Upper Blackhawk Ridge

       I've been wanting to return to the place where these winter photos were taken a few years ago. The view is of the Roxbury valley from Blackhawk Ridge. St. Norbert's Church steeple is on the lower right-hand side. I've been to the top of Blackhawk Ridge many times since then to attend meetings of the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway Board, but never ventured out to that point again. I checked with my summer hiking companion if she had ever been there – the answer was no – so that was our destination for the afternoon.

 

When we arrived there were several cars in the parking lot. Behind one of the cars there were three guys donning their blaze orange. I knew that the bow deer hunt season had started so I inquired if it was safe to proceed with the hike. “Definitely” was the answer. They were well aware of the hikers presence. I have blaze orange vests in my trunk from days when I sometimes led the road clean-up crew for FLOW (The Friends of the Lower Wisconsin River). My companion and I agreed “better safe than sorry,” so on they went. There are days when the gated road is open. At the end of the road, there's a large modern log cabin, a pavilion, a covered deck, and ample parking and mowed grounds for activities like weddings and meetings. I have been to meetings there but when hiking, I wouldn't cheat and drive up. The blacktopped road makes a great path to walk on but you may have to take a breather part way up. Along the way there were some interesting rock outcroppings. 

     Again it was in the afternoon so the wildlife was not active. Once we reached the top, we headed to the highest point where I had taken that photo on a winter day a few of years ago. Much to my surprise there no longer was a view like I had hoped for! The trees that are on the edge of the slope in the photo are now so tall they block the entire skyline (I checked later and the photo was taken 9 years ago!) Mother Nature stands still for no one.

    I had never taken any of the trails beyond this point but we had the afternoon to spend exploring. The trails near the top of the hill are well groomed and grassy. I mention this because there also are combination horseback riding, skiing and hiking trails which are dirt and run up, down and around the hill. There were no great long distant views but the fall-like day in November was sunny and warm. The first part of the walk was through a massive prairie. Here I was able to point out the seed heads of coneflower, goldenrod, Queen Ann's lace and many more. There also were patches of shoulder high grasses; big bluestem (turkey foot) and the little bluestem sporting their silvery wisps. The Indian grass, the tallest of them all, had its reddish-brown spears set in motion by the warm breeze. From here the forest began to spread it's now leafless canopy over the leaf-laden path. Even here we could walk side by side taking in the beauty of nature and chat at the same time. Soon the opening from the forest had us again crossing the other side of the prairie and returning back to where we started.

       From here the forest began to spread it's now leafless canopy over the leaf-laden path. Even here we could walk side by side taking in the beauty of nature and chat at the same time. Soon the opening from the forest had us again crossing the other side of the prairie and returning back to where we started.My companion had never been there so we spent some time exploring the buildings and pavilions.Not ready to end the day, we crossed to the other side of the road and set out on a new adventure. The trials were as good as before, but many were lined by pines. Near the end of one of these trails we came to an overlook. The view is a bit obstructed but much to my surprise we were looking at the Sauk-Prairie area and beyond to the Baraboo Bluffs.

     I returned two days later with someone new and retraced this hike. This time we encountered several other hikers who had also opted to leave their cars down below in the parking lot. Since this area is set-up with horse trails, we also met a couple of gals with three beautiful horses. One horse was riderless so we asked if they had lost its rider over the edge. “No,” they had three horses and didn't want one to feel left out.

    This hike may be a good choice for someone who desires more stable footing. The road winds its way to the top, so it's not very steep in any one spot…a place close to home worth looking into.