Trails
There are hundreds of miles of maintained recreational trails throughout the Mellen area, including the expanse of trails in the Chequamegon National Forest and the North Country National Scenic Trail. The Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association (CAMBA) offers over 300 miles of marked and mapped trails. The Great Divide Scenic Byway winds along Hwy 77, through the hills of the Penokee Range, intersecting the heart of the Chequamegon National Forest. The Ice Age National Scenic Trail follows a ridge formed by the last glacier to cover this region. Fall colors in Mellen are spectacular. Be sure to come and enjoy miles of this rare beauty, a photographer’s paradise.
Day Lake-hiking-The Day Lake Trail extends about 1 mile along the edge of Day Lake, heading northeast from the Day Lake picnic and swimming area to the peninsula overlooking Musky Bay. The trail is fairly flat and has spurs connecting it to the loops of Day Lake Campground.
Directions: From Mellen drive 18 miles southwest on Highway GG to the Day Lake campground entrance.
Forest Lodge-hiking, interpretive- The Forest Lodge Nature Trail is a narrow dirt path that makes a 1.1-mile loop, with optional extensions of 0.6 miles and 1 mile. Twenty-two numbered stops along the 1.1-mile loop correspond to an interpretive booklet about the area’s natural and cultural history.
Directions/Address: 22305 Garmisch Road, Cable, WI
Morgan Falls & St. Peter’s Dome-hiking-Visit the beautiful Morgan Falls (1.6 miles, easy) or climb to the top of St. Peter’s Dome (4.2 miles, moderate to hard) from this trailhead. St. Peter’s Dome is a red granite formation that rises to an elevation of 1,565 feet. On a clear day you can see the Chequamegon Bay of Lake Superior and the Apostle islands.
Directions: From Mellen drive west on Highway GG 8 miles to FR 187 (Mineral Lake Rd). Turn right (north) on FR 187 and follow it 3 miles to the T intersection with FR 198 (Pine Stump Corner). Turn right (north) on FR 187 and continue 1.4 miles to FR 199 (County Line Road). Turn left (west) on FR 199 and drive 4 miles to the parking lot.
Mukwonago Trail-hiking, snowshoeing, skiing-The Mukwonago Trail is comprised of 4 stacked loops (2.3 km, 4.4 km. 7.5 km, and 13.6 km) that flow through an oak and white pine forest. In the winter this trail is groomed for cross- country skiing and a separate 4-mile trail is available for snowshoeing.
Directions: From Mellen drive west on Highway GG 19.4 miles to Clam Lake, WI. From Clam Lake, Drive west on State Highway 77 14.5 miles to the trail.
Namekagon Trail-hiking, mountain biking, skiing-The Namekagon Trail features 3 fairly flat loops of varying lengths (1.7 km, 2.4 km and 2.2 km). In the summer the East Loop (1 mi) is available for hiking. In the winter all three loops are groomed for cross- country skiing.
Directions/Address: off Forest Rd 209, Cable, WI 54821
Penokee Mountain Trail -hiking, skiing-The Penokee Mountain Trail is on the north edge of a valley and features 3 stacked loops (3.2 km, 5.1 km, and 8.6 km). The trail and the overlook adjacent to the parking lot both provide beautiful views of the surrounding area. In the winter the entirety of this trail is groomed for cross-country skiing.
Directions: Located 3 miles west of Mellen on State Highway GG
Rock Lake Trail & Non-motorized Area-hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing, skiing-The Rock Lake Trail has 5 main stacked loops (2 km, 4 km, 7.1 km, 11.5 km, and 16 km) and an additional 1.8 km loop accessible from the two longest loops. The terrain is rolling to hilly and traverses a maple and oak forest with occasional stands of white pine. In the winter the trail is groomed for cross- country skiing and a separate 2- and 5- mile stacked loop system is available for snowshoeing. A network of mountain bike trails intersects the hiking and skiing trails.
Directions: From Mellen, drive west on Highway GG 19.4 miles. Turn right onto County Highway M in Cable, WI 54821. Drive 11.3 miles.
North Country National Scenic Trail-hiking-The North Country Trail extends 33.9 mi across the Great Divide Ranger District. It is managed as a long- distance hiking trail, but many people enjoy hiking short sections. The trail goes right past the Legion Memorial Library in Mellen. There is a trailhead on Highway 169 just outside of Mellen at the Tyler Forks River Bridge. The trail also goes past the Penokee Overlook located 3 miles west of Mellen on State Highway GG.