This hike deep in the Chequamegon boasts a trio of way-out-there lakes lassoed by the trail. Caveat about mosquitoes—the woods are full of them in summer and this trail takes you to what surely must be their breeding grounds headquarters. I hiked here in late June and am still recovering from the trauma of impending blood-sucking doom. Early morning hikes are a somewhat better defense, when skeeters are less amped up for human visitors but wandering into their lair is always a gamble. Prepare accordingly with plenty of bug repellant and clothing that covers vulnerable skin.
Scary stories aside, this trail easily ranks as one of my favorites in what is arguably Wisconsin’s most remote lands, filled to the brim with noble forest and fairy tale terrain littered with kettles and boulders and moss-covered logs. CAMBA will tell you this is the most technically challenging trail in their entire system; great fun for fat-tire adrenaline junkies that translates to the stuff of dreams for hikers. Short, punchy hills appear all along the trail, providing additional flavor in seemingly all the right places, but the route’s overall elevation profile looks like a flat-lined heart monitor. That means you can enjoy every step of this gem without quad-busting climbs.
Just over one mile in, after crossing the Rock Lake ski trail, the path drops down a barely-there descent to the northwest shore of Frels Lake, with intermittent views through the trees. After a relaxed hairpin turn you’ll arrive at No Hands Bridge, a renowned trail highlight. The “bridge” is a skinny boardwalk crossing of a little stream flowing from Hildebrand Lake. And I mean skinny—18 inches wide right at the surface of the water, with no handrails. It’s easy enough to walk across but traversing on a bike is a whole different challenge. I love mountain biking as well but put on the brakes when faced with something like this. Cheers to those of you with the skill to shinny over this obstacle, and doubly so to those brave enough to try the optional, even skinnier (6 inches wide!) line. The penalty for inattention or riding above your pay grade? A very wet fall into the stream.
It’s a fun perk of the hike, however, and from here the path traces the west and south shores of the lake, with great views along the way. Hildebrand is only about 15 acres, averages around 12 feet deep, and is stomping grounds to panfish, largemouth bass and northern. Enjoy a couple of rolling stretches as the trail turns back northeast, crosses the ski trail again, and cruises up a nearly imperceptible rise back to the trailhead.
Why this place matters
If for no other reason, this trail allows us the privilege of immersing in and connecting with some of Wisconsin’s finest and most remote places. Access is easy from Rock Lake Road and the trail takes hikers and bikers past the shores of wild and secluded lakes. The forest as a whole also includes rare plants like bearberry and bloodroot, fens and bogs, and scattered stands of old-growth white pine.
