Hiking

Written by marquette-ad on June 21, 2016

Apuckawa Birding & Nature Trail

From the stop light in Montello, go east on Hwy. 23 .6 of a mile, turn right on Hwy. C, go 5.8 miles to 4-way stop. Continue straight on Fox Ct. Turn right on Toepper Dr. to parking area.

On this .8 of a mile trail starting from the boat landing north through a hardwood forest and remnant prairie, you may be lucky to catch a glimpse of a white squirrel. In a 2011 survey, birders recorded 116 species of birds, including those seen from the boat landing on Lake Puckaway. Click here for the history of Apuckawa.

 

Grand River Locks

The trail is located at the end of Lower Locks Rd., 3.2 miles south of Montello off of Hwy.22.

Bordering the Fox River, this site has a handicap accessible fishing pier and trail. It’s a great area for bird watching and easy walking. Click here for the history of the Grand River Locks.

John Muir County Park

The county park is located 8 miles south of Montello at N1595 County Rd. F

John Muir County Park, once known as Fountain Lake Farm, is where the Muir Family built their first home after immigrating to Marquette County from Dunbar, Scotland. A young John Muir, who would later become known as the Father of National Parks, was greatly influenced by this land and tried to purchase it several times throughout his life to preserve it. Visitors may explore the 125 acre park by hiking the trail that circles 30 acre Ennis Lake and passes through 7 different habitats. You can find the wonderful wilderness that he came to love by sauntering the public lands and trails of his boyhood home. Click here for the history of John Muir.

Observatory Hill

From Montello, take County Road F south about 5 miles; turn left on 14th Rd. Go a half mile to 13th Rd., turn right for 1.4 miles, then left on Gillette Avenue .6 miles to the parking lot.

This mile-long primitive trail will take you to the highest point in Marquette County for a spectacular panoramic view. The hill is an isolated outcropping of porphyritic rhyolite that rises 300 feet above the surrounding landscape. This volcanic rock has been dated to 1.76 billion years ago and contains grooves created by a glacier over 12,000 years ago. Click here for the history of Observatory Hill.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted Under:

Comments are closed.