Discover A Little-Known Natural Wonder In Wisconsin On The 3.4-Mile Red Bird Trail
By Jessica Moore|Published March 09, 2023
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Jessica Moore
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Jessica is a storm chaser, photographer, meteorologist, and writer from Colorado. As a native of this beautiful state, she grew up with a love of the outdoors, and today enjoys hiking, rafting, skiing, and photographing landscapes and storms. She is also a mom to a beautiful little girl and loves life as an entrepreneur which allows her to be fully present for her daughter. She has been a writer for OnlyInYourState for just over 1 year and loves the opportunity to combine her loves of writing and travel to bring you the most exciting content for travel destinations across the country.
The beloved Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin’s largest lake, is a popular year-round destination for tourists and locals alike. High Cliff State Park is the only state-owned recreation area on the lake, and it is rich in natural beauty, history, and geologic diversity. Many hiking trails in the area allow you to immerse yourself in it all, but one trail stands out for its ease of access and breathtaking scenery. It also leads you to one of the most unique natural wonders in Wisconsin.
The 3.4-mile Red Bird Trail in High Cliff State Park is a densely treed trail that is perfect for hikers of all skill levels. It is generally flat and takes just over an hour round-trip to complete the loop. But before you begin your journey, take note: you'll need a Daily Admission pass (starting at $8) for your vehicle to enter the park.
You'll find several meandering streams along the path. The trail is generally well-marked, so you should have no trouble navigating along the way. This trail is unique in that it traverses the top of the Niagara Escapement on Lake Winnebago’s eastern shore.
As you work your way around the loop, you'll begin to see more and more of these limestone rock features jutting up out of the landscape through the trees.
These fascinating geologic features are exciting to wander through as you make your way along the trail. You'll be amazed by the size of these rocks towering above you. Some of these rock formations reach up to 40 feet tall!
While most of the Red Bird Trail is flat and shaded, you'll have an opportunity to drink in the panoramic views of Lake Winnebago from the top of the Niagara Escarpment. These views are even more spectacular when the fall colors bathe the landscape.
This trail can also be quite spooky during late fall when the trees have been stripped of their leaves, particularly on a foggy morning or evening. It would make the perfect Halloween hike!
At the top of High Cliff, you'll also discover the 12-foot statue of Winnebago Indian Chief Red Bird. He was once the leader of the Native American Winnebago (or Ho-Chunk) tribe. The statue overlooks Lake Winnebago and serves as a tribute to this fearless leader from the past.
This trail truly offers it all: history, unparalleled scenery, and geologic wonder for all to explore. It's well worth the hour-long hike to soak in the unique beauty found here.
Have you ever hiked the Red Bird Trail? If so, we’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below!
And if you’re looking for more easy hiking in the area, this paved loop trail is well worth exploring.
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