November sits on the edge of winter, when in the Northwoods liquid water becomes solid. So, it is the perfect time to walk—briskly, to stay warm—around the edge of a lake or marsh as it begins to …

A rainbow of fall colors provides the backdrop for October. Bundle up against the chilly breeze, and you can take a walk through the woods at a slow enough pace to really notice the texture of the …

The little olive-green Duluth Pack No. 2 was stuffed with a puffy jacket, hat, mittens, and Scholastic paperback books. My then four-year-old daughter, Whitney, was responsible for her own pack. The …

Outdoor recreation is not a side activity in northern Wisconsin. Thousands of lakes and rivers combined with countless wooded trails keep people moving from one season to the next, and they need gear …

For many visitors, Pattison and Amnicon Falls State Parks are places to spend an afternoon, hike beside rushing water, gather with family, or discover something new. One local family takes reunions …

Richard Louv’s influential book,  Last Child in the Woods , launched a grassroots movement to connect children and nature. Coining the lack of experience in the outdoors as “nature-deficit …

It’s no secret that Door County is a special place. Wisconsin’s proverbial vacationland, every year some 2.5 million tourists drive up to the northeastern county, half the size of Rhode Island, …

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 …