Pin itSand Valley Hiking & Nature Trails
Miles of walking trails through Central Wisconsin sand barrens and pine forests across terrain shaped by glacial retreat.
- Duration
- 2-3 hours
- Cost
- Free (resort guests)
- Type
- Nature
- What stands out
- Miles of walking trails through Central Wisconsin sand barrens and pine forests across terrain shaped by glacial retreat.
Free (resort guests)
Book direct via the vendor website
Miles of self-guided trails wind through glacial sand barrens and jack pine around the Sand Valley courses, free for resort guests and walkable in two to three hours.
The experience
The landscape is the point. Central Wisconsin sand barrens look more like Scottish moorland than anything most visitors associate with the Midwest: native grasses, sedge, and pine over glacial sand, with enough roll in the terrain to keep the walking interesting. Birding is productive, and with no road noise and minimal development, the quiet feels real. The sand underfoot is the same that makes the courses possible, which gives the walk context a cart ride between holes never will.
Logistics
Wear sturdy shoes; the trails are well kept but uneven in places. Bring water, sunscreen, and insect repellent in summer. There are no staffed trailheads. Trails are open during resort operating hours, late April through October, and are free for guests. Easy to slot into a non-golf morning or a late-afternoon stretch after a round.