Wisconsin's Wild Side
	Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, WI

Preserving large swaths of Wisconsin's north woods, the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest is as good as it gets in the Midwest come autumn — and that's mighty fine. Gold, scarlet, and auburn leaves make a mosaic of rich colors heralding seasonal change. The air is crisp. A drive through the countryside will roll past farmstands selling pumpkins and other fall produce. And overhead, V-formations of Canada geese flap by, blaring news of their southward passage as they go.

Both units of the forest offer special recreation, from hiking to mellow canoeing to outstanding mountain biking. The westerly Chequamegon unit — site of one of the biggest outdoor events in the Midwest, the Birkebeiner Ski Race — also hosts a major-league mountain-biking festival, the Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival, in mid-September. And don't miss standing atop the Penokee Overlook for a vista of the fall glories. And with the Peshtigo, Brule, Pine, and Popple Rivers, the Nicolet is a magnet for canoeists and fishers.

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Autumn Adventures Explore all the autumnal adventures North America has to offer, from coastal Maine to the Canadian Rockies. Top Fall Destinations New England Mid-Atlantic Far West Southwest Canada

RELATED GORP LINKS
GORP: U.S. National Forests
GORP: The Best of Autumn
GORPtravel: Fall Trips