Information about hiking, nature, horse and bike trails at High Cliff State Park, on Lake Winnebago in Calumet County, Wisconsin. Hiking High Cliff State Park and Lake Winnebago. The Forest Management trail starts at the parking lot east of the pavilion. ( Log Out /  Lighthouses, Birds, Wildlife, Oh My! The smaller loop is .9 miles long and the larger loop is 1.7 miles long. High Cliff Escarpment features both shaded and exposed cliff habitats along the Niagara escarpment, talus slopes supporting wet-mesic forest, more than a mile of Lake Winnebago shoreline, and outstanding examples of conical and effigy mounds in the level woodland … The Red Bird trail starts at the tower parking lot. The park got its name from cliffs of the Niagara Escarpment, a land formation east of the shore of Lake Winnebago that stretches north through northeast Wisconsin, Upper Michigan, and Ontario to Niagara Falls and New York State. Fun fact is that High Cliff got its name from the limestone cliff of Niagara Escarpment which also is side by side of Lake Winnebago. I stopped in for a hike on a warm spring day in May. Route Type: Loop. High Cliff hiking trails offer different levels of challenge to hikers. it then makes a steep climb to cliff tops and loops back around and has many interesting rock formations and great views of the lake. Within High Cliff State Park, Calumet County. The lime processed here was used in the creation of a variety of products including plaster and cement. Recent Posts See All. We did not camp, but the camp sites looked good, decent spacing in a very … Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Across from the parking lot on Tory Road, you will find the main trailhead. High Cliff State Park is a 1,187-acre (480 ha) Wisconsin state park near Sherwood, Wisconsin.It is the only state-owned recreation area located on Lake Winnebago. Near the statue is a 40-foot tall wood observation tower. You decide to start planning your weekend trip. In addition there is a tower to climb for a great view of Lake Winnebago. Easy/Intermediate. It eventually becomes the most famous feature of the escarpment and one of the most famous waterfalls in the world, Niagara Falls. This trail begins at the lime kiln ruins. Located on the northern shore of Wisconsin’s largest lake, Lake Winnebago, the park is a short 20 minute drive from Appleton. At 215 square miles, Lake Winnebago is the largest lake entirely inside the state of Wisconsin and High Cliffs is the only state run park on the lake. In all, Wisconsin has 230 miles of the escarpment. Hiking High Cliff State Park and Lake Winnebago To usher in the month of April, I ventured off to HighCliffState Parkin Sherwood, Wisconsin, which is located on the northeast tip of Lake Winnebago, to satisfy my urge to do something outside on a sunny 50 degree day. ), Wisconsin’s Rib Mountain State Park — Midwest Mountain Hiking and an Old Quarry, Wisconsin’s Council Grounds State Park — A River Park with a Dam, Merrill, WI, Donald County Park, Dane County, Madison, Wisconsin, A Short Hike to a Big Rock in the State Capital Area. Being near the lake, this trail is full of the sights, smells, and sounds of the water. And because of its location, there are plenty of winter activities too, like skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling. 124 acres. More information about hiking with your dog at High Cliff State Park will be available in my upcoming book, A Dog Owner's Guide to Hiking Wisconsin's State Parks. : Hiking High Cliff State Park and Lake Winnebago. foxcitiescvb.wordpress.com. High Cliff State Park - Sherwood, Wisconsin. An ok place to climb on an afternoon as well as doing some drytooling. T19N-R18E, Sections 1 NW¼, 2 SE¼. The entire escarpment runs for 650 miles through Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ontario. Hartman Creek State Park. The Butterfly Pond trail starts at the parking lot off Lower Cliff Road and goes around the Butterfly Pond. This route brought us along the top of the cliff, then down to the lake shore, and then back up the cliff. We logged 8 miles today. Once the trail turns away from the lake and begins to loop back, it starts climbing up the escarpment in a combination of hill and steps. It is a great park for hiking, biking, or grilling out on a weekend. Add Your Trails. Named for the ruins of the lime kiln, this trail showcases the history of the lime industry in the area. Snowshoeing is allowed anywhere in High Cliff except on designed ski trails. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. This area is a west facing limestone cliff ranging from 20 to 35 feet tall in High Cliff State park. As a bonus, there are Indian mounds along some of the trails. Playing next. This mostly level trail is marked with red dots and travels along the top of the Niagara Escarpment. It truly is nature at its best. Yes, it is abundant with green nature and plentiful wildlife. About 1/3 of the way into the trail, you have the option to continue straight or turn to complete the smaller loop. Hiking Trail yes Swimming Beach yes. Last summer we took a trip to hike and camp at the park. Hiking, camping, and cooking my way around Wisconsin. and 1500 C.E. This park is a favorite of kids because of the climbing opportunities offered by the cliffs. From the end of the Red Bird Trail, we took the access trail down the hill to the parking lot near the Lime Kiln trailhead. 97 Write a comment. Imagine this. Call 1-888-936-7463 (TTY Access via relay - 711) from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Hike up to the top of the cliffs with a 0.6-mile hike. 4608 x 3456 jpeg 4409kB. The trailhead is well marked and easy to find. Awesome Travel. For more information, please see: Chatwith customer service M-F 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. © Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources | Site requirements | Accessibility | Legal | Privacy | Employee resources, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Change ). In my experience, those features are often water, hills, and history. www.goodfreephotos.com . This self-guided, limestone-surfaced interpretive trail showcases effigy mounds built by Native Americans 1,500 years ago. With a variety of trail lengths and bailout points, it can be as difficult or easy as you want. A hiking site listed this as a nearly five-mile hike, but a local hiker expressed some doubt. This 1,187-acre treasure near Sherwood, Wisconsin, in Calumet County is the only state-owned recreation area on Lake Winnebago. It is also the only state-owned recreational area on Lake Winnebago which is Wisconsin's largest lake. Camping Primitive yes Electric Sites yes. High Cliff State Park happens to be one of those parks. Routes are top roped from trees above. Last summer we took a trip to hike and camp at the park. 5:05. After passing through the last section of the ruins, the trail enters the forest and becomes more focused on the natural beauty of the area. The lime kiln trail is 2.3 miles. Some drive-up windows may be open for admission purchases. If you’re interested, check out this information put out by the Wisconsin DNR on the lime industry at High Cliff. Stay well away from cli fs that are not protected by a barricade or barrier. This group of mounds was likely built by nomadic woodland tribes between 1000 C.E. From the vantage point of the cliff and especially from the 40-foot observation tower, you can see the cities of Appleton, Oshkosh, Neenah, Menasha and Kaukauna. High Cliff State Park happens to be one of those parks. 1995 Wisconsin State high school swim meet. This makes it a popular destination in the summer for locals and non-locals alike. Winter activities at High Cliff include skiing, fat tire biking, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling. Hikers should stay on marked trails and behind barricades and barriers where they are provided. 5 years ago | 0 view. This is one of those parks that I would love to return to again and again. A state trail pass is required on certain trails. Enter your email address to follow me via email. Cracks and ledges on face climbs are all over the cliff with some interesting overhanging areas. Report. High Cliff State Park is the only state-owned recreational area on Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin's largest lake. The trail I suggest taking is the yellow/red loop. ( Log Out /  Of the original 30 mounds found in the park, today High Cliff has 9 mounds left. My plan was to explore the High Cliff Escarpment State Natural Area via the Lime Kiln Trail. This will lead you to several different trail options, all varying in length, and all bringing you to beautiful scenic spots. In this area is a statue honoring Chief Red Bird, chief of the Winnebago Tribe. After a minute of walking, we noticed the trees staring back at us. Boating Launch Ramps yes. Length: .6 mile loopDifficulty: EasyDescription: This gentle trail circles the park’s effigy mounds. Wisconsin’s High Cliff State Park — Hiking the Niagara Escarpment with views of Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin Dells, Chapel Gorge Trail and Rocky Arbor State Park, fall throwback, Wisconsin’s Governor Dodge State Park — A Waterfall, A Canyon, and Farming History, Wisconsin’s Magnolia Bluff County Park, A Wisconsin State Natural Area, Country Views from the Bluff, Blackhawk Lake Recreation Area, Highland, Wisconsin — A Popular Man-Made Lake and Fishing Location (Bonus: Puppy Photos! Hiking Project is built by hikers like you. This makes it a popular destination in the summer for locals and non-locals alike. High Cliff State Park - Sherwood, Wisconsin. To experience the whole park on foot you probably need a whole day. Stickers and trail passes can be purchased online or at individual properties. Whitefish Dunes State Park. It’s a Tuesday night in summer. Located on the northern shore of Wisconsin’s largest lake, Lake Winnebago, the park is a short 20 minute drive from Appleton. The trail eventually opens up to one of the park’s picnic areas. The trail circles a group of effigy mounds. High Cliff State Park has 7 hiking trails. Guests are treated to over 12 miles of paved trails. One of the panther shaped mounds is 285 feet long! Potawatomi State Park. It then travels northeast through Lake Michigan and Lake Huron before turning southeast. Given the views from High Point Cliff, you can be sure that you’ll share this place with others, especially in season. lighthousesforjudy.blogspot.com. What features of the park do you hope to hike in, up, or around? This kiln operated in the area from 1855 to 1956. I’ve written about other parks dominated by this landscaping feature in my Peninsula State Park and Ledges County Park posts. High Cliff State Park has over 26 miles of trails including the Bike and Horse trails, Forest Management Trail, Butterfly Pond Trail, Indian Mound Trail and the Lime-Kiln Trail which is the one I hiked this past Thursday with friends and family. Beautiful photos – thanks! The magnificent 12-foot statue of Winnebago Indian Chief Red Bird, standing high on a huge granite rock, overlooks the lake and is a popular destination in the park. … The Indian Mound trail starts at the Indian mound lot off park road and near site 14 in the family campground. 0.7 mi 1.1 km #1 Indian Mound Trail. This trail is marked with yellow dots and compares managed and unmanaged woodlots. It was a barred owl! These guys roost in the trees during the day while they rest for a night of hunting small mammals. Links to follow along:Park websitePark mapTrail descriptions. Reflecting back this hike was very rewarding. Hike Length: 3.4 miles. A vehicle admission sticker is required to visit state park system properties. High Cliff State Park is one of those. High Cliff State Park is an 1187-acre lakefront landscape containing several hiking opportunities, in addition to the highest rated rock climbing in the state. https://bithiker.wordpress.com/2019/04/08/high-cliffs-state-park-hike-to-the-chief/. This trail is a combination of hiking near the Winnebago shoreline, in the steep Niagra Escarpment and through the kiln remains. As we were planning to end in the campground, we continued on the longer loop. The name comes from the cliffs of the Niagara Escarpment on the eastern shore of the lake. These trails range from 0.2 to 10.6 miles in length. Sherwood, WI Easy. The Indian Mound train has numerous Native American effigy mounds in excellent condition. Stay on marked trails and behind barricades and barriers where they are provided. This trail is not maintained in the winter. Description Description. Just like any other park, there are lots of opportunities for hiking, biking, horseback riding, boating, and swimming in the summer. The park features miles of well-maintained trails up the cliff, and a beach. There are a lot of trails with Native American history and Indian burial mounds. I have hiked on all the trails at High Cliff State Park and none of them are as enjoyable for me as this. Spread about 1200 acres with over 16 miles of trails in Sherwood village of WI state, there is so much to do from fishing, bicycling, hiking, horseback riding, boating at High Cliff State Park and the best thing have to be Camping. Off to our favorite state park this morning High Cliff in Sherwood, WI. Sherwood, WI 2 1.8 mi 2.9 km #2 Overlook Trail. #HighCliffStatePark #NiagaraEscarpment #petbeach. Length: 1.7 mile loopDifficulty: Easy to moderate, depending on the loop you select.Description: This trail begins by the ruins of the lime kiln before traveling along the lake shore and either back or up to the top of the escarpment. All trails are looped and vary in length. 1600 x 1200 jpeg 493kB. Effigy mounds are a fascinating and mysterious glance into the lives and culture of the original people of this land. It truly is nature at its best. During the trip we had the chance to both hike and camp at the park. So, we did Red Bird, and then kept going along all the horse riding trails. The views from the top are quite spectacular. Total Ascent: 150' How Hard: Easy. The trails are very interesting, they are not just flat, there are decent elevation changes and really nice views. This trail begins at the lime kiln ruins. High Cliff hiking trails offer different levels of challenge to hikers. Easy. The final push of the trail is a stairway leading up to the Red Bird Trail and back to the campground. It is open for hiking, dog walking and snowshoeing. Trails.com member Aaron B. recently completed Lime-Kiln Trail. See all High Cliff State Park trails. Starting from the family campground, we hiked the Indian Mound Trail, to the Red Bird Trail, to the Lime Kiln Trail. High Cliff State Park is open year round from 6 AM to 11 PM however the park office hours may vary. The lakeside segment of Lime Kiln Trail is generally level, while the escarpment segment involves steep climbs, descents and stairs. The Lime-Kiln trail starts at the paved parking lot near the lime kiln ruins and at the stairs near campsite 38. On the segment of the Red Bird Trail from the Red Bird Statue to the Family Campground, fat-tire bikers are welcome to explore. While a lot of the information I found seems to be tainted with a problematic lens, the gist I got was that he was a leader in the Winnebago War against the United States. Winter Activities yes. Length: 3.4 mile linearDifficulty: EasyDescription: This trail travels from the family campground along the top of the Niagara Escarpment to the statue of Chief Red Bird. Browse more videos. Learn more here if you’re interested. Office buildings, visitor centers, observation towers, enclosed shelters and playgrounds remain closed. Trails in High Cliff State Park - 11. It was… High Cliff is well named; it has really nice hiking trails along the bluffs over Lake Winnebago. The lime kiln trail is 2.3 miles. It is the only state-owned recreation area located on Lake Winnebago. Reviewed May 10, 2016. The trails are well-maintained and offer different types of scenery. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. As you climb, the limestone cliffs become more pronounced. The park is named for the high limestone cliffs created by the Niagara Escarpment.