Great Wide Somewhere is a series where I talk about finding adventure and wisdom in Wisconsin’s State Parks and Natural Areas.
The Kettle Moraine State Forest is located all across eastern Wisconsin. It starts in the south near Whitewater and stretches north, stopping just shy of Sheboygan. It is a region of hills and valleys carved by ancient Glaciers. It the perfect place to get lost.
I have such a soft spot for Pike Lake. It is a park with a little bit of everything, It’s winding trails and deep woodlands are enchanting and the lake itself is expansive and beautiful.
For me it has been an escape for the last two years.
My first visit to Pike Lake was back in 2017. I had just bought my first pair of real hiking boots. Before I had simply been making do with a cheap pair of running shoes. With my brand new pair of boots, I felt like a real hiker, like I truly belonged outside. I was excited to not only see a completely new park, but I had also brought my camera along and couldn’t wait to shoot to some photos.
It was February, and the trails were slick with ice. I fell about four or five times but not even that could lessen my wonder.
I returned in the fall of 2017 and was thankful for the dry, dusty, and ice free trails of late September. The park transforms with the seasons. In the winter the glacial topography is easily visible, but hiking without snowshoes or traction devices proves to be difficult. In Summer the park becomes a lush paradise, and in Fall the leaves are breath-taking. It is a park that isn’t immediately beautiful like some other state and national parks. Pike Lake revels in its little moments and small unassuming beauty.
March of 2018 I convinced my mom to go for a day hike at Pike Lake. We were both sick of the cold winter weather and were in need of fresh air and sunshine. In spring the trails are muddy and have small rivulets of melting water from snow running down their winding hilly lengths. Even with the mud, a trip to the 60 foot observation tower is always worth it. Our slow trudge to the top of Powder Hill was rewarded with views that stretched for miles.
Revisiting Pike Lake is like visiting an old friend. It takes a bit to catch up, but once the initial small talk is over the conversation always leads somewhere deeper, somewhere magical. The late summer wildflowers and slowly changing leaves of this past fall made for a spectacular hike. The cool shade of the trees and the darkness of the woods made me feel like the only person in existence for miles.
This past weekend I felt a tug in my gut. I knew I needed to get back there, to witness another late winter at Pike Lake, just as I had done for the past two seasons. I packed up my gear, and a breakfast burrito, and made the trek north. Even with chilly temperatures hovering in the single digits, the park was still a delight. Woodpeckers and the occasional chickadee were the only sounds in an otherwise quiet wood. A stand of pines provided some much needed shelter from the biting wind.
I saw three other people out on the trails that morning. There were more people parked out on the lake than in the parking lot. A big theme here on my blog is that many of my trips are local and often take place in my home state of Wisconsin. I don’t need a grand or expansive vacation in order to “get away” from daily frustrations. Pike Lake has become a retreat for me. Whenever my life becomes too busy, or confusing, or generally overwhelming, I always have a safe place to return.
Wisconsin DNR Website (for more information on Pike Lake) :
https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/pikelake/
Field Day 