Winter Hiking Adventure

A Snow Day in Governor Dodge State Park

By Dee Nechkash

The weather can change your plans pretty quickly. Friday I anticipated heading two hours away to explore some ice features at a couple of parks I’ve never really explored, and then a snowstorm pops up and I’ve got a whole weekend with nothing planned except shoveling the driveway after the snow stops.

Lucky for me, I live close to some exceptional state parks! The Wisconsin State Park System has some real gems, and there are a handful of spacious, diverse properties begging to be explored. I decided to head east to Governor Dodge State Park. While it is the park I am most familiar with, it is massive – more than 5,000 acres – and I have barely scratched the surface on checking it out. This park has TWO lakes, approximately 27 miles of hiking trails, 24 miles of horse trails and 8 miles of off-road bike trails. The property was once farmed and mined. It has caves and waterfalls, magnificent bluffs and extreme valleys. The terrain is sometimes hilly, rocky, wooded or open prairie. It is that “little bit of everything” catch-all type of park, where you can hike, bike, kayak/canoe, fish, ski, rock/ice climb, swim or ride horses.

Usually I visit the park for the fall color or to dip my toes (or kayak) in the water. But this time the temperature was hovering around 30 degrees, there was a base of 6-8 inches of snow covering the ground and icicles hung from the sandstone. Governor Dodge State Park is absolutely stunning in winter!

My pup, Scout, needed out of the house, too. I tried out the waist leash and found that it was a great option to let him explore, but stay close to me and be reeled in when we encountered others on the trail. Added bonus: he helped pull my out-of-shape body up the steep incline!

Since I couldn’t get my icy landscapes I had planned on exploring, I thought I’d try Stephens Falls to see what the ice looked like there, if any. The falls has a great overlook before a rock-stair descent to the streambed. My first glance was accompanied by my jaw dropping. Not only was there an entire sandstone bluff covered in ice, but there were people actively climbing the ice wall! The waterfall doesn’t have a significant flow, but the ice built around the base was worthwhile.

Because there were so many people in the area, and I was wrangling a 3-year-old pup while trying to take pictures and not fall in, we didn’t stay at the falls for long. We ventured out on the Stephens Falls Trail, which crosses a couple footbridges and meanders along the stream in a deep canyon with large boulders scattered throughout. The sandstone cliffsides had a few dangling icicles and remnants of summer ferns. A few leaves still fluttered about, no longer trapped in crevices in the rock. We met many people along this trail as it is easy to traverse and extremely scenic.

At the intersection with Lost Canyon Trail, I chose the longer of the routes, anticipating an invigorating trek through the snow. The trail remained in the valley with little for inclines until the path veered up pretty drastically. There were many breaks taken and lots of huffing and puffing. There may have even been a text message to my husband to let him know where to find me and the dog in case I didn’t return. I wasn’t sure my body was going to make it. But, my trusty steed kept tugging me along and didn’t complain when I insisted on stopping often.

Along the cliffside part of the trail, we were able to watch two pair of cross-country skiers pass by. Scout really wasn’t sure what to think about them gliding instead of walking, but he behaved very well. We stopped at the Wilson Spring House, which didn’t have much water at this time, and took a break overlooking the Stephens Falls Trail where a bench is conveniently located for a great view point. We took our time and made the 3-mile trek with lots of stops for photos in just over 2 hours. It was really quiet and peaceful on the trail, a nice change from walking in town. The trails were well maintained for winter exploring, too.

Before leaving the park, I wanted to drive to both of the lakes to see if anyone was ice fishing. It was late in the day and most of the groups seemed to be packing up, but there were a few shanties on each lake. I even saw a raccoon scurry away from one ice shanty, probably stealing their catch of the day!

The state parks aren’t just for summer fun. Get out and explore the history, the nature and the beauty in all seasons. If you need more info on Governor Dodge State Park, check out the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources website, https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/.