Since I’m still living in the Chicago burbs, this place continues to be my favorite destination for newbies and for quick one-night getaways when I need to get a hiking fix. I’ve visited numerous times since my last summary, including a two-night autumn trip with my 6-year-old son (now 8), and several other trips introducing people to backpacking for the first time.
Continue reading Update: Forest Glen PreserveThe big out-west mountain trips are the ones that we’re all really preparing for while we’re scouring maps of the plains for some decent topography to hike near our hometowns. The following trip that I took to Grand Teton National Park in 2016 is one of a few “exotic” destinations that I may write about on occasion, between posts about local hikes, food, and gear.
Although short, coming in at only three nights, this was one of my favorite hikes ever, and I plan to do it again at some point. Enjoy the story and the photographs (click on any photo to see enlarged versions), and get your trail map here.
Filtering Water at Sunset Lake, Day 3
Writing about Yellow River State Forest pains me due to the fact that anything I can say about it will only result in attracting more attention to this little-known Midwestern backpacking gem. Less than 4.5 hours from downtown Chicago, 3.5 hours from Des Moines, 2.5 hours from the Quad Cities, and only 2 hours from Madison, WI, the 25-mile backpack loop and connected trail system at Yellow River State Forest provide more than enough hiking for a long weekend.
Trail combinations can be made to create great trips for experienced hikers or for kids and beginners. The backpack trail* includes several steep segments, so it may not be appropriate for small children or people who are not ready for a challenge. Remote camping is in designated areas only, but the sites are large, dispersed areas so parties will not feel as though they are on top of each other.
Remote camping and parking are free, and most remote site are within a half mile of trailhead parking areas, making the almost complete absence of other backpackers on the trail mind-boggling. In addition to backpacking, fishing, car-camping, hunting, birding, cycling, and horseback riding are other activities I’ve seen going on in and around the state forest. A pdf trail map can be found here, and here’s where we parked to catch the beginning of the backpack trail. Click on photos for higher resolution.
My cousin Matt, and I arrived at the Backpack Trailhead on a rainy Saturday afternoon in early October. We were shocked at how empty the parking lot was Continue reading Backpacking Yellow River State Forest
Newport State Park is a great place to camp in Door County without spending the night on top of your neighbors as you might at Peninsula State Park, and without spending a fortune on ferry rides as you would when visiting Rock Island State Park. (Which I still highly recommend, by the way, despite the high cost of getting there. Read more here.) The frequently intersecting trail system can make a hike as long (or short) as you want it to be through a series of loops, and the terrain is flat enough for any hiker, including children. Rocky shorelines provide rugged hiking and scrambling for more adventurous hikers.
Salty snacks, GORP, energy bars… Palate fatigue is a real thing, and after a few days of these foods something fresh tasting is like a little slice of heaven. Fruit leathers are one of the snacks that provide a break for my palate.
This awesome recipe* helped me power my four-day trek through the Tetons this summer. It’s just as delicious as my autumn recipe, plus I added a couple of optional ingredients for added nutrition. Continue reading Fruit Leather – Summer Recipe
