Hartman Creek State Park: Ice Age Trail Loop from Allen Lake (Blog Hike #1089)

Trails: Ice Age National Scenic Trail et. al.
Hike Location: Hartman Creek State Park
Geographic Location: west of Waupaca, WI (44.32536, -89.21733)
Length: 2.8 miles
Difficulty: 4/10 (Easy/Moderate)
Date Hiked: October 2025
Overview: A lollipop loop passing Allen Lake and many Ice Age geological landforms.
Park Information: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/hartmancreek
Hike Route Map:

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming August 28, 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: From the junction of US 10 and SR 54 on the west side of Waupaca, take SR 54 west 4.5 miles to Hartman Creek Road and turn left on Hartman Creek Rd.  Hartman Creek Rd. deadends at the park entrance in 1.8 miles.  Stop at the park office to pick up a trail map and pay the entrance fee, then drive another 0.3 miles to the Allen Lake parking lot on the right.  Park here.

The hike: Located in central Wisconsin roughly halfway between Appleton and Stephens Point, Hartman Creek State Park protects 1417 fairly flat acres in the western part of an area known locally as Chain O' Lakes.  Chain O' Lakes consist of 22 lakes connected by channels, and several of those lakes including Hartman Lake, Marl Lake, Pope Lake, Manomin Lake, and Knight Lake sit in or adjacent to the eastern half of the park.  Paddling is a very popular activity, and the eastern part of the park offers numerous places to put in a kayak or canoe.  Motorized boats are also allowed, but all lakes in the park are no wake zones.

            Before it became a park, the land portion of Hartman Creek State Park was once a hops farm that featured the largest hops house in Waupaca County.  The State of Wisconsin purchased the farm in 1939, and the depression-era Works Progress Administration (WPA) helped build a State Fish Hatchery here.  In 1960, the fish hatchery was deemed unnecessary, and the land was transferred to Wisconsin's State Parks and Recreation Division.  Hartman Creek State Park opened in 1966.

            In addition to the lakes, the park offers some nice amenities including a 103-site developed campground and many miles of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding.  The famous Ice Age National Scenic Trail, a 1200-mile backpacking trail that winds through much of Wisconsin, passes through the western part of the park.  This hike features a segment on the Ice Age Trail, but it uses some of the park's other trails to form a lollipop loop that passes one of the park's largest lakes as well.  I honestly was not expecting much from this park when I drove in, and I sat in my car for nearly an hour at the trailhead waiting for the rain to stop.  Nevertheless, I had a very nice hike.

Hellestad House

            Either before or after your hike, you want to check out the historic Hellestad House, which sits across the parking lot from Allen Lake.  This log cabin dates to 1864, and it was built and occupied by Ole and Anne Hellestad in nearby Scandinavia, WI.  Several generations of Hellestads lived in the cabin until it was sold in 1958 and fell into disrepair.  Decades later, Bob and Christine Faulk bought it at an auction and donated it to the park.  The cabin was moved to its present site in 1998.

Allen Lake trailhead

            To begin the hike, walk the asphalt trail west toward Allen Lake, then turn right to begin heading north with Allen Lake on your left.  Scenic views open up to the west across Allen Lake while another much smaller body of water sits to the right.  Trails in this park are mostly unmarked, but major trail intersections are marked by lettered posts bearing trail maps.  

Allen Lake

            At 0.15 miles, you reach the intersection at post B.  Turn left to begin heading west on a wide dirt trail that is open to hikers and mountain bikers.  At first the trail passes through tall old pine trees planted by the WPA in the early 1940's, but later sections pass through a younger pine planting.  After a very flat first 0.7 miles, you begin a gradual climb up the ridge west of Allen Lake.

Old pine planting

            Pass posts C and D to reach post E at 0.9 miles.  A total of 5 trails converge on this point, 2 of which are the Ice Age Trail.  You want to turn sharply left to begin heading south on the Ice Age Trail.  The Ice Age Trail follows a narrower dirt track compared to the trails you have been hiking so far, but plenty of yellow rectangular paint blazes mark the way.

Starting the Ice Age Trail

            As you start south on the Ice Age Trail, what has thus far been a rather uninspiring hike starts to gain intrigue.  The Ice Age Trail roughly follows the terminal boundary of the ice sheets from the most recent ice age, and thus the trail undertakes an undulating course over and around kettles and kames.  The steep kettles and kames make for much more interesting scenery than the flat pine planting you traversed earlier.  Some benches provide opportunities to rest and enjoy the scenery.

Kettle depression

            At 1.5 miles, you reach an unmarked trail intersection with a bench.  You could turn left if you wanted to short-cut this hike, but I continued south to maximize my time on the Ice Age Trail.  Note the large glacial erratic standing to the left at this intersection.  Glacial erratics are boulders transported southward from the Canadian shield by the glaciers.  While glacial erratics are found throughout Wisconsin's forests, this one is larger than most, and you pass through a large collection of glacial erratics just ahead.

Bench beside large glacial erratic

            1.85 miles into the hike, you reach a parking lot on West Windfelt Lane; this parking lot is an alternate starting point for this hike.  The Ice Age Trail continues south across the road and soon exits the state park, so our hike turns sharply left to head north on a wide dirt/grass trail.  The trail descends gradually with the park's campground on your right.  A few fall colors were showing on the early October afternoon that I hiked here, but this park has too many pine trees to make it a good fall foliage destination.

Hiking through young pine forest

            Allen Lake soon comes into view through the trees on the right.  Ignore side trails that exit right or left and stay with the main hiking/biking trail.  At 2.4 miles, you return to post C and close the loop.  Retracing your steps via a pair of right turns returns you to the Allen Lake parking area to complete the hike.

Fischer Creek State Recreation Area (Blog Hike #1088)

Trail: (unnamed)
Hike Location: Fischer Creek State Recreation Area
Geographic Location: south of Manitowoc, WI (43.93450, -87.72100)
Length: 1.4 miles
Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: October 2025
Overview: An out-and-back passing views of Lake Michigan leading to an old silo.
Park Information: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/fischercreek
Hike Route Map:

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming July 21, 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: South of Manitowoc, take I-43 to CR XX (exit 137).  Exit and go east on CR XX.  Drive CR XX east 2.2 miles to Lakeshore Drive and turn left on Lakeshore Dr.  Drive Lakeshore Dr. north 1.3 miles to the signed park entrance on the right.  Turn right to enter the park, and park in the small paved parking lot.

The hike: Owned by the State of Wisconsin but developed and maintained by Manitowoc County, Fischer Creek State Recreation Area protects 124 acres along Lake Michigan.  The park straddles its namesake creek, and it protects more than a mile of Lake Michigan shoreline, which forms its east boundary.  The land was purchased in 1991 using money from the state's Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund with a contribution from Manitowoc County.  Today the park remains the newest county park in Manitowoc County.

            Fischer Creek State Recreation Area protects both blufftop and lakeshore areas, but its limited amenities include only a small Lake Michigan beach and some picnic shelters.  In particular, the Area is open for day-use only.  The park's single trail parallels Lake Michigan; it has both developed and natural sections.  This hike uses almost all of that trail, thus squeezing almost all of the hiking possible out of this small Recreation Area.

Trail leaving south parking lot

            Fischer Creek State Recreation Area has two parking lots; start at the south parking lot to do this hike as a single out-and-back instead of a double out-and-back.  The wide gravel trail heads northeast through a mowed-grass area dotted with small trees, cooking grills, and benches.  Both parking lots are located on the blufftop, and quickly you reach the edge of the bluff and a fantastic view east over Lake Michigan.  A stiff breeze was blowing off the lake on the late afternoon that I came here, and the long shadows extended well into the lake.

Blufftop view of Lake Michigan

            Next the trail descends steeply to reach the Recreation Area's small sandy beach; a short spur trail to the right leads down to the beach.  The beach was scenic but blustery on my visit.  After crossing Fischer Creek on an iron bridge with wooden deck, you reach another lakeside viewpoint that offers a fantastic view north along Lake Michigan.  Continuing north, the trail climbs moderately to top the next bluff.

Small Lake Michigan beach

View north along Lake Michigan

            Just shy of 0.4 miles, you reach a trail intersection with the north parking lot visible to the left.  The trail going sharply right leads a short distance to more blufftop benches.  This hike angles softly right to continue a northbound course.

Concrete silo

            Soon the gravel trail surface turns to dirt, and the trail crosses a small stream on a wooden footbridge to enter a dense brushy young broadleaf forest.  At 0.7 miles, you reach an old concrete silo, a relic from this land's agricultural history.  The trail continues north past the silo, but it gets increasingly narrow and overgrown before reaching a dead end at the park's north boundary.  Thus, the silo is a good place to turn around.  Retrace your steps south through the developed area to return to the south parking lot and complete the hike.

Franklin Creek State Natural Area: Mill Springs Day Use Area to Dysart's Pond (Blog Hike #1087)

Trails: Mill Springs and Pioneer Pass Trails
Hike Location: Franklin Creek State Natural Area
Geographic Location: southwest of Rochelle, IL (41.85430, -89.34852)
Length: 2.5 miles
Difficulty: 4/10 (Moderate)
Date Hiked: October 2025
Overview: An out-and-back, mostly easy but with a couple of steep areas, passing Mill Pond, Mill Spring, and Dysart's Pond.
Park Information: https://dnr.illinois.gov/parks/park.franklincreek.html
Hike Route Map:

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming date TBD)

Directions to the trailhead: From Rochelle, take SR 38 west 16 miles to State Street in the town of Franklin Grove.  Turn right on State St., then in 0.1 miles turn left on Old Mill Road.  Drive Old Mill Rd. west 2.6 miles to the signed park entrance on the left.  Turn left to enter the park, and park in the small gravel lot near the restroom building and picnic shelters.

The hike: Established in 1982 as Illinois' 24th state nature preserve, Franklin Creek State Natural Area protects 882 acres of lowland and upland forest along scenic Franklin Creek.  In addition to forested natural areas, the park also features a dose of history.  An abandoned quarry sits in the eastern part of the park, and the 1847 Franklin Creek Grist Mill, once the largest grist mill in Lee County, today serves as the park's visitor center and gift shop.

Franklin Creek Grist Mill

            True to a natural area, the park is light on amenities: only an archery range and some reservable picnic shelters lure visitors.  What the park lacks in amenities it makes up for in trails.  The park's 4.5 miles of hiking trails and 6 miles of bridle trails are accessed from 2 main trailheads, one on the east side of the natural area and the other on the west side of the natural area.  This hike starts at the Mill Springs Day Use Area, which is the western access.  This out-and-back visits Mill Spring and Mill Pond and passes both riverside and ridgetop scenery en route to Dysart's Pond, a large serene pool in Franklin Creek near the center of the natural area.

Trailhead at Mill Springs Day Use Area

            From the picnic shelter at the Mill Springs Day Use Area, pick up the concrete ADA-accessible Mill Springs Trail as it heads south with Franklin Creek on your left.  Lots of honeysuckle crowds the understory of this mixed broadleaf forest, and this park really shows its youth in this area.  Ignore the short spur trail that leads right to Mill Pond; we will explore that trail on our way back.

Mill Spring

            At 0.3 miles, the concrete trail ends at a picnic shelter beside Mill Spring.  Water comes up among the rocks at the base of the hillside before cascading down some more rocks into Franklin Creek.  Mill Spring is quite robust: I came here on a near 90-degree morning during the driest time of year, and it was still emitting a strong flow of water.

Hiking along Franklin Creek

            The concrete Mill Springs Trail ends at its namesake spring.  Continue upstream by crossing the outflow of Mill Spring; this will require a rock hop or stepping through a few inches of water.  You are now on the singletrack dirt Pioneer Pass Trail.  Trails at this park are unmarked, but numbered posts mark key points and intersection.  Mill Spring is post #1.

Steep ascent

            The trail climbs to top a steep bluff before descending back to creek level via some wooden steps.  The next climb takes you all the way to the ridgetop, and it starts with the steepest grade of the hike.  Some wooden waterbars used to aid this ascent, but some trees that fell years ago still block the waterbars, forcing hikers to take a steeper route directly up the dirt hillside.  Remember that this hike is an out-and-back, so don't go up something if you are not sure you can get back down.

Hiking along the ridgetop

            At 0.65 miles, you reach the ridgetop, where you will stay for the next 0.4 miles.  The ridgetop is drier and receives more sun than the creekside areas, and I saw many yellow jackets on this part of the hike.  Ignore side trails that exit right.  A couple of shallow ravines are crossed via wooden footbridges.  These bridges were shaky on my visit, but they got me across without incident.

Footbridge over ravine

            1.05 miles into the hike, you descend back to Franklin Creek via a long set of wooden steps.  The ridge is about 100 feet higher than the creek, and you will have to go up and down the ridge twice on this hike.  At 1.2 miles, you reach the bottom of the hill, post #14, and the spur trail to Dysart's Pond.  Turn left and quickly arrive at Dysart's Pond.  Dysart's Pond is a calm area in Franklin Creek with a vertical rock bluff on the far side.  The pond occupies a serene setting, and its location in the middle of the natural area accessible only by this trail ensures a decent amount of solitude.

Dysart's Pond

            The Pioneer Pass Trail continues east, and the next two destinations are an old quarry and a deep rock shelter known as Whipple Cave.  Reaching either of those destinations requires fording Franklin Creek, so come prepared for wet feet if you wish to go further east.  I turned around at Dysart's Pond and retraced my steps to the Mill Springs Day Use Area.

Mill Pond

            To add some variety to my return route, I took the short spur to Mill Pond on my way back.  Mill Pond is a large algae-covered man-made pond; it once provided water for the grist mill that now serves as the park's visitor center.  A small picnic shelter here encourages you to pause, admire the pond, and think about this area's history before returning to the trailhead to complete the hike.

Illini State Park (Blog Hike #1086)

Trail: (unnamed)
Hike Location: Illini State Park
Geographic Location: across the Illinois River from Marseilles, IL (41.32094, -88.71166)
Length: 1.4 miles
Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: October 2025
Overview: A loop hike partially along the Illinois River.
Park Information: https://dnr.illinois.gov/parks/park.illini.html
Hike Route Map:

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming November 3, 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: From Marseilles, take Main Street south across the Illinois River to the signed park entrance on the left.  Turn left to enter the park, then turn left at the next 2 intersections to pass back under the river bridge you just crossed.  Park in the small gravel lot on the right near the gated entrance to the Pine Glen Campground.

The hike: Named for the Illinois Confederation, a.k.a. Illini or Illiniwek people, who lived here as late as the early 1800s, Illini State Park oozes history in every direction.  The park's north boundary is the Illinois River, and the Great Falls of the Illinois River proved a major barrier to barge navigation.  Thus, in the 1920s the Army Corps of Engineers built Marseilles Lock and Dam, which is formally known as Lock and Dam #5; it can still be seen in the north side of the park.  The Marseilles Moraine and its rich coal reserves lies in the southern part of the park.  The eastern part of the park was once the Marsatawa Country Club, which boasted one of the country's best golf courses in the early 1900s.

            The park's land has been in public hands since the early 1930s, and 2 Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) companies worked to convert the country club's golf course into the park we see today.  The CCC built many of the park's buildings, and their camp served as a semi-correctional boys camp until the 1960s.  Construction was finished in 1934, and the park officially opened in 1935.

            Today Illini State Park offers a 58-site developed campground, fishing and boating on the Illinois River, and some picnic shelters.  For hikers, the park offers only 1 trail: the short unnamed trail described here.  Yet this trail is a good one that explores the river, the old CCC camp, and the upland woods.  I had a nice hike when I came here on a warm afternoon in early October.

Starting the loop

            This trail forms a loop, and I hiked the loop counterclockwise by walking north from the parking lot before turning left to enter the woods.  Trails at this park are unmarked, but they are wide and easy to follow.  The riverside forest is dominated by black walnut and basswood trees, and I saw a lot of squirrels scurrying through the forest.

Marseilles Canal overlook

            At 0.15 miles, you reach the first of three Marseilles Canal overlooks.  This canal was built to channel Illinois River boat traffic into Marseilles Lock, which lies just downstream.  The landmass you see across the canal is actually an island; the main channel of the Illinois River lies beyond the island.  If you look carefully at the side of that island, you can see the rock cut that was made to build this canal.

Hiking along the canal

            The trail continues west with the canal through the trees to the right.  Several downed trees had been recently removed from the trail, and the trail maintenance here was excellent.  At 0.7 miles, the trail curves left to head away from the river and start following Person Creek.  A gradual climb comes next, but the difference between maximum and minimum elevation on this hike is only about 30 feet.  Thus, all grades on these trails are gradual.

Abandoned restroom building

            A sweeping left curve brings you to an abandoned restroom building, parking lot, and playground at 0.85 miles.  I suspect this area is connected to the boys camp from the 1960s mentioned in the introduction, but I could not confirm my suspicion.  Next the trail heads east atop a low but steep ridge that drops about 10 feet on either side.  I could not find any information about this ridge, so maybe it is part of the moraine that lies south of the park or an old river bank.

Stone picnic shelter

            1.3 miles into the hike, you reach a nice stone picnic shelter that is part of the Pine Glen Youth Group Campground.  The final leg of the loop uses an old dirt road with the group camp through the trees on the right.  500 feet later, you reach the vehicle gate that blocks the old dirt road and intersect the paved group campground access road.  Angle left and do a short road walk to return to the parking lot and complete the hike.

Buffalo Rock State Park and Effigy Tumuli (Blog Hike #1085)

Trails: Effigy and River Bluff Trails
Hike Location: Buffalo Rock State Park
Geographic Location: west of Ottawa, IL (41.32747, -88.91200)
Length: 2.3 miles
Difficulty: 2/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: October 2025
Overview: A semi loop beside effigy tumuli with blufftop views of the Illinois River.
Park Information: https://dnr.illinois.gov/parks/park.buffalorock.html
Hike Route Map:

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming June 12, 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: From downtown Ottawa, take Main Street west 0.6 miles to Clay Street and turn left on Clay St.  Drive Clay St. south 0.2 miles to Ottawa Avenue and turn right on Ottawa Ave.  Ottawa Ave. becomes Dee Bennett Road after you leave Ottawa.  Drive 3.5 miles from Clay St. to the signed park entrance on the left.  Turn left to enter the park, drive the narrow park road uphill to the top of Buffalo Rock, and park in the parking lot beside the picnic shelters and restroom building at the park road's end.

The hike: Formed as an ancient island in the Illinois River, Buffalo Rock was first discovered by European explorers in 1673 during Louis Jolliet's and Father Jacques Marquette's journey up the Illinois River.  The French explorers discovered the Illinois Confederation, a.k.a. the Illiniwek or Illini, living here, but within a few years the Illini were on the brink of defeat to the Iroquois.  In the early 1680's, the French built a military, trading, and missionary post atop the rock that became a headquarters for opponents of the Iroquois.  In 1912, the Crane Company of Chicago purchased the rock for use as a sanitarium and summer vacation home for its employees, and the company deeded the land to the State of Illinois in 1928.

            Located across the Illinois River from famous Starved Rock State Park, Buffalo Rock State Park and Effigy Tumuli protects 298 acres on and around its historic and namesake rock.  The rock's name comes from a legend that ancient peoples used the box canyon formed by the rock to trap and capture buffalos.  The park has no developed campground, but it offers some picnic shelters, a bison pen, 2 hiking trails, some blufftop river views, and the interesting effigy tumuli, which I will describe below.  This hike uses both of the park's trails to tour all major points of interest in the park.

Trail beside restroom building

            There are several places where you could start this hike, but I started at the restroom building at the northwest corner of the main parking lot.  A concrete path heads into the woods, and quickly it curves left to arrive at the dedication area for the effigy tumuli.  Technically a type of earth art, the effigy tumuli are a series of animal-shaped dirt mounds built in 1983 by Michael Heizer.  The tumuli are designed to be a tribute to the Mound Builder peoples who lived in eastern North America from 3500 BC until the 1700's.  The animal shapes of the tumuli are almost impossible to discern from the ground, and you will need to look at the park brochure while you are hiking if you want to know the shape of the mound you are standing beside.

Hiking through the prairie atop Buffalo Rock

            Continue south past the dedication area, and at 0.2 miles you reach the trail intersection that forms the loop portion of this hike.  Turn right to begin a counterclockwise journey around the loop.  The wide dirt/grass trail heads southwest through a prairie area, and this was a warm and sunny hike on the seasonally warm early October afternoon when I hiked here.  The park brochure tells you that you pass the frog and water strider tumuli on the left as well as the catfish tumulus on the right, but they look like formless mounds of dirt to the naked eye.

Catfish tumulus

            At 0.8 miles, you reach the west corner of the loop.  We will eventually turn left to continue the loop, but first angle softly right to add-on an out-and-back that takes you past the rest of the tumuli.  The trail descends slightly as it heads out the western part of Buffalo Rock, and this part of the rock has equal amounts of broadleaf trees and prairie.  The park brochure says that you pass the turtle tumulus on the left, but again it is hard to discern.

Western part of Buffalo Rock

            1.2 miles into the hike, you trace around a very tiny loop, almost a cul de sac, at the west end of the trail.  The mounds you see in this area form the snake tumulus, and they look more like a snake than any of the other tumuli do their animals.  Retrace your steps back east to return to the loop, then angle softly right to continue a counterclockwise journey around the loop.

Developed Illinois River overlook

            Just shy of 1.6 miles, you reach the developed Illinois River overlook.  This overlook is getting a little overgrown, but it still provides a mostly clear view of the river and Starved Rock State Park on the other side.  I am always amazed at how wide the Illinois River is; that width is partly due to the river's prairie setting and partly due to the river's extensive system of locks and dams.  Past the developed overlook, the trail continues east along the top of the river bluffs, which drop to the right.  Some unofficial river overlooks are passed, and I liked the view from some of the unofficial overlooks more than the view from the official overlook.

Unofficial Illinois River overlook

Bison pen

            2 miles into the hike, you reach another trail intersection.  The trail going straight leads down and up through a steep ravine to reach a secondary parking area, so you want to turn left to hike a more level trail back to our parking area.  Just before you finish the hike, you pass the park's bison pen on the right.  I saw several bison in the pen, and these bison form a fitting way to finish your hike at Buffalo Rock State Park.

Fernbank Park in Cincinnati, OH (Blog Hike #1084)

Trails: Sycamore and Shared-Use Trails
Hike Location: Fernbank Park
Geographic Location: west side of Cincinnati, OH (39.11855, -84.70019)
Length: 2.25 miles
Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: October 2025
Overview: A double loop near the Ohio River.
Park Information: https://www.greatparks.org/parks/fernbank-park
Hike Route Map:

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming November 17, 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: The entrance to Fernbank Park is located on the south side of US 50 5.8 miles west of Anderson Ferry Road or 4.8 miles east of SR 128.  Go south across the railroad tracks, then turn left to enter the park.  Drive the park road to the large trailhead parking lot at its end where this hike begins.

The hike: Tiny 66-acre Fernbank Park protects more than a mile of scenic riverfront along the Ohio River west of Cincinnati, and the park's history and the river's history are intricately intertwined.  The park was originally built in 3 areas: Lee Park, Dam Site #37, and River Park.  In 1974, the 3 areas were merged to form the park we visit today.

            The Dam Site #37 area is of particular historical interest.  Built in 1911 by the Army Corps of Engineers, the Fernbank Wicket Dam, formally known as Dam #37, was the world's largest movable wicket dam and the only one built entirely of concrete and steel.  Considered an engineering success at the time, the dam was built to ensure that the Ohio River remained navigable to boats year-round.  The dam site originally hosted its own self-sustaining community, but the dam was demolished in 1963.

            2 structures from Fernbank Park's rich history still stand side-by-side in the middle of the park: the Caretaker's Residence and Warehouse built in 1910 and the Pavilion and Concession Stand built in 1940.  The park is jointly managed by the Great Parks of Hamilton County and the Cincinnati Park Board, and it features a playground, some picnic shelters, and 2 trails: the natural-surface Sycamore Trail and the paved Shared-Use Trail.  This hike combines both trails to form a grand tour of Fernbank Park.

Sycamore Trail trailhead

            There are several places where you could start this hike, but I chose to start at the Sycamore Trail parking lot and hike the natural-surface trail first.  A single sign telling you a little about the Sycamore Trail marks the trailhead.  The Sycamore Trail forms a loop, and if you start at the trailhead sign you will go outbound on the southern arm and return on the northern arm.  All of Fernbank Park consists of flat riverside land; there is no significant elevation change anywhere on this hike.  Unfortunately, although you know the Ohio River is through the dense forest to the right, no clear views of the river emerge on the Sycamore Trail.

Hiking the Sycamore Trail

            Just shy of 0.2 miles, the 2 arms of the loop briefly unite; stay right to continue heading around the skinny loop counterclockwise.  The dense shrubby forest contains some sycamore trees, but the majority of trees are black walnut and oak.  I had one of the black walnut trees attack me when I hiked here on a seasonally warm afternoon on the first day of October: they were dropping their walnuts, and a walnut crashed on my shoulder, splattering me with black paste.  I thought about counterattacking by throwing the nut back at the tree, but I refrained.

Southeast end of the loop

            At 0.6 miles, you reach the southeast end of the loop at a sharp left curve.  A bench, trash can, and recycling bin are located here.  The return portion of the loop stays close to the park boundary on the right.  Fernbank Park occupies a narrow strip of land wedged between a railroad and the Ohio River, and noisy US 50 sits just beyond the railroad.  Thus, you never get the feel you are far from the city on this hike.

End of the Sycamore Trail

            1.1 miles into the hike, the north arm of the Sycamore Trail arrives back at the parking lot.  You could end your hike now, but to also see the developed area of the park, turn right to begin following an asphalt trail.  Known as the Shared-Use Trail, this asphalt trail is open to both hikers and road bikes, and it also forms a loop.  This description goes around the loop counterclockwise.

Shared-Use Trail

Nice stone picnic shelter

            The outbound/north arm of the loop continues the northwest course begun by the last part of the Sycamore Trail with the railroad close on the right.  This will be a hot and sunny section of trail in the summer with little of interest to see, and therefore it does not make for the most inspiring hiking.  At 1.7 miles, as the park entrance comes into view up ahead, the trail curves left to cross the park road and pass through the picnic area.  An interpretive sign tells you that the buildings in this area were designed by the famous Cincinnati architect Carl Freund and were built by the depression-era Civil Works Administration and Works Progress Administration.  These picnic shelters occupy shady spots and make inviting places to sit and rest before beginning the last part of the hike.

Trail along Ohio River bluff

Ohio River view

Pavilion and concession stand

            After passing around the park's playground, the trail surface turns to concrete and the Ohio River finally comes into view on the right.  Some sunny benches make nice places to sit and observe the river.  You also pass the historic caretaker's residence and concession stand mentioned in the introduction as well as the park's Ohio River fishing access.  Despite the concrete trail and the development, this is Fernbank Park's most scenic area.  After passing the fishing access, you return to the nature trail parking lot for a second time and complete the hike.

Fort Fisher State Recreation Area: Basin Trail (Blog Hike #1083)

Trail: Basin Trail
Hike Location: Fort Fisher State Recreation Area
Geographic Location: south of Wilmington, NC (33.96497, -77.92269)
Length: 2.2 miles
Difficulty: 1/10 (Easy)
Date Hiked: September 2025
Overview: An out-and-back through marsh and dune habitats to a platform overlooking The Basin.
Park Information: https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/fort-fisher-state-recreation-area
Hike Route Map: 

On The Go Map

Photo Highlight:

Hike Video: (coming September 11, 2026)

Directions to the trailhead: From downtown Wilmington, take US 421 south 20 miles to the signed entrance for Fort Fisher State Recreation Area on the left.  Turn left to enter the area, and park in the large blacktop parking lot in front of the Visitor Center.

The hike: Occupying a sandy peninsula that juts into the Atlantic Ocean south of Wilmington, 287-acre Fort Fisher State Recreation Area gets its name from Civil War-era Fort Fisher, a Confederate earthen fort built in 1861.  The fort guarded one of two entrances to the Cape Fear River, and its extreme strength earned it the nickname "The Southern Gibraltar."  The Union did not take the fort until their second attempt, which occurred on January 12, 1865 less than 3 months before the end of the war.  The fort's main magazine exploded 4 days later, killing over 200 men.

            The fort's surviving earthworks are protected by Fort Fisher State Historic Site, which is located adjacent to the Recreation Area.  During World War II, an air landing strip was built here, and a concrete bunker was built to house command batteries for German U-boat patrols.  Fort Fisher State Recreation Area was established in 1986, and today it offers one of Wilmington's best and most popular beaches.

            For hikers, the recreation area offers only 1 trail: the 1.1 mile one-way Basin Trail that takes you out the peninsula to a wide spot in the Cape Fear River known as The Basin.  The Basin Trail passes the World War II-era bunker, and it offers great views across the area's salt marshes.  Be warned that over half of this trail is exposed to the sun, so this is not a good hike for a hot summer afternoon.  I came here on a seasonal morning in mid-September and had a pleasant hike.

Trailhead for the Basin Trail

            The Basin Trail starts at the southwest corner of the parking lot, crosses the gated road that heads to the beach, and enters the woods.  Only a small sign marks the trailhead.  The white sandy dirt trail heads into the dense coastal scrub forest that features lots of cedar trees.  Some boardwalks take you over some wet areas, and the hiking is uneventful but pleasant.

Coastal scrub forest

            At 0.2 miles, a spur trail leading to the North Carolina Aquarium exits right.  The Basin Trail turns left and soon exits the cedar scrub in favor of an open, sunny, and sandy savannah-like area.  The sand is somewhat soft, making for slower going than you might expect.  The trick to walking in sand is not to take faster steps or longer steps but to make each step count: step where the sand is already compacted from where other people have stepped recently.  The terrain is flat enough that most people can get across this sand by making their steps count.

Soft sandy trail

            0.4 miles into the hike, the trail curves right to leave the softest sand and enter a sunny salt marsh.  Long boardwalks get you over the water, and looking around lets you see how large this salt marsh is.  This marsh would be a good place for waterfowl viewing in the morning or evening, but I came here in the middle of the day.

Boardwalk over salt marsh

Salt marsh

            At 0.75 miles, you reach the concrete World War II-era bunker.  Interpretive signs describe the command batteries and U-boat patrols that were stationed here during World War II.  After the war, this bunker became home to the famous Fort Fisher Hermit, Robert Harrill.  Harrill survived on what he could gather from the marsh, and he was well-known for sharing his wisdom from "The School of Common Sense" with visitors who came by.  Harrill died in 1972.

Concrete World War II-era bunker

            The rest of the trail passes through a thin cedar forest on a sandy dirt surface.  The area is wet enough that hundreds of fiddler crabs call it home, and each step I took sent countless of the tiny crabs scurrying for holes in the ground.  1.1 miles into the hike, you reach the wooden observation platform at the edge of The Basin.  

The Basin

            The Basin is a broad inlet near the mouth of the Cape Fear River, and water-filled views extend in multiple directions.  I saw some egrets, an osprey, and a heron while I was here.  Although benches encourage you to sit and rest, the lack of shade may shorten your rest period.  Only 1 trail leads here, so your only option is to retrace your steps 1.1 miles along the Basin Trail to return to the Visitor Center and complete the hike.