A (b)log of Natural Resources Info

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Looking for a short, scenic and educational hike near Eagle River? I’ve got a great trail for you! The Sam Campbell Memorial trail is 25 minutes from the Trees For Tomorrow (TFT) campus and well worth the drive! I had heard it was a “nice little trail” but I have to be honest- “nice” doesn’t come close to describing how beautiful it was. 

 As a bird nerd, the first thing that struck me was all of the bird activity in the forest. I heard warblers and hermit thrushes. There were ovenbirds and sparrows! The further I got down the trail, the more things there were that made me say “oh neat!” I saw a variety of flowers including pink lady’s slipper orchids, star flowers, wild blueberries in bloom, bunch berry, and more. It’s a great place for a nature lover to go and “geek out” over the diversity of flora and fauna.

 

The main loop is beautiful with varied forest types and a wooden boardwalk through a swamp. But, yall… if you have time for added distance, you need to take the trail spur that heads toward Wegimind point and Vanishing lake. This trail goes through virgin/old growth forest (on the way to Wegimind point) and a 200-year-old cedar swamp (on the way to Vanishing lake).

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As for educational components: I saw on a website for the trail that there were brochures available at the trail head with information. At some point those brochures were replaced. Today there are just numbered posts along the main loop. Each post has a wooden plaque with an informational fact about the trees you see or a quote from Sam Campbell (a nature lover and philosopher who the trail is named for) himself. 

 

Remember though, TFT is offering a Nature Adventure program on this exact trail on August 23rd, 2021. If you are reading this post after that date, you always have the option of contacting us to schedule a custom guided hike (at this location, or many others) where we send out an environmental educator to hike with you and teach as you go. It doesn’t feel like a formal nature lecture - think more like “I took a hike with a friend and they knew a TON of stuff!” 

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Some details:

Directions: To find this gem you head east out of town on Hwy 70 and then make a right on Military Road. Follow Military road for 5 miles to Old Military Road. Head down Old Military Road for 1 mile and you will see the trail head on your right. The parking area is not super big. It’s more of a side pull off that could fit a few cars. 

Mileage/Difficulty: So, the online map says the trail is 2 miles. The first time I hiked at this location I was confused by this as it definitely felt much longer and I didn’t even go all the way to Vanishing lake! I went back out a second time and tracked the distance with an app. This is when I realized that it is the main loop of the trail (containing all of the educational signs) that is about 2 miles. If you continue on the extra section of trail and go to both Wegimind point and complete the loop around Vanishing lake, your hike will be right around 5 miles total.  Don't be fooled by the signs that tell you distance to the point and lake, from what I calculated those are not correct distances.

• I did not find this trail difficult, but there were a few hills that were a little steep. Around Vanishing lake there were also two very wet spots to pick through- one with a very old wooden bridge and one with a bunch of logs laid down to make a bridge of sorts over the worst of the mud.
• The websites that I saw prior to my trek told me this trail was wheelchair accessible. That’s a big nope. I would 100% not attempt a wheelchair down this trail.
• Bonus Points: Sam Campbell is dog friendly (on a leash)! I am ALWAYS on the lookout for dog friendly trails in Vilas county. 
• I brought my girl Addie and fellow educator Kim brought her puppy Hootie to help us explore the trail and both canines definitely approve. 
• “Nature never hurries. She moves steadily, always arrives on time, finishes things on schedule- but she never hurries… Haste just doesn’t fit in the forest…”- Sam Campbell
• I personally think this trail is the perfect place for you to remember to slow down and not hurry. There is so much to see and enjoy! Go check it out today. 

 

Author: Bethany Heft with K9 hiker Addie. Bethany is an Environmental Educator for Trees For Tomorrow.