There’s never a bad time to be in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota (although peak black fly season comes close) but in my experience, September is the best. Likewise, …

After sitting all day in an air-conditioned office and then yanking weeds out of the garden, I like to take my dirt-creased hands to the lake. Cool water drips down my forearms as the paddle dips in …

The first thing you notice about Doyne Park is what it doesn’t look like. There’s no sweeping entrance, no dramatic signage. You come in off a side street on Milwaukee’s west side, drop down a …

When one thinks of quiet recreation in the Driftless Area, perhaps a cast line of fly-fishing flashes before one’s eyes. Or paddlers in a canoe past ancient rock outcrops. Maybe bicyclists on …

Sometimes, on a hot, dry day in August, it’s possible to go for a hike in the woods without being terrorized by mosquitoes. I revel in the limb-loosening heat—it’s like a sauna before the cold …

What compels you to wake up on a perfect summer morning? Perhaps you hear a voice saying, “Get out there. Run! Paddle! Bike!” Indeed, you know it will do you good to get moving, with the sun on …

Impression 1: Blomberg Lake State Natural Area, Burnett County, Wisconsin Early summer, late afternoon, my friend John and I are looking for orchids to photograph. On foot, we forge into rich …

The forests rustle and reverberate with abundant life. The heat and humidity can be oppressive, but cool mornings are a wonderful time to venture into the deep green forest where even dense shade …

The Trump administration is moving to expand hunting in national parks, wildlife refuges and wilderness areas, a shift that has sparked concerns about public safety and wildlife management. …

April is the month—at least in the Northwoods—when spring really comes alive. The ice may not all be melted, but open water is plentiful along the edges, shallows, and streams. Snow lingers in …

Let’s face it – we all get a little fussy when something is in our way. After all, we have somewhere to be, something to do. But when our way is barricaded and we become separated from loved ones …

There’s nothing I look forward to more in May than a sun-drenched walk up the rocky trail of St. Peter’s Dome in Northern Wisconsin. Although this state natural area’s hemlock-northern hardwood …

Wisconsin’s state parks serve as prominent destinations for both residents and visitors alike. Offering opportunities to explore forests, to paddle, or hike scenic trails, these parks collectively …

Nearly twenty years ago, my mother began having symptoms not unlike arthritis. She had always been a lover of nature and chose to be in her garden, always walking around barefoot as much as she …

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ FalconCam is live for the 2026 nesting season. This year’s livestream is using a new camera that offers a much sharper view of peregrine falcons – …

Sometimes, when the snow is deep, snowshoes are the best way to explore the winter woods. Even though skis are better for gliding down hills, snowshoes are better for navigating winding singletrack, …

The Outdoor Alliance, a coalition of outdoor recreation groups working together to protect public lands presented their long term priorities with the release of a 2026-2028 strategic plan. …

According to the March 13 dataset, the U.S. national park system welcomed 323 million visitors in 2025, about 8.8 million fewer than in 2024. Despite this drop in visitors, 26 of the 433 sites in the …

Winter is my favorite season, but only when there’s enough snow to go gliding through the woods in groomed tracks on my local cross-country ski trails. Up until that point, I relied on a …

As we transition from autumn to winter, many of us sense a changing of the guard from boats to boots, swapping our paddles for ski poles. Vigilant as always, we cast our eyes on the sky, whether …