Trails

Cabins | Habitats | Main Campus | Grounds | Trails

Our 10 miles of rustic hiking trails provide visitors a chance to safely explore the unique habitats that make Hunt Hill so special. Take the Bear Trail and explore the edge of Big Devil’s lake as you pass wild blueberries, a bear’s den and see girdled trees from our hungry porcupines.  Or hike down our bog trail and see the insectivorous pitcher plant then continue onto the vole trail, which leads to the meadow for an explosion of color, animal life and beauty.

Over the years, with the help of grants from the Wisconsin Environmental Education Board (WEEB), the Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin (BRAW) and private donations, our nature trails have improved. Thanks to the WEEB grant, natural attractions are highlighted and explained through a series of nature pedestals located along the trails.

In our prairie meadow, hikers will notice many bluebird houses, which are used in the summer to monitor local bluebird populations. Dr. Kent Hall and the Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin have helped Hunt Hill revitalize its bluebird trail.  It features over 20 Peterson-style nest boxes; but also a few NAB-style and Gilbertson-style nest boxes along 2 ½ miles of trails in the meadow “prairie,” and in the central camp area.  In addition to the nest boxes, there are hunting/feeding/perching poles and mown grass trails.

Over 70 baby bluebirds fledged in the summer of 2008 (up from about 30 in 2007).  Credit for the success goes to Dr. Hall.  Additionally there were tree swallows, wrens, and chickadees recorded in the weekly nest monitoring.

Staff and volunteers have also contributed hundreds of hours of labor to develop the trails, make improvements, add signs and benches and footbridges, and keep the trails cleared of downed trees from storms and high winds.

Seven or more varying habitats (bogs, lakes, streams, meadow “prairie,” old forest, cutover forest, and marsh), and glacial features – all within a short walking distance from the central camp – are just part of the reason Hunt Hill is so unique.  Our trails offer something for everyone and are open dawn until dusk, free of charge!

To learn more about our trails, download the trail map!