Parrish Highlands Trail
Because of its diverse terrain and unending scenery, many consider Parrish Highlands one of the top trail systems in Wisconsin. Fifty-five miles of trail here access a portion of the 127,000-acre Langlade County Forest. In a word, it is blissful riding.
Throw a leg over your quad and listen to it rumble as you glide through the forest. This is terrain made to be experienced from a four-wheeler. Throughout the Parrish Highlands trail system, rolling hills and tall hardwoods greet you. In the summer, the canopy of leaves overhead screens the afternoon sun while framing a picture postcard view of the forest. Around every turn and over every hill, nature awaits.
As you ride these trails, you’ll see a healthy forest ecosystem in which timber production coexists with recreation and wildlife. The trail system here takes advantage of a relatively dry plateau between lowland marsh and lake country to the north and south. Even so, the trails traverse many streams and ponds that sustain life for scores of small mammal and bird species. As you ride, you can’t help but feel part of a larger, natural world.
Many begin their ride at the trailhead on Cty T just west of Summit Lake. There you’ll find plenty of parking, trail maps, and an ATV wash station handy for leaning your quad after a long day of riding. From here you can go in two directions: north to access the twisting loops on the eastern trails, or west down 5 Cent Firelane to the western loops.
At intersection number 12 on the map, head north. A few clicks later you’ll encounter a shelter – more like a small cabin – that many riders make a point to visit. Overlooking a small lake, it’s a great place for a picnic lunch, complete with outhouses, a well, benches and grills. You might even meet members of the Parrish Highlanders ATV Club who are often on the trails. After their monthly club meetings (the first Saturday of each month, April through November), members hit the trails and often stop at the shelter to grill and socialize. With members nicknamed Muddy Chick, Mud Man and Dusty Ryd’r, you know they take their riding and their fun seriously.
Recently, the Highlanders began to geocache. For the uninitiated, geocaching is an outdoor treasure-hunting game in which participants use a GPS receiver or other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers called caches. A typical cache is a small waterproof container containing a logbook and “treasure,” usually toys or trinkets of relative value. Check out the club’s Web site (www.parrishhighlands.com) for the cache’s GPS coordinates and see if you can find the hidden treasure.
When you’ve ridden all you can on the Parrish Highland trails, you can connect with Lincoln and Oneida County trails to extend the fun. No matter where you ride in this neck of the woods, the mix of terrain and scenery will dazzle you.
DISTANCE: 55 miles.
DIFFICULTY: Moderate to difficult.
TRAILHEAD LOCATION(S): The main trailhead is located on Cty T three miles west of Hwy 45 at Summit Lake, watch for signs at the entrance. Trail maps are available at that location. Other trailheads with more limited parking are located south of Parrish on Cty H and northeast of Parrish on Cty Q.
SEASON: These summer-only ATV trails are closed from December 1 to May 1. In winter, ATVs are allowed on statefunded snowmobile trails 10 days after the trails are officially opened and when the temperature is lower than 28 degrees. ATVs are not allowed in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.
FEES: None.
OTHER TRAILS IN THIS REGION: Harrison Hills ATV Trails, Oneida County ATV trails, Augustyn Springs ATV Trail.
NOTE: These trails are old logging roads open to other outdoor enthusiasts and motor vehicle traffic. Logging activity might be taking place along or near the trail. Use caution. Also, there are few places to refuel, so be sure to carry extra with you.
CAUTION: These ATV trails cross the Ice Age Trail in several places. The Ice Age Trail is off limits to ATVs. The trail is identified by yellow paint on trees.
AREA ATTRACTIONS: Mole Lake Casino & Lodge in Mole Lake.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Langlade Forestry & Recreation
Department
715/627-6300
www.co.langlade.wi.us
Antigo/Langlade Chamber of
Commerce
888/526-4523
www.antigochamber.com
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