3-mile Guided Hike on the North Country Trail Along the Shores of Lake Owen

On Wednesday, July 12, 2023 starting at 9:00 a.m., the Chequamegon Chapter of the North Country Trail Association is sponsoring a 3-mile guided hike along the shores of Lake Owen on the North Country Trail. The hike starts from the Lake Owen Picnic Grounds parking lot and ends at North Lake Owen Drive. There will be brief stops for highlights about the geological history, human history, and the large Indian village that existed on the shores of Lake Owen.

The details of the hike are as follows. Hikers will meet at the Lake Owen Picnic Ground parking lot at or shortly before 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, GPS coordinates 46.306600, -91.217048. This parking lot has a daily fee of $5 payable at the kiosk in the parking lot. The National Forest Service will honor hanging Senior Pass holders. Hikers will be allowed to stage their cars at the end of the hike on North Lake Owen Drive just west of East Horseshoe Drive and be driven back to the start.
The hike will proceed on the access trail that starts at the far end of the parking lot. The hike joins the North Country Trail and for the first two miles follows along the shore of Lake Owen going past 4 N.F.S. Kiosks and through one of the last areas of Wisconsin’s virgin pines. The hike continues through the Lake Owen Hardwoods State Natural Area and comes out at North Lake Owen Drive. Total distance of the hike is 3 miles. The Trail is easy to follow and winds through gently rolling wooded terrain that provides shade.

The only bathroom is a vault toilet at the Lake Owen Picnic Grounds parking lot. The only clean drinking water is from a hand pump at the Lake Owen Picnic grounds. Remember to bring mosquito repellant, a camera, water bottle and a raincoat if rain is in the forecast. In the event of severe weather, you will be notified that the hike will be postponed one day to Thursday, July 13th. The average low temperature for this date is 56° F and the average high is 77° F. Ticks are present, but the vast majority of ticks can be avoided by spraying your pants and socks with Permethrin the night before.

To ask questions, either TEXT hike leader Ed Ronkowski at 708 227-5372 or email him at eronkowski@hotmail.com

The alternate date is 9:00 AM on Thursday, July 13, 2023. Please check the NCTA in Wisconsin Facebook Page for information about cancellations / postponements. This information will be posted after 6:00 PM the day before the hike. The URL is at this link  

An almost identical guided hike tailored for the residents on and around Lake Owen will be offered on August 17, 2023. See the Lake Owen Association website Events page for that date for specific information.