Hiking
From a stroller-friendly lake loop to a bluff with a 120-foot view—about 45 miles of trail.
Table of Contents
- Pick a Trail by the Group
- Best Family Hike
- Hiking with Kids (and winning)
- Hot-Weather Hiking
- Trail Safety: Ticks, Plants & Footing
Pick a Trail by the Group
| Trail | Length | Difficulty | Why go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeside Trail | Short loop | Easy | Flat-ish walk by Lake Lincoln; little-kid friendly |
| Blazing Star Trail | Loop (orange) | Easy–moderate | Tallgrass prairie & summer wildflowers at Sherwood Prairie |
| Frenchman’s Bluff Trail | Short (blue) | Moderate | Climbs to a 120-ft limestone bluff over the river valley |
| Big Sugar Creek Trail | Moderate (blue) | Moderate | Wild area, Keyhole Bluff overlook |
| Lone Spring Trail | Backpacking (yellow) | Moderate | Northwoods Wild Area; crosses Big Sugar Creek |
| Cuivre River Trail | ~7 mi (N & S loops) | Challenging | Big backpacking loop to Frenchman’s Bluff |
There are about 12 trails in all (roughly 45 miles), so there’s a fit for every energy level on any given day.
Best Family Hike
Frenchman’s Bluff is the crowd-pleaser: a manageable climb that pops out on top of a tall limestone bluff with a sweeping view of the Cuivre River valley—a real “wow” payoff for the kids without being a marathon.
Bluff = real edge. Hold little kids’ hands at overlooks and stay back from the rim. The view is the reward; a fall is not.
For the youngest crew, the Lakeside Trail by the lake is the easy win—short, flat, and you can bail to the beach anytime.
Hiking with Kids (and winning)
- Make it a quest: bring the scavenger-hunt sheet and look for items.
- Snacks = fuel and morale. Pack more than you think.
- Short and sweet beats long and grumpy—turn around before the meltdown.
- Let kids set a “spotter” job: first to see a woodpecker, a cool rock, a mushroom.
- Name the trail’s colors: matching the blaze color is a fun job for a 6-year-old.
Hot-Weather Hiking
- Go early. Hit the trail by 8–9 a.m. before the heat and storms.
- Carry plenty of water—more than feels necessary in July humidity.
- Wear a hat and SPF; take shade breaks.
- Watch the sky; be off exposed bluffs before afternoon thunderstorms.
Trail Safety: Ticks, Plants & Footing
- Ticks & chiggers: permethrin-treated clothes/shoes, repellent on skin, tuck pants into socks, and a tick check every night. (More in the Savvy Camper guide.)
- Poison ivy: “leaves of three, let it be”—point it out to the kids on day one.
- Rugged ground: roots, rocks, and steep grades—closed-toe shoes, watch your step.
- Stay on marked, blazed trails; carry a charged phone and a paper map (signal is spotty).
- Tell someone your route and turnaround time on the longer loops.