Flambeau River State Forest Sand Lake Logging Road

This old logging road follows the route timber crews used to haul white pine giants out of the Flambeau River State Forest back when Wisconsin fed lumber to half the Midwest. The road winds past Sand Lake and through some of the few old-growth stands that survived the cut, with massive hemlocks that’ll make you understand what the loggers were after. The real test comes at Cedar Creek where the original corduroy road remains — logs laid crosswise that’ll rattle your teeth and test your clearance.

Difficulty sits between moderate and difficult depending on recent rains and your willingness to drag belly pan. A stock Jeep or similar with decent tires handles it, but low-slung trucks might scrape. Best tackled June through September when creek levels drop. No fees, but Wisconsin state forest vehicle sticker required. The payoff is excellent muskie fishing on the Flambeau, primitive camping spots, and walking among trees that were seedlings when the Civil War ended.