toothed and trembling aspen. The trail crosses bogs on the southwest and northeast sides and a hemlock glade on the south side. Watch for signs of beaver activity along the trail and along the shore. Loons, osprey and eagles are often seen on or around Fallison Lake. Cross-country skiing is not encouraged on these ungroomed trails in winter due to the stairs found throughout the trail loops. A vehicle admission or state trail pass is not required.
Shannon Trail — 7 miles
The Shannon Trail's terrain is gently rolling and covered with various timber types. The loop around Shannon Lake is especially scenic. Some areas of the trail have been logged recently, while the remainder meanders through a variety of northern hardwoods. A vehicle admission or state trail pass is not required.
Powell Trail — 8.5 miles
This easy ungroomed trail runs past Spring Pond and Sherman Lake. It is a good trail for beginner skiers. The trail winds through an upland forest of aspen, white birch, red maple, red oak and white pine. Active aspen management helps regenerate habitat for wildlife along this trail. Leashed pets are allowed year-round. A vehicle admission or state trail pass is not required.
Madeline Trail — 9.5 miles
This trail has a variety of scenery as it winds around three lakes and through different types of terrain. It has a few rolling hills. Most of the trail follows old logging roads. The surface is grass and dirt. The effort level is easy to moderate. Madeline is groomed and tracked for cross-country skiing. This is an excellent trail for all levels of skiers. There is a shelter located on the trail with a fire ring. Leashed pets are allowed on this trail only when there is no snow on the ground. A state trail pass is required for mountain biking and skiing only.
McNaughton Trail — 10 miles
McNaughton Lake Trail follows old logging roads and is gentle with very few steep hills. The surface is grass and dirt. This is the only trail that has a loop groomed for skate skiing. The skating loop runs around McNaughton Lake. The rest of the trail is groomed for classic skiing. This is a very scenic trail and is excellent for a beginner. The trail winds around three different lakes. There is a shelter with a fire ring on the trail. Leashed pets are allowed on this trail only when there is no snow on the ground. A state trail pass is required for mountain biking and skiing only.
Escanaba Trail — 11 miles
This trail is very hilly, rolling and scenic. It winds around five different lakes, through stands of maple, aspen and balsam. There are a couple of fairly steep hills. Escanaba is groomed and tracked in the winter for cross-country skiing. For skiers, this is an intermediate trail. A shelter with a fire ring is located on the trail. Restrooms are located near the trailhead. Leashed pets are allowed on this trail only when there is no snow on the ground. A state trail pass is required for skiing only.
Raven Trail — 11 miles
The majority of this 11-mile trail runs through an area logged years ago, although some has been logged recently. The trail winds past both Clear and Inkpot lakes. There are a couple of steep hills, but most of the trail is an intermediate level. There is also a 5-mile expert trail. In addition to a single-track mountain bike trail, there is a bike skills course right across the road from the parking lot. A shelter with a fire ring can be found on the trail. Leashed pets are allowed on this trail only when there is no snow on the ground. A state trail pass is required for biking and skiing only.
Lumberjack Trail — 12.5 miles
The Lumberjack Trail is a very scenic trail winding along the edge of the Manitowish River, the Fishtrap Flowage and White Sand Lake. The trail gently rolls through a variety of timber types. The surface is grass, dirt, rocks and sand. The effort level is easy to moderate. The trail connects with the Escanaba Trail. Leashed pets are allowed year-round.