A Fresh Start on the Land: Where to Hike This New Year’s Day
For many, a New Year’s Day hike is a way to reset. It is a way to step outside, breathe deeply, and begin the year grounded in the places that matter most. Across southwest Wisconsin, Driftless Area Land Conservancy offers a growing network of preserved lands and open trail segments where that radiation can take root.
Whether you’re looking for a quiet walk or a more adventurous climb, these places invite reflection, movement, and connection as the new year begins.
Driftless Trail Segments Open for Hiking
The Driftless Trail winds through conserved lands, working farms, woodlands, and ridgelines, offering hikers a chance to experience the Driftless Area as a living, working landscape. Open segments provide meaningful ways to explore the land while honoring the people who care for it.
Knobs Road Segment – 3.9 mile loop
Explore 3.9 miles of rolling oak woods, open pastures, and a working grass-fed beef farm. Hike past hayfields, an orchard, and along a Mill Creek tributary, then climb to the ridge for a breathtaking 360-degree view of the Driftless hills. Perfect for spotting wildlife and enjoying wide-open vistas, this trail combines farmland charm with forested beauty.
Weaver Road Segment – 1.2 mile loop
Take a short but unforgettable 1.2-mile loop north of Governor Dodge State Park, featuring fascinating rock formations and a large, ancient pine relict. The trail opens to spectacular, windswept vistas, perfect for a quick hike that feels bigger than its distance. A great spot for nature lovers who enjoy geology, forest beauty, and dramatic Driftless scenery.
Phoebe Point Segment – 1.1 mile loop
Discover sweeping views of the Wisconsin River, Taliesin, and the Lowery Creek watershed on this 1.1-mile “lollipop loop.” Wander through peaceful forests, pause at scenic overlooks, and experience a trail shaped by a unique collaboration with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and Taliesin Preservation. Ideal for photographers and anyone who loves dramatic river valley panoramas.
DALC Preserves to Explore
DALC preserves are protected forever, offering spaces where people can experience the Driftless while ensuring these lands remain healthy and resilient for generations to come.
Erickson Conservation Area – 220 acres
Erickson Conservation Area spans 220 acres with easy, relatively flat trails winding through woodlands, open fields, and diverse habitats. Wildlife is abundant, and scenic vistas offer peaceful moments along the way. The preserve is open year-round and accessible from Argyle Legion Park, making it a great spot to explore on foot.
Sardeson Forest Preserve – 12 acres
Sardeson Forest Preserve offers hilly, rocky trails through woodlands, prairie remnants, and along sandstone bluffs. Hikers can explore a small northern loop or a longer trail circling the property, with red trail blazes guiding the way. A short side trail leads to Roland’s Rock, a scenic overlook with sweeping views of the valley and surrounding hills. Foot traffic only, the preserve is ideal for hiking, running, or snowshoeing.
Please follow all trail rules and respect the land. For detailed maps, trail conditions, and access information, please visit preserve and trail pages on our website.
Shinrin-yoku, the practice translated as Forest Bathing, is an activity that invites us to slow down and really connect with nature, the experience that connects us all. It became popular in Japan in the 1980’s during the technology boom. With people working in buildings and cities, the Japanese noticed that people were not healthy and becoming sicker. They started creating places in nature and paid for workers to go out and reconnect with nature. There is plenty of research now that shows that being in nature helps regulate our mind and body connection, boosting our immune systems, and is an integral part of lifestyle medicine.