An Abundance of Tree Species on the Chequamegon-Nicolet are to blame for the vivid colors during the fall season. Maple and oak trees provide the reds and oranges; birch, aspen, ash, and cherry trees supply the yellows; and don't forget the golden tamaracks. Combine all these with a lush green background provided by pine, spruce, cedar and hemlock, and you'll encounter picture perfect images of fall that will leave you breathless!

Fall Weather is upon us now, which means cool and sometimes frosty mornings, followed by mild temperatures during the day. On a clear, cool night, you may even be treated to a view of the Northern Lights! 'Indian Summer' usually visits northern Wisconsin in early October, with warmer than usual days and mild breezes. You won't be swatting as many bugs, either.

Something for everyone. . .Here's an "Activities Sampler" - things you can do in the fall on the Forest:

Biking - There are an abundance of opportunities to ride your mountain bike here. A very large and popular trail system are the CAMBA (Chequamegon Area Mountain bike Association) trails, with trails located south of Highway 2 in the Delta, Drummond, and Cable areas in Bayfield County.

Hiking - For those who seek solitude, the Chequamegon- Nicolet is home to 5 Wilderness Areas totalling over 44,000 acres. Our Wilderness Page will give you more information. The Ice Age Trail, located on the Medford-Park Falls District (Taylor County), provides another opportunity to hike in the Forest. And, the Franklin Nature Trail on the Eagle River-Florence District (Forest County) is a short 1-1/4 mile loop. Of the entire loop, 1/5 of a mile of the trail is accessible for persons using wheelchairs. Visit our Trails and Tours Page for a variety of hiking opportunities.

Auto Tours - The Chequamegon-Nicolet has two scenic byways - the Great Divide (Highway 77 in Ashland and Sawyer Counties) and the Heritage Scenic Byway in Oneida and Vilas Counties. More auto tours can be found on our Trails and Tours Page.

ATV - There are over 190 miles of established ATV trails on the Forest, which include the Dead Horse Run (Ashland County), the Flambeau Trail System (Price County), and the Washburn ATV System (Bayfield county). Many Forest Service Roads and local town roads are also open to ATV use. Unsure of where you can ride your ATV on the Forest? Read the ATV Use Frequently Asked Questions.

Horseback Riding - Equestrians young and old will enjoy the unique trails on the Forest. The Smith Rapids Saddle Trail (Price County) and the Horseshoe Lake Saddle Trail (Ashland County) are examples of fine horseback riding trails. More can be found on the Trails and Tours Page.

Camping - Most campgrounds on the Chequamegon side of the forest remain open and serviceable through the end of October. While many of the campgrounds on the Nicolet officially "close" in early September, they are open but provide no services like garbage disposal. You can still camp at them provided they are not gated closed. See our Camping Page for listings and locations of campgrounds throughout the forest. Camping is also allowed anywhere on the forest unless otherwise posted.

Sightseeing - Although sightseeing in the fall is beautiful anywhere on the Forest, a few sites stand out. The Mountain Lookout Fire Tower, located on the Lakewood-Laona Ranger District (Oconto County), is a fully restored representative of fire towers that were put up in the area in the 1930's. You can climb to the top of the tower (climb at your own risk!). Other popular areas include the Smith Rapids Covered Bridge (on Highway 70 in Price county), and Morgan Falls and St. Peter's Dome (in Sawyer County).

Hunting - There are many hunter walking trails on the Forest. Hunting trails also make great walking trails, but be sure to wear some blaze orange since many game seasons are in place during the fall. See our Hunter Walking Trail Page for maps and tons of information about hunting on the Forest.

Fishing - Colder water temperatures and weather can really yield some trophy fish like Muskies and Walleyes! See our Fishing Page for information on lakes, streams, species, and photos of some of those trophies!

Protect Our Forests...Please do not bring firewood from home to the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. The Forest has signed a closure order which prohibits the possession, storage or transport of any firewood that originates from outside the State of Wisconsin. This is to protect our Forest from the spread of exotic insects such as Emerald Ash Borer, Gypsy Moth, and Asian Longhorned Beetle.

Contacting Us... The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest can provide you with forest and quadrangle maps, information about campgrounds and camping, and much other information to help make your visit to your National Forest enjoyable. Each Ranger District has specialized fishing pamphlets and maps available for purchase, showing locations of lakes, streams and boat landings in their respective District. Lake contour maps are available at DNR field offices or local sporting goods stores. National Forest Supervisor's Offices and Ranger District office addresses and phone numbers may be found on our offices and contacts web pages.