We asked readers for their favorite places to see fall colors in Wisconsin. Here's what they said.
Reds, oranges and golds, fall has taken its brush to trees across Wisconsin.
As we head into the third week of October, much of northern and central Wisconsin is at or nearing peak fall color, according to observers for Travel Wisconsin's Fall Color Report. The southern part of the state is more of a mixed bag, however, with many spots still pretty green.
Where are your go-to places to take in the colorful scenery? Maybe it's a drive "up north," a stroll down the street to a neighborhood park or even a stretch of highway.
We recently asked our readers on social media for their favorite places to see fall colors. These were their most-popular picks:
Note: Check each location's website before heading out in case of changes.
Holy Hill
You know when a place looks so breathtaking, it doesn't feel real. Enter: Holy Hill.
Holy Hill Basilica and National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians — located on 435 acres in the Hubertus area — sits atop a 1,330-foot kame, according to a previous Journal Sentinel report.
It includes a 192-foot Scenic Tower that takes 178 stairs to reach the top. The reward? A panoramic view of the surrounding Kettle Moraine State Forest and beyond. On a clear day, you can even see Milwaukee from there.
Other spots to take in views include the terrace outside the Scenic Tower, the Stations of the Cross walkway and a segment of the Ice Age Trail, per the report. There are elevators to get to the shrine, according to Holy Hill's website.
Visitors are to maintain a "respectful silence" in the basilica and chapels on the grounds and be "respectful and reverent" in the sanctuary, the website said.
Holy Hill also offers a café and gift shop.
WHERE: 1525 Carmel Road, Hubertus
HOURS: According to Holy Hill's website, the grounds are open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. The Scenic Tower is open from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Sundays, and 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays from May through October, weather permitting. The basilica is open from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Here's its mass schedule).
ADMISSION: Free to visit, but donations are appreciated.
MORE INFO: holyhill.com
Lapham Peak
Lapham Peak — part of the Kettle Moraine State Forest — has a 45-foot observation tower that stands atop the highest point in Waukesha County (1,233 feet above sea level), according to the state's DNR website.
A segment of the Ice Age Trail and the 1.8-mile paved accessible Plantation Path pass through the forest nearby, for a closer look at the colors, a JS report said.
WHERE: W329 N846 County Highway C, Delafield
HOURS: Lapham Peak is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. year-round.
ADMISSION: A state parks admission sticker is required at Lapham Peak, which costs vehicles with Wisconsin license plates $8/day or $28/year. For residents who are at least 65 years old, the rates drop to $3/day or $13/year. The cost to out-of-staters is $11/day or $38/year. Stickers can be purchased online, as well as at Wisconsin State Park System properties and DNR service center centers.
MORE INFO: dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/laphampeak
Door County
Fall's touch can be seen across Door County, from picturesque parks and quaint towns to a famous curvy road.
That curvy road — one of the peninsula's most photographed spots, especially in the fall — is a winding stretch of State 42 west of Northport. The road, with its short, quick curves, is framed by trees.
Another one of the area's most popular attractions is Peninsula State Park's 60-foot-high Eagle Tower, which has a "fully-accessibly" 850-foot canopy walk to get to the top, the state's DNR website said. Or, if you prefer stairs, there are those, too — 100 of 'em.
The tower offers "panoramic" views of the park, surrounding islands, Upper Michigan shoreline and Ephraim, per the website.
Wire in sections of the observation deck railing allows for a less-obstructed view for children and visitors in wheelchairs, a JS report said.
More ideas on where to find fall colors in DC can be found here.
WHERE: To find the curvy highway, travel north along State 42. It's located at the northern tip of mainland Door County, and leads right into Northport, where the Washington Island Ferry operates. Peninsula State Park is located at 9462 Shore Road, Fish Creek.
HOURS: Peninsula State Park is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
ADMISSION: A state parks admission sticker is required at Peninsula State Park, which costs vehicles with Wisconsin license plates $10/day or $28/year. For residents who are at least 65 years old, the rates drop to $3/day or $13/year. The cost to out-of-staters is $13/day or $38/year. Stickers can be purchased online, as well as at Wisconsin State Park System properties and DNR service center centers.
MORE INFO: wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/peninsula
Devil's Lake State Park
Devil's Lake State Park is Wisconsin’s biggest and most popular park.
It boasts "magnificent" views from 500-foot quartzite bluffs overlooking a 360-acre lake, the DNR website said. And that lake? It's shaped like a butternut squash — how fall.
The mostly forested bluffs feature red and white oaks, sugar maples, basswoods and hickory trees, a JS report said.
There are nearly 30 miles of hiking trails, some much more challenging than others.
The 1-mile Tumbled Rocks Trail, which runs between the base of the West Bluff and the lake's eastern shore, is the park's most popular, according to the DNR website. The roughly paved trail offers great views of the lake, and the northern section of it is accessible.
Here's a guide to the park and its trails, including which ones are accessible.
WHERE: The main entrance off County DL on the lake's north side is located at S5975 Park Road, Baraboo. There’s also an entrance on the south shore of the lake, on S. Lake Road, west of County DL.
HOURS: 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
ADMISSION: A state parks admission sticker is required at Devil's Lake, which costs vehicles with Wisconsin license plates $13/day or $28/year. For residents who are at least 65 years old, the rates drop to $3/day or $13/year. The cost to out-of-staters is $16/day or $38/year. Stickers can be purchased online, as well as at Wisconsin State Park System properties and DNR service center centers.
MORE INFO: dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/devilslake
Honorable mentions
A few of the other places readers shared:
Bearskin State Trail, a corridor between Minocqua and Tomahawk
Fox River State Trail near downtown Green Bay
Chelsey Lewis and Christopher Kuhagen of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin fall colors favorite places include Holy Hill, Door County
