BAY AREA WINTER FUN
Yes, there are some wilderness getaways
in the Green Bay area By Robert J. Zimmer The morning air was quiet, the sky laden with a delicate curtain of lightly falling snow, brushing quietly among
the naked trees as it tumbled to the ground below. Two weeks earlier, one never would have guessed that we would be out cross country skiing before Christmas. The temperatures all through November and early December last year had been well above normal, and wildflowers were still blooming along the roadsides. But luckily, winter hit fast and hard and a quick 8 inches of fresh snow blanketed the landscape.  The woodlands were winter still. No leaves crunched underfoot. The sweet smell of the forest was gone for the season. Only the rustling grasses at the forest edge and the rattling leaves of a towering oak overhead made a sound. With the snow came a hush that settled in over the land. Bay Beach, it seemed, had fallen silent for winter. It didn't
take long, however, for the land to awaken.
Our first ski trip of the year was a pleasant surprise. We had never visited the extensive trail system at Green Bay's Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary in the winter and didn't know quite what to expect. The sanctuary put on a tremendous show! Located right near the heart of downtown Green Bay, Bay Beach
Wildlife Sanctuary is really an urban wilderness. Inside the preserve's perimeters, one would never guess he was in the heart of a metropolitan area. The extensive trail system and beautiful winding trails quickly take the visitor to a true wilderness setting, broken only by the drone of traffic on nearby Interstate 43. Open daily during fall and winter from 8 a.m. through 5 p.m., the sanctuary boasts an impressive indoor/outdoor
series of displays featuring local wildlife, an expansive nature education building also full of wildlife displays, a large observation area to watch and feed the thousands of ducks and geese that winter on the lagoons, and the popular hiking/skiing/snowshoeing trail system. As the snow began to taper off, activity in the forest quickened. Blue
jays cried in the treetops, following us along the trail, watching over us as we moved on. On the ice covered lagoons scattered small groups of Canada geese waking to the new day with increasing chatter and stretching their wings with a powerful beating motion that echoed through the tree lined hollows. Soon, the geese would be departing for their morning journeys out to their nearby feeding grounds. Brilliant red cardinals flashed through the snow covered shrubs, beautiful against the
crisp white snow, chipping loudly as we passed. Chipmunks and a few hearty squirrels began to move about as well, scurrying across the trail beneath the sheltering brush.
It was a peaceful and quiet journey through the winter woods. The beauty of the fresh fallen snow was simply breathtaking. Not a breeze stirred, so the falling snow clung in thick blankets over each branch and bough. The giant reed grasses far out along the marsh edges stood
capped in winter white; traveling beneath these mighty fronds was a surreal experience. Giant grasses 8 to 10 feet tall towered overhead, a huge feathery plume atop each plant capped in white.
Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary is managed by the city of Green Bay Parks and Recreation Department and is well known in the warmer months of the year as one of the premier birdwatching areas in the state. Bay Beach is open to the public year round with no admission fee. The
sanctuary covers some 700 acres of land in the heart of the city and approximately 6.5 miles of trails wind among the lagoons, fields, marsh and woodland habitat. The trails are also maintained throughout the winter months for hiking, snowshoeing and cross country skiing.
The sanctuary boasts an impressive lineup of workshops and activities during the winter months. A sampling of upcoming offerings includes "Snow To Go!," a fun series of three snowshoe hikes through the
sanctuary. There's nothing like enjoying the quiet woods on a bright winter day, especially if you are on snowshoes. A minimum of 6 inches of snow is needed and snowshoes are provided. Cost per hike is only $2 per person with a maximum of 15 snowshoers per session. Planned hikes will take place at 10:30 a.m. and noon on Saturday, Jan. 4, as well as Saturday, Feb. 8, and Saturday, March 1. While this is a special naturalist led hike, the sanctuary is open to snowshoe travel throughout
the season.
Another great event is the Bay Beach Night Cross Country Ski. Have you ever wanted to ski on a beautiful winter night? The naturalist will lead skiers along the sanctuary trails from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 22, and/or Wednesday, Feb. 12. Cost for the night ski is just $1 per person. Preregistration for this event is requested, and equipment is provided.
On Saturday, Jan. 18, the sanctuary will hold an ice fishing workshop
for children 8 to 12 years old accompanied by an adult. This fun family activity covers everything a child needs to know to experience the season's best ice fishing. The class will start inside the nature center building where instruction will be given on the types of equipment used in ice fishing, safety procedures and fish identification. The children will even make their own poles. Weather permitting, the group will then carpool to a nearby fishing spot to try their luck.
For information on any of the outdoor recreation programs, workshops or activities, or a trail map, contact Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary at 920/391 3671. You can also take a virtual tour of Bay Beach online at www.baybeachwildlife.com.
Just a few miles north of Green Bay lies another winter hotspot for cross country skiing and snowshoeing. The West Shores Interpretive Center at L.H. Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve boasts a system of wonderful, quiet trails that lead the visitor through 920 acres of forest, meadow, marsh and wetlands where prehistoric Indian tribes hunted, fished and camped along the shores of mighty Green Bay.
To reach Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve, take US Highway 41 north
from Green Bay to Lineville Road (County Highway M). Exit onto Lineville Road and travel east for about 1/2 mile to Lakeview Drive (County Highway J), then north about 1/4 mile to the nature center.
Barkhausen's trail system spans over 9 miles, the majority of it flat landscape. A gorgeous area, never crowded, Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve is operated by the Brown County Parks Department as part of the larger Fort Howard Wildlife Area. Conservation organizations such
as Ducks Unlimited are active at the preserve. Barkhausen is a must visit winter destination. Outdoor education sessions, family nature programs and naturalist led hikes are available through the interpretive center on a year round basis. Visitors of all ages will enjoy exploring the beautiful, expansive Interpretive Center building which houses many animal and nature exhibits and hands on activities.
The trail system is immense. All trails begin and end at the nature center
building and are clearly marked with signs where intersections occur.
The Woodcock Trail, at just under a mile, is Barkhausen's shortest trail, yet one of the most scenic as it winds deep into a fern filled, flooded wetland and along one of many dikes erected to create valuable waterfowl habitat. Mosquito Creek Trail loops 2.3 miles through thick woodland (and well named during summer!) and dike habitat. Meadow Ridge Trail is a 3.25 mile loop that travels through the midsection of the
Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve and brings the visitor along the edge of a huge wetland marsh maintained as an important spawning area for northern pike coming out of the bay. Birches Trail is an even larger loop, at 3.5 miles, and introduces the southern section of the preserve. Here lies an extensive network of potholes that dot the woodlands, important breeding areas for waterfowl such as wood ducks and also for numerous species of frogs, toads and turtles. Pothole Trail explores this
habitat even further, looping 4.25 miles along nearly the same route with an extended loop at the southern end. The longest trail is known as Shores Trail and leads from the nature center out to the shores of Green Bay and back.
Throughout the trail system, numerous observation blinds are available along the edges of ponds and waterways for year round wildlife observation. An observation tower is also located at the western edge of the northern pike spawning marsh.
Trail fees of $1 or $3 are requested for skiers and winter visitors, though the donation is minimal and the rewards are well worth the cost. One can easily spend the entire day exploring the wonderfully quiet trails at Barkhausen Waterfowl Preserve.
The Green Bay area features a number of other prime outdoor recreation lands for winter skiing and snowshoeing fun. Among them are:
Triangle Winter Sports Area
This winter sports haven is located in Baird's Creek and cosponsored by Green Bay's Park and Recreation Department and the Brown County Park Department. The hills offer tubing, skiing and snowboarding, and three tow ropes. The park charges a nominal fee for a full day of use. A large chalet at the top of the hill shelters participants and provides an observation area. It is available for rental from mid April to mid November. For more information, call 920/448 3365.
Brown County Reforestation Camp
Offers about 14 miles of cross country ski trails, ranging from easy to advanced levels. The Reforestation Camp is located just south of the N.E.W. Zoo grounds just a few miles north of Green Bay in Suamico.
Neshota Park
Located 11 miles southeast of Green Bay, Neshota provides about 7 miles of cross country trails designed for the beginner to the expert. A small sledding hill and shelter building is open during weekends. For
more information, contact the Brown County Park Department at 920/448 4466.
He Nis Ra Ski Trails
Located next to Lombardi Middle School, this park offers a few miles of cross country trails. Call Green Bay Park and Recreation for more information, 920/448 3365.
Make the Green Bay area one of your winter outdoor destinations this year!
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