Taylor: Forests, Trails and History

Forests, wetlands and trails define Taylor County—and make nature a common thread in trip planning. The Taylor County Forest covers 17,500 acres in the northeast of the county. In the northwest is the Pershing Wildlife Area, with about 8,800 acres, including more than 1,000 acres of wetlands. The varied landscapes offer a range of ways to shape your stay, from large forest areas to bogs, lakes and rivers.

Forests, Bogs and Bodies of Water

Mondeaux Hardwoods includes northern mesic and wet-mesic forest communities, wet forests, alder thickets and a northern sedge meadow. It also features ephemeral ponds, springs and spring-fed streams, as well as aquatic plant communities. At Diamond Lake, open bogs, swamps and lowland conifer forests characterize the wetlands. Lost Lake Esker is centered on a prominent esker that rises more than 80 feet above the surrounding ground moraine plain. Twin Lakes Bog features an undisturbed conifer swamp in a depression between two kettle lakes.

The scenery also changes along the waterways: Brush Creek Hemlocks includes a wooded stretch of Brush Creek with rocky, cascading sections and areas on black ash sites. At the confluence of the Mondeaux River and Silver Creek, Silver Creek and Mondeaux River is home to an old-growth floodplain forest. Chequamegon Waters, also known as Miller Dam Lake, is a 2,714-acre impoundment in western Taylor County. Among the county’s many lakes and impoundments, 21 have publicly accessible boat launches. There is also a small county park on the west side of Diamond Lake.

Hiking, Biking and Other Trails

The High-Point section of the Ice Age Trail offers more than 60 miles of hiking trails through Taylor County. The Timm’s Hill Trail is a 10-mile non-motorized trail connected to the Ice Age Trail and Timm’s Hill. A shorter option is the 1.2-mile Aldo Leopold Trail. Interpretive signs along the trail introduce Aldo Leopold’s life, ideas and legacy.

The Pine Line Trail follows a former railroad corridor for 26.2 miles between Taylor and Price counties. It is open to cyclists and hikers from April through November. Access points in Taylor County are at the Allman Street parking area in Medford and along municipal roads in Ogema, Westboro, Chelsea and Whittlesey. Forest Springs Trail has more than 12 miles of gravel routes for mountain biking. Those interested in horseback riding can find more than 12 miles of bridle trails through the county forests at Taylor County Horse Camp and Trail. The 12-mile Camp 8 ATV Trail follows former logging roads.

Taylor County Forest adds ATV trails, snowmobile trails, cross-country ski trails and hiking trails for hunters to this selection; the forest also has two campgrounds. Tubing, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are available at Perkinstown Winter Sports Area. In the Rib Lake area, there are 18 miles of free, regularly groomed ski and snowshoe trails for classic skiing, skating and snowshoeing. When planning, it’s worth matching the different trail lengths and activities to your own itinerary.

Water Landscapes and Regional History

The Mondeaux section of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail offers opportunities for swimming, picnicking and hiking. The Upper Big Rib River near Rib Lake has Class I, II and III sections and offers opportunities for trout fishing. About 60 miles of waterways in Taylor County are suitable for fly fishing. The Gerstberger Pines Nature Trail focuses on one of Wisconsin’s last remaining old-growth forest sections; the trees there are up to 200 years old.

The Taylor County Historical Museum features exhibits on dairy farming, agriculture, home life, the military and regional wildlife. The museum also includes a print shop with numerous printing presses, a one-room rural schoolhouse fully equipped with school materials from around the turn of the century, and a log cabin. It houses artifacts that may date from the settlement period of Taylor County. This offers a way to consider outdoor experiences and regional history as distinct themes for a stay.

Your itinerary can help determine which hotel to choose: hiking and biking, winter activities, waterways or a museum visit each offer a different focus. First decide which themes matter for your trip, then compare the hotel options in Taylor that suit you.

Explore more destinations: Medford, Bayfield County, Burnett, Ozaukee, Waupaca County, Calumet County, Fond Du Lac County, Sauk County.

For the broader travel overview: Wisconsin.