Outdoor Adventures in Your Own Backyard
The work week can be difficult, seemingly endless, and stressful. And sometimes we just need to get away from it all and relax. Where could you go to have an epic outdoor adventure? Hawaii? Mexico? Europe? How about your own backyard. Not your literal backyard, but there are several attractions for both the beginning adventurers and the Indiana Jones’ alike.
Planning a trip can seem difficult while juggling work, kids, or other activities. But some good ol’ fashion camping can be a healthy stress reliever. The southern unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest is a 22,000 acre wonderland where camping rookies and aficionados can relax and discover Mother Nature’s beauty. Offering three family camping grounds, a horseback riding camp, or two group camp sites, there is plenty of over-night exploration for everyone. An island in a suburban setting, light pollution is not a problem, so you can see every star in the sky.
Now that you have found a place to take refuge for the night, you need some activities to keep you busy. The Lapham Peak camp grounds offer over 25 miles of trails for walking, biking, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, horseback riding, cross country skiing, and even dogsledding. If you are feeling particularly adventurous, you can climb to the top of the 1,233 foot Lapham Peak, the highest point in Waukesha County. Once at the top, there is a 45 foot observation tower giving you a bird’s eye view of Southeastern Wisconsin.
Photo Source: Wikipedia
If hiking in the woods isn’t quite your style, and you’re in the mood for something a little more fast paced, the 52 mile Drumlin Trail is another viable option and offers the same array of activities as the Lapham Peak trails, but without the charge. Stretching from Waukesha all the way to Cottage Grove near Madison, the first 15 miles, between Waukesha and Dousman, are paved, making it perfect for the casual biker and the triathlete alike. A one-day pass is $4 and a year pass is $20 for anyone 16 and older. However, there is an entrance right on the corner of 18 and C in Dousman that many people utilize because of the lack of enforcement in that area. Once there, you will be confronted by a stretch of flat ground with a few rolling hills as you approach 67. Just don’t get caught!
By Noel Bryant-Nanz
Drumlin Trail
Lapham Peak
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