DISCOVER the magic and mystery of the Headwaters Wilderness, the Sam Campbell Trail, the Thunder Lake Wildlife Area — or your own lake or special patch of woods. Hike a nearby trail and see the wonders of nature that you never knew existed. Learn how to paddle a canoe like it was your second skin. Identify birds, wildflowers, and edible-medicinal plants. Schedule a special nature-immersion experience for yourself, or along with family, guests, and friends. Children are welcome.

THE HEADWATERS WILDERNESS is the largest of Wisconsin’s untouched wilderness, where wolves and bears scout the shorelines along with beaver, muskrat, and otter. Expanses of marsh grass, wild rice, and cattails blanket the shallows, while golden water lilies dapple the surface of the deeper waters. The Headwaters is characterized by forested swamps and muskeg, bog lowlands, hardwood ridges, and the largest and oldest trees of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.

The Pine and Popple Rivers run through the heart of this region and are among Wisconsin’s more wild and remote river systems. The Pine River is 89-miles long and the Popple River is just short of that at 62 miles. Access is limited to hiking and paddle canoes. In 1965, the Wisconsin legislature designated the Pine and Popple Rivers wild rivers to protect them from development. Canoeing on the Pine River is a wild experience for any nature enthusiast that holds many opportunities to see the natural inhabitants up close.

Explore the Nicolet National Forest

HALF-DAY HIKES (3 to 4 hours)

Scott-Shelp Lake Natural Area: Features a floating bog you can walk on and a breathtaking white pine-yellow birch climax forest.

Sam Campbell Trail:  Explore diverse forest types while Abel describes the unique plants and animals that make each their home.

Thunder Lake Wildlife Area: Immerse yourself in one of the state’s premier wetlands, with an impressive variety of birds, mammals and wildflowers.

$150 + $25 per additional person

DAY HIKES (8 to 9 hours)

Headwaters Wilderness: The crown jewel of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest and the largest untouched wilderness in Wisconsin. It is the source of the Pine, Wolf, Popple, and Peshtigo rivers and offers a wild experience for any nature enthusiast.

$300 + $25 per additional person

About Abel

Abel Bean is a Senior Wilderness Guide, with 20 years of training under his belt. In the top tier of wilderness skills instructors, he excels in shelter building, friction fire making, hide tanning, foraging, primitive cooking, solo canoeing, orienteering, weather forecasting, dreamwork, and primal parenting skills. In addition, he’s a certified tracker through CyberTracker Track and Sign evaluation. To find out more about Abel, visit the staff biography page.