Black River State Forest - Shale Rd

     I had three choices on this last afternoon of vacation.

A.      Take a nap and then catch up on a week of work email.

B.      Take a nap and then mow the lawn.

C.      Head to the Black River State Forest and take a hike.

     All too predictably, I went hiking.

 GPS Track File Download

     The weekend was unseasonably cool.  The temps topped out in the mid 60’s and a light drizzle would pass through every so often.  Although in July I’ll take excellent September weather any day for hiking.

     I took off around 15:30 and at 16:38 was out of the car and on the hike.  I picked a forest road path that would cover about 6 miles.  I knew that at least half of the route would be on pavement, but had not been on the other road, so did not know what to expect.  The route started at the southern intersection of N Settlement Rd and Shale Rd.  I would follow Shale Rd to the northern intersection with N Settlement Rd and then back down N Settlement Rd to the southern intersection.

     Starting out the temp was at 65F with a mostly cloudy sky.  Shale Rd proved to be pavement as well.  These paved forest roads are narrow asphalt and kept up well enough to be accessible by any vehicle.  Although narrower than a township road or highway they allow plenty of room for two vehicles.  I’m not a fan of pavement, but I need to put the miles on.  Besides, on such a day just being in the forest is enough to satisfy nearly any adventuring soul.

    The first mile of the road had a few paths dive off into the woods.  Most of those overgrown paths are either old logging entries or favorite hunting drive-ins.  One sandy wider road about a mile down the road headed west into the woods.  I noted that this might be a fun road to head down some day.  Shortly after passing that intersection three turkey took off down the side of the road before heading into the woods.  I could not get a good shot with the camera.

 

     Two weeks ago I’d been in the Black River Forest walking a snowmobile trail.  That hike was essentially through a swamp and was flat, flat, flat.  This hike started off flat, but after a mile begins a long stead climb to a ridge.  Once over the ridge the terrain undulates lightly over some smaller ridges.  At 17:07 the Wildcat hiking and ski trail crosses the road and that explains the terrain.  Wildcat Mound is one of the highest points in the Black River Forest and is surrounded by several other ridges and mounds.  On either side of this complex of high ridges are natural swamps and old cranberry marshes. 

     Also in contrast to the hike from two weeks ago, there were almost no mosquitoes and the flies were significantly reduces, though still quite evident and aggressive.

     I made the intersection of Kling Rd and Shale Rd at 17:21.  The pavement ends for Shale Rd here and Kling Rd is not paved for the entire length.  Kling Rd was one I’d been on two weeks before.  The start of that hiking portion was on Kling Rd about 5 miles to the west of where I stood now.  Shale Rd takes a left and heads straight and flat for N Settlement Rd.  As mentioned, this part of Shale is not paved, but is a wide sandy path.  The path is clearly well travelled.  I was able to take a good picture of a doe and fawn on this section.

     Logging is a constant activity in the forest.  On this short hike there were several places where the forest had not been touched for decades.  Other places where there was new fall and still more sections where the forest had been cut within the last five years.  I’m learning to appreciate the variety that these cut and growth areas provide the forest.

 

Doe and fawn along Shale Rd.

     At 17:41 I reached the north intersection of N Settlement and Shale.  A right turn to head south and down N Settlement Rd.  Passed by Younkers Rd at 18:00 and continued on N Settlement.  The road was mostly flat at this point but the elevation profile shows a drop from about 1047ft at the Shale/Kling intersection to 1015ft and the climbing to 1072ft at the N Settlement/Younkers intersection.  The drop is steady and slow and so is the climb.  After Younkers the climb becomes greater, ascending 120ft is just over a half mile.  Not quite mountain-ish, but it does make for interesting terrain.

View from high point on N Settlement

    I passed by the parking lot for the Wildcat Hiking and Ski trails.  On the opposite side of the road from the parking lot the Wildcat trails join with the Smrekar trails.  The combination of these two trail systems provides 15 or 16 miles of hiking that includes some good climbs and a variety of forest and meadows.  After the parking lot the road really begins the climb.

     The intersection of N Settlement and Smrekar Rd came along at 18:28.  The parking lot for the Smrekar trails is just down the paved Smrekar Rd.  Six minutes later I was back at the car, having covered 6.15 miles in just less than two hours.

     Today I was simply trying to put on some miles and get out of the house.  The day was spectacular for hiking and I also came away with some ideas for future hikes in the forest.