A Hiking Guide for All Experience Levels
Feed body and soul this spring with some invigorating hikes in the Greater Green Bay area. Whether it’s a quick stroll after lunch or a weekend adventure for experienced hikers, there’s a path for you!
Spring is the perfect time to hit the trails. Don’t know where to start? We’ve got you covered with a hiking guide for all experience levels. Take in spring with the budding trees and curling ferns to keep you company.
Water Vistas
The Fox River State Trail provides amazing views of the Fox River and easy access to shops, restaurants and local attractions in Green Bay, Allouez and De Pere, including De Pere’s Riverwalk and Wildlife Viewing Pier. Starting as a paved trail from downtown Green Bay to the southern edge of De Pere (a great accessible option), it becomes a gravel path continuing into the countryside for over 20 miles.
Bay Shore Park sits on the Niagara Escarpment northeast of the city of Green Bay. With a short hike of just over one mile, the park offers breathtaking views of the water, as well as camping amenities and a children’s playground with a nautical theme.
Spring is a great time to enjoy a hike by a waterfall when the water is running high. Fonfarek’s Glen, also situated along the Niagara Escarpment, has stunning rock formations. The path to the waterfall is short, but hikers can also walk over its 75 acres (without marked trails). The terrain is rugged near the waterfall, so use caution and stick within the designated areas.
Wildlife, Woods and Wetlands
Sitting just north of Green Bay, the 9 miles of hiking trails at Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve take hikers through marshes, woods and prairie, with an incredible variety of birds and other wildlife to see.
Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the heart of Green Bay, but it’s so serene you’d never know it. Hike five trails through wetlands and woods, enjoy outdoor educational opportunities and view rescued birds and other wildlife.
Baird Creek Greenway on Green Bay’s east side also feels like the country. Enjoy the spring flora and fauna on the Greenway’s seven trails, which range in length from less than a mile to over 1.5 miles. Baird Creek offers hiking for people of all abilities, from a paved trail to the challenging Orienteering Course.
Cross-Country
The Greater Green Bay area is home to long-distance trails that will take adventurous hikers throughout the region and to points beyond. The Mountain Bay State Trail starts just northwest of Green Bay and runs west for 83 miles, making it one of the longest rails-to-trails hikes in the state. Along the way, see some of the prettiest rolling hills and farmland in Wisconsin.
The Devil’s River State Trail starts in the Village of Denmark (southeast of Green Bay), and continues for 16 miles to the east, featuring a dramatic crossing of the Devil’s River on a 150-foot train trestle. The trailhead in Denmark offers picnic tables and restrooms as well.
The Ahnapee State Trail can be found after a 40-minute drive east of Green Bay at a trailhead in Algoma, which sits on the shore of Lake Michigan. From there, you’ll be able to hike north, west or south, enjoying time along the scenic Ahnapee and Kewaunee Rivers.
If there’s more time to spare, spend a weekend hiking and camping along the Ice Age Trail. One of only 11 national trails in the U.S., it shares about 17 miles of the Ahnapee State Trail coming into Algoma. Two private campgrounds are located just north of town, and hikers can continue south on the 1,200-mile trail to Wisconsin’s western border, tracing the edge of the last glacier in the state.
Before You Go…
Check trail conditions before you head out, dress for the weather and insects and be sure to carry out what you carry in. Many of these trails welcome dogs on leashes. So, whether you’re going solo or hiking with a friend (four-footed or otherwise), enjoy time outdoors to welcome spring!
