Upper Hixon (WI) Loop Hike - Prairie/Twister/Mr. Hyde/Obi/Twister Trails

Rock formations along Mr. Hyde trail

Continuing  my recent exploration of fun hiking loops in Hixon Forest introduced by friend Kris Lawson, a group of friends and I recently accompanied her on another great circuit at the Upper Hixon Forest trailhead.

The morning sun lights up Mr. Hyde trail

This 2.7 mile shared hiking/biking trail loop started from the map kiosk at the east end of the parking lot next to NOAA La Crosse weather station off La Crosse County FA. The  trailhead leads you to a series of trails on the southeast side of Hixon Forest's bluffs. This is a rockier loop trail with plenty of switchbacks, dramatic bluffside hills, a vista or three and and total elevation gain of 328 feet. I would say this is a moderate hike with sharp declines and more gentle inclines. Along the way there are beautiful rocks and lush deciduous forest with a sprinkling of pines.

Access the city map here

Early morning fog in the river valley
Thompson Prairie on the Prairie Loop trail

We started from the map kiosk heading east on the Prairie Loop (1) past Thompson Prairie. The glory of the summer prairie is definitely past in late September. From this blufftop trail, we were able to snatch some vista views of the early morning fog boiling up from the river valley to the west. We dropped down a short spur (21) to the right onto Twister trail (22) where we made a left hand turn. We followed this trail until we came to the trail junction for Mr. Hyde (43) and turned right.

Eastern vistas from Obi trail

Mr. Hyde is a wonderful rocky trail that winds you around below the bluff top through a lovely woods on a fairly flat trail. As you hike, you pass a fun rock formation or two amidst the forested trail. It also takes you to the easternmost point of the trail complex and some great views towards the northeast.

At the trail junction (42), we emerged right onto Obi, a screaming fun trail that descends sharply around numerous switchbacks as you continue to descend and then re-ascend along the forest's eastern border. The trails were rock-filled and the hillsides still lush with ferns and understory greenery. I can't say whether Obi or Mr. Hyde were my favorite - both were pretty sweet!

Heading down Obi trail

At trail junction (27) we made a right and came back on Twister and followed that to a small spur near the weatherball and popped back up to the map kiosk trailhead where we began.

AllTrails map of the hike

Rough road

In this complex of short trails there are other trails to put together into loops. Now that the weather is cooler, I hope to get back and see what else is in there (surprises in the "Star Wars"-named trails I'm told.)

While these were shared trails, we hiked during the week and only encountered one group of mountain bikers who had continuously ringing bells which we appreciated. It made our meeting pleasant because we knew they were coming on the narrow, twisty trails. Thanks bikers!

THE HIKE
Enjoy more of the lush, forested bluffsides of Hixon Forest in this series of rocky, narrow trails, rolling switchbacks and paths that wind around and up and down along the southeast sides of the forest's bluffs. There are multiple short trails that weave in and out throughout this complex of over 20 miles of trails for shared use and hiking. Some of the loop is challenging as you head up and down the bluffsides, but if one takes their time, these 2.5-2.7 trails that make up the loop will delight you. Stop here to see ORA/City of La Crosse maps of the multiple trail systems available for outdoorspeople.

The Location - N2788 County Road FA - La Crosse, WI 54601
From La Crosse, head up Bliss Road east towards Grandad's Bluff. Keep left at the Alpine Inn at the top and drive about 1/2 mile to Cty FA on your left.  Turn right at the NOAA weather station by the radar "weatherball." There are three trailheads from this parking lot.(and one across the road that leads to the Prairie hikes.)

Fern heaven on the bluffside trails

All images, unless noted - Marge Loch-Wouters

I Spy on the Trails - September 2024

Looking at the Minnesota bluffs above the Mississippi
Reno Spillway

As we approached the fall equinox, the trees and flowers seemed to be breathing a sigh of relief. The vibrant greens of blossom and leaf full summer have slowly grayed and browned out and only a few trees in this drier weather have begun to turn colors. 

This has been a hotter month than usual and drier as well. Those with gardens can see the stress as the growing season slows down. We hit the high 80s mid-month which is unusual. Luckily during our last week, we had welcome 60s which made hiking extra nice. 

While I'll miss the flowers of spring and summer, I look forward to these cooler temperatures, coming fall color and subsequent leaf fall. Once the leaves are down and brush has died back, viewscapes and overlooks open up  more widely to the river, rocks and landforms of the Driftless area. I also relish the cooler weather for longer, higher hikes!.

Levis Trow Mounds rock formations

There will be fewer observations listed this month. I spent a week off the grid paddling in Quetico Provincial Park's wilderness with friends and driving out to the Southwest for some early October hiking. The few weeks I've been home are full of unpacking, re-packing, appointments and meetings. It left me lots less time to hit the trails!

In the meantime, do check out this recent post on great fall color hikes in the Driftless area and enjoy the autumn beauty that is still coming our way!

Plant Life

• Little bluestem 

  

  New England aster
  Wagon Wheel Trail

  
  
• Butterfly weed 
• Common evening primrose 
• Showy goldenrod 
• Stiff goldenrod 
• Zigzag goldenrod
• Mullein 
• American water lily 
• Pickerel weed 
• Purple prairie clover 
• White praise clover
• Spotted bee balm
• Hoary verbena
• Jewelweed
• White snakeroot
• Sweet coneflower
• Joe Pye Weed, past bloom
• Jack in the pulpit seeds
• Oak fern
• Rockcap fern
• Interrupted fern
• Lady fern
• Maidenhair fern

  

  Northern maidenhair fern
  Hixon Forest

• Bracket fern
• Jelly fungi
• Honey mushroom
• Artist’s conk fungi
• Pincushion moss
• Shining clubmoss
• Wintergreen
• American burnweed
• Partridge pea
• Spiderwort
• Highbush cranberry
• New England aster
• Calico aster
• Hairy aster
• Sneezeweed
• 
  

Wildlife (seen, hear, detected)

• American pelican
  
• Great blue heron
• Yellow-throated vireo
• Eagle
• Blue jay
• Monarch butterfly 
• Ruby-throated hummingbird
• Eastern wood pewee
• Sandhill cranes
• American goldfinch
• Brown thrush.q.
• Mourning clock butterfly
• Pearl crescent butterfly
• Monarch butterfly
• Barred owl

What are YOU noticing on your hikes?

A month of hikes:

Hikes below in bold color or underlined have links to previous posts with descriptions/location of the trails

Reno Spillway, Reno MN; Eagle Bluff Access Ravine Trail, La Crescent MN; Bike/Pedestrian Bridge Wagon Wheel Trail, La Crescent, MN; Levis Trow Mounds, Black River WI; Wagon Wheel Trail Sportsmen’s Landing, La Crescent MN; Upper Hixon Forest, La Crosse WI (3); Quetico Provincial Park Wilderness, Ontario Canada

Sunset on a small island in Pickerel Lake
Quetico Provincial Park
Image - Michele Besant

All images, unless noted - Marge Loch-Wouters