The Magnificent Penokee Mountain Range Trail In Wisconsin That Will Lead You To A Hidden Overlook
By Ben Jones|Published December 15, 2021
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Ben Jones
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Ben Jones is at heart an adventurer who delights in inspiring others. A former reporter and photojournalist, he explored towns large and small as a Wisconsin correspondent for USA Today. He later became a lead photographer and senior copywriter for an award-winning destination marketing agency, before founding Boldland Creative, a company that produces photography, video, and other content for travel destinations. Jones has completed photography and content projects in more than 15 states and when he’s not looking through a camera or at his Macbook you’ll find him exploring the world’s lakes and forests.
There’s an easy trail in far northern Wisconsin that will lead you to a view that extends for miles. The Penokee Mountain Range Trail is a short but scenic hike that will give you a gorgeous look at the northern backcountry. The trail won’t take you very long to complete but you’ll never forget the view. Here’s what you need to know about the Penokee Mountain Range Trail.
You’ll find the trail near the small Ashland County community of Mellen. The town is a base camp for fishing, hunting, hiking, biking, skiing, snowmobiling, and ATVing.
There are miles of trails to explore because the area is in the heart of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, a 1.5 million wild area that covers a huge swath of Northern Wisconsin.
The Penokee Mountain Range is a long area of hills that contains rich iron ore deposits. It stretches about 80 miles but is only a half-mile wide. The hills rise hundreds of feet above the surrounding countryside.
The trail is a .2 mile out-and-back hike that’s a perfect place to stretch your legs if you’re traveling through the area. While the trail is not very long, if you want to extend your hike there are adjacent trails that will take you all the way to Michigan.
The trail is well marked and has maps in an interpretive area. The trail includes some steps but is not very difficult. The view from the overlook is incredible – you can see for miles!
There’s a $5 fee if you plan to hike the trails – and you’ll want to. It’s gorgeous in any season, but in the fall the colors are spectacular. If you like scenic hikes, here’s an unrivaled canyon hike you’ll want to explore.
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