Are you in search of a scenic hike in the Northwoods of Wisconsin? Are you planning your visit around peak Fall color? Vilas County, Wisconsin is in the heart of the Northwoods of Wisconsin. This beautiful region of the state is filled with sparkling lakes, quiet stands of pines, calling loons, native wildflowers, and Northwoods peace. One of my favorite Vilas County hikes in any season is the Fallison Lake Trail in Boulder Junction. If you’re planning your visit for fall, peak fall color in Boulder Junction is projected to be the 2nd week of October. Check out Travel Wisconsin’s Fall Color Report HERE.
Northwoods Lakes
A major draw of Vilas County is its many lakes. There are over 1,300 lakes in Vilas County – one of the largest concentrations of freshwater lakes in the world! Read more about Vilas County’s many lakes, rivers and streams HERE. Meandering through Vilas County’s thousand plus sparkling lakes are beautiful hiking and biking trails of varied terrain and length. If you’re interested in biking in Vilas County, read more about the 52-mile Heart of Vilas County Trail in my blog post: Bike Wisconsin’s Beautiful Northwoods | Heart of Vilas County Trail.
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Fallison Lake Nature Trail
Fallison Lake Nature Trail, located in Boulder Junction, WI is a gorgeous trail in any season. You can access the trail west of Sayner, WI on County Highway N across from the Crystal Lake campground. It is located within the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest. I have primarily hiked this trail in summer, but Fall is a beautiful time to observe the changing colors of the maples, oaks, and birch.
The trail has four separate loops of varying length, shown in the trail map below. All loops are open to hikers and snowshoers. Download a detailed map HERE.
- Red: 2.34 miles
- Blue: 2.07 miles
- Green: 1.33 miles
- Yellow: 0.62 miles
Fallison Lake Trail | Permitted Uses and Trail Fees
Permitted Uses for this trail include biking, hiking, and snowshoeing.
Non-permitted uses include bikes and motorized vehicles.
Parking is available at the trailhead on County Highway N, restrooms, and a picnic area. There is NO FEE to hike the Fallison Lake Trail.
Native Plants, Fungi, Fish and Birds
In addition to the hemlock trees, the “Giants of the Northwoods“, you’ll find an abundance of native wildflowers and fungi along the trail. One of the most beautiful fungi (if you consider fungi beautiful!) is the coral fungi pictured below. This fungi closely resembles ocean coral, and is generally found in the days after a rainfall.
All Trails Maps/App
You can find detailed information on the Fallison Lake Trail on the AllTrails website and AllTrails app. For detailed trail maps on the go, the All Trails app has been my go to for years. Search 450,000 trails by state and trail type – includes photos, maps, and detailed trail reviews. Sign up for a Free 7-day trial HERE.
Vilas County Biking
If you’re interested in biking a beautiful Northwoods trail in Vilas County, consider the nearby Heart of Vilas National Recreation Trail. The 52-mile paved Heart of Vilas Bike Trail System connects the 5 scenic Northwoods communities of St. Germain, Sayner, Boulder Junction, Manitowish Waters, and Mercer, Wisconsin. Each of these trail communities offer unique opportunities to enjoy the beauty of the Northwoods. Read more about this trail in my blog post: Bike Wisconsin’s Beautiful Northwoods | Heart of Vilas County Trail.
Whether you’re biking, hiking, or otherwise exploring the many trails of Vilas County, you’ll find an abundance of beautiful plants, old growth forest, sparkling lakes, and the Northwoods solitude we all crave.
Enjoy your hike on this serene Northwoods trail!
-ErinÂ
