{"id":1069,"date":"2025-11-18T02:39:11","date_gmt":"2025-11-18T02:39:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scoutcompanion.com\/blog\/wisconsin-hiking-guide-says-fall-winter-are-best-times-to-explore-the-outdoors-wausau-pilot-review"},"modified":"2025-11-18T02:39:11","modified_gmt":"2025-11-18T02:39:11","slug":"wisconsin-hiking-guide-says-fall-winter-are-best-times-to-explore-the-outdoors-wausau-pilot-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scoutcompanion.com\/blog\/wisconsin-hiking-guide-says-fall-winter-are-best-times-to-explore-the-outdoors-wausau-pilot-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Wisconsin hiking guide says fall, winter are best times to explore the outdoors &#8211; Wausau Pilot &#038; Review"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Get ready, Wisconsin hikers! Experts say fall and winter are the <strong>best times<\/strong> to explore trails. This advice comes from Dan and Amy Schiefelbein. They own 9 Mile Forest in Wausau. They love to hike and run outside.<\/p>\n<p>You might think hiking is only for summer. But these colder months offer special magic. You can see nature in new ways.<\/p>\n<h2>Why Fall Hiking Rocks<\/h2>\n<p>Fall hiking has many good points. The air gets crisp and cool. This means you will not sweat as much. It feels great on the trails.<\/p>\n<p>You will also find fewer bugs. Mosquitoes, ticks, and gnats are mostly gone. This makes your hike much more pleasant.<\/p>\n<p>The trees show off amazing colors. Reds, oranges, and yellows paint the woods. It is truly a beautiful sight to see.<\/p>\n<p>The woods are often much quieter. Fewer people are usually out. You can enjoy peace and nature all to yourself.<\/p>\n<p>Dan Schiefelbein says cooler weather is a <strong>&#8220;big plus.&#8221;<\/strong> He likes less sweating. Amy adds that you are &#8220;often completely alone.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2>Winter Wonderland Trails<\/h2>\n<p>Winter brings its own special charm to hiking. The trails become a snowy wonderland. Everything looks like a postcard.<\/p>\n<p>Bugs are definitely not a problem in winter. You will not worry about spiderwebs or stinging nettles either. This makes moving around feel safer.<\/p>\n<p>The woods are very quiet. You might see animal tracks in the snow. This offers a different kind of wildlife viewing.<\/p>\n<p>Amy Schiefelbein calls it a <strong>&#8220;completely different experience.&#8221;<\/strong> She says the woods are &#8220;still.&#8221; You can enjoy a fresh, calm feeling.<\/p>\n<h2>Get Ready to Hit the Trails<\/h2>\n<p>To enjoy fall and winter hiking, you need the right gear. Dressing smart is key. Layers are very important.<\/p>\n<h3>What to Wear and Bring<\/h3>\n<p>Wear clothes in layers. You can add or take off items. This helps you stay comfortable.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Warm socks:<\/strong> Wool or synthetic socks keep your feet dry.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Waterproof jacket:<\/strong> This protects you from rain or snow.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Waterproof pants:<\/strong> These also keep you dry.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Good hiking boots:<\/strong> They give you grip and support.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hat and gloves:<\/strong> These keep your head and hands warm.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Also, remember to bring essential items. Safety comes first when you are exploring.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Headlamp:<\/strong> Days are shorter, so it helps you see.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Plenty of water:<\/strong> Stay hydrated, even when it&#8217;s cold.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Snacks:<\/strong> Energy bars or fruit help keep you going.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Map or GPS:<\/strong> Always know where you are headed.<\/li>\n<li><strong>First-aid kit:<\/strong> Be ready for small scrapes or bumps.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For snowy or icy trails, some extra tools help. These make your hike safer.<\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<th>Tool<\/th>\n<th>Why You Need It<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Trekking poles<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Help with balance on uneven ground.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Ice cleats<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Give you grip on icy spots.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<h3>Stay Safe on Your Adventure<\/h3>\n<p>Always tell someone your plans. Let them know where you are going. Tell them when you expect to be back. This is a very important safety rule.<\/p>\n<p>Always check the weather forecast. Cold weather can change quickly. Be prepared for colder temperatures or snow.<\/p>\n<p>Stay on marked trails. Going off-trail can be dangerous. You could get lost or hurt. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) helps keep trails safe.<\/p>\n<p>Be aware of hunting seasons. Wear bright colors, like <strong>orange<\/strong>, during these times. This helps hunters see you.<\/p>\n<h3>Great Wisconsin Trails to Try<\/h3>\n<p>Wisconsin has many amazing places to hike. You can find trails all over the state. Here are some ideas to get you started:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>9 Mile Forest (Wausau):<\/strong> This is where Dan and Amy Schiefelbein hike. It is a great local spot.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/iatr\/index.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ice Age National Scenic Trail<\/a>: This trail spans over <strong>1,200 miles<\/strong>. It shows off Wisconsin&#8217;s cool glacier history. You can find many shorter sections to explore.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Lapham Peak (Kettle Moraine State Forest):<\/strong> This park has an observation tower. You can see amazing views from up high. They also have <strong>40 trails<\/strong> that are lit up at night!<\/li>\n<li><strong>Devil&#8217;s Lake State Park:<\/strong> This park is very popular. It has beautiful cliffs and views. It can be busy, so try to go on a weekday.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Rib Mountain State Park:<\/strong> Find great views of the Wisconsin River Valley here.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Copper Culture State Park (Oconto):<\/strong> This park has historical sites and quiet trails.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Exploring Wisconsin in fall and winter is a truly special experience. So, grab your gear and head outside! You will be glad you did.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Get ready, Wisconsin hikers! Experts say fall and winter are the best times to explore trails. This advice comes from Dan and Amy Schiefelbein. They own 9 Mile Forest in Wausau. They love to hike and run outside. You might think hiking is only for summer. But these colder months offer special magic. You can [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1068,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ocean_post_layout":"","ocean_both_sidebars_style":"","ocean_both_sidebars_content_width":0,"ocean_both_sidebars_sidebars_width":0,"ocean_sidebar":"","ocean_second_sidebar":"","ocean_disable_margins":"enable","ocean_add_body_class":"","ocean_shortcode_before_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_after_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_before_header":"","ocean_shortcode_after_header":"","ocean_has_shortcode":"","ocean_shortcode_after_title":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_bottom":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_bottom":"","ocean_display_top_bar":"default","ocean_display_header":"default","ocean_header_style":"","ocean_center_header_left_menu":"","ocean_custom_header_template":"","ocean_custom_logo":0,"ocean_custom_retina_logo":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_height":0,"ocean_header_custom_menu":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_family":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_subset":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_size":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_unit":"px","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_line_height":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_unit":"","ocean_menu_typo_spacing":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_unit":"","ocean_menu_link_color":"","ocean_menu_link_color_hover":"","ocean_menu_link_color_active":"","ocean_menu_link_background":"","ocean_menu_link_hover_background":"","ocean_menu_link_active_background":"","ocean_menu_social_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_links_color":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_color":"","ocean_disable_title":"default","ocean_disable_heading":"default","ocean_post_title":"","ocean_post_subheading":"","ocean_post_title_style":"","ocean_post_title_background_color":"","ocean_post_title_background":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_image_position":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_attachment":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_repeat":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_size":"","ocean_post_title_height":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay":0.5,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay_color":"","ocean_disable_breadcrumbs":"default","ocean_breadcrumbs_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_separator_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_hover_color":"","ocean_display_footer_widgets":"default","ocean_display_footer_bottom":"default","ocean_custom_footer_template":"","ocean_post_oembed":"","ocean_post_self_hosted_media":"","ocean_post_video_embed":"","ocean_link_format":"","ocean_link_format_target":"self","ocean_quote_format":"","ocean_quote_format_link":"post","ocean_gallery_link_images":"on","ocean_gallery_id":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[82],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1069","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hiking","entry","has-media"],"rttpg_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/scoutcompanion.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/wisconsin-hiking-guide-says-fall-winter-are-best-t.jpg",1200,628,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/scoutcompanion.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/wisconsin-hiking-guide-says-fall-winter-are-best-t.jpg",1200,628,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/scoutcompanion.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/wisconsin-hiking-guide-says-fall-winter-are-best-t.jpg",1200,628,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/scoutcompanion.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/wisconsin-hiking-guide-says-fall-winter-are-best-t-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/scoutcompanion.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/wisconsin-hiking-guide-says-fall-winter-are-best-t-300x157.jpg",300,157,true],"large":["https:\/\/scoutcompanion.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/wisconsin-hiking-guide-says-fall-winter-are-best-t-1024x536.jpg",1024,536,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/scoutcompanion.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/wisconsin-hiking-guide-says-fall-winter-are-best-t.jpg",1200,628,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/scoutcompanion.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/wisconsin-hiking-guide-says-fall-winter-are-best-t.jpg",1200,628,false],"ocean-thumb-m":["https:\/\/scoutcompanion.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/wisconsin-hiking-guide-says-fall-winter-are-best-t-600x600.jpg",600,600,true],"ocean-thumb-ml":["https:\/\/scoutcompanion.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uplo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href=\"https:\/\/scoutcompanion.com\/blog\/category\/hiking\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Hiking<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"Get ready, Wisconsin hikers! Experts say fall and winter are the best times to explore trails. This advice comes from Dan and Amy Schiefelbein. They own 9 Mile Forest in Wausau. They love to hike and run outside. You might think hiking is only for summer. But these colder months offer special magic. 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