Bayfield Rd Trail

Brule River State Forest, WI

On February 7, 2024 Cash and I walked the Bayfield Road Hiking Trail (official map) in the Brule River State Forest. The trails are combined for the first XX miles before the trails split with the Copper Range spur splits to the right. The Copper Range trail is partially on old road, railroad, or logging trail grades at times and “deer trails” in the woods at other times. The entire trail is well-marked (almost too much) with blue paint, blue markers, and some signs. The markings are easy to see but if you get in a groove walking one of the grades you may miss the turn back into the woods. The trail ultimately ends either at the Brule River or at a parking area at the end of Park Rd. There is a bridge on Park Rd so that you can access the campground on the opposite side of the river.

After hiking back on the Copper Range Spur, we turned right to follow the Bayfield Hiking trail. Very quickly we came to a short spur to look down into the mine shaft, which is cordoned off with a fence for safety. Further along the trail is another short spur to an overlook with amazing views north towards Lake Superior. The trail back to the parking area passes by an old fire tower (which could be driven to as well).

All-in-all a nice scenic trail through typical northern Wisconsin woods, but with some cultural attractions.

Note that I lost satellites during this hike, so there are portions of the trail that were not mapped properly.

Walk-Specific Map

Elevation Profile

Images

GPX Download

A sanitized GPX file of our hike is here.

Summary Information

NUM trackID Primary Description Distance CumDist DeltaElev
1 BRBFLD01 Bayfield Road Hiking Trail leave Clevedon Rd parking lot to Bayfield Road Hiking Trail 0.03 0.03 23
2 BRBFLD02 Bayfield Road Hiking Trail Bayfield Road Hiking Trail to Arrive Copper Range Spur 0.34 0.37 -7
3 BRCPRS01 Copper Range Spur Leave Bayfield Road Hiking Trail to Enter old road grade 0.15 0.52 -45
4 BRCPRS02 Copper Range Spur Enter old road grade to Leave old road grade 0.38 0.90 -75
5 BRCPRS03 Copper Range Spur Leave old road grade to Enter old trail grade 0.29 1.19 2
6 BRCPRS04 Copper Range Spur Enter old trail grade to Enter old road grade 0.06 1.25 -6
7 BRCPRS05 Copper Range Spur Enter old road grade to Leave old road grade 0.04 1.29 -11
8 BRCPRS06 Copper Range Spur Leave old road grade to Cross hunter walking trail 0.58 1.86 -38
9 BRCPRS07 Copper Range Spur Cross hunter walking trail to Fork to parking area or Brule River 0.03 1.89 -5
10 BRCPRS08 Copper Range Spur Fork to parking area or Brule River to Arrive Brule River 0.09 1.98 -40
11 BRCPRS08 Copper Range Spur Arrive Brule River to Fork to parking area or Brule River 0.09 2.07 40
12 BRCPRS09 Copper Range Spur Fork to parking area or Brule River to Arrive Park Rd parking lot 0.11 2.18 -26
13 BRCPRS10 Copper Range Spur (hunter walking trail) Leave Park Rd parking lot to Arrive main Copper Range Spur 0.11 2.28 57
14 BRCPRS06 Copper Range Spur Cross hunter walking trail to Leave old road grade 0.58 2.86 38
15 BRCPRS05 Copper Range Spur Leave old road grade to Enter old road grade 0.04 2.89 11
16 BRCPRS04 Copper Range Spur Enter old road grade to Enter old trail grade 0.06 2.95 6
17 BRCPRS03 Copper Range Spur Enter old trail grade to Leave old road grade 0.29 3.24 -2
18 BRCPRS02 Copper Range Spur Leave old road grade to Enter old road grade 0.38 3.62 75
19 BRCPRS01 Copper Range Spur Enter old road grade to Leave Bayfield Road Hiking Trail 0.15 3.77 45
20 BRBFLD03 Bayfield Road Hiking Trail Leave Copper Range Spur to Arrive Percival Mine spur 0.08 3.86 1
21 BRBFLD03a Percival Mine Spur Arrive Percival Mine to Leave Bayfield Road Hiking Trail 0.02 3.87 17
22 BRBFLD03a Percival Mine Spur Leave Bayfield Road Hiking Trail to Arrive Percival Mine 0.02 3.89 -17
23 BRBFLD04 Bayfield Road Hiking Trail Leave Percival Mine spur to Arrive Lookout spur 0.82 4.70 95
24 BRBFLD04a Lookout Spur Leave Bayfield Road Hiking Trail to Arrive Lookout 0.02 4.72 -2
25 BRBFLD04a Lookout Spur Arrive Lookout to Leave Bayfield Road Hiking Trail 0.02 4.74 2
26 BRBFLD05 Bayfield Road Hiking Trail Leave Lookout spur to Arrive fire tower spur 0.26 4.99 23
27 BRBFLD06 Bayfield Road Hiking Trail Leave fire tower spur to Bayfield Road Hiking Trail 0.92 5.92 -69
28 BRBFLD01 Bayfield Road Hiking Trail Bayfield Road Hiking Trail to leave Clevedon Rd parking lot 0.03 5.95 -23