Wazee Lake Ride - Bike, Hike, Swim, Paddle, Camp, Picnic - Be one with the Earth

Wazee Lake is easily one of my favorite bike rides. Being so close to home, I venture there often. As you enter the park, you're greeted by an open field that is often home to wildlife. I’ve had the fortune of seeing elk, cranes, deer, and an abundance of birds.

There are numerous trails that take you along paved roads, gravel paths, black-topped loops, and even a few mountain bike routes through the woods. The park is captivating at any time of day, but it glows at dawn and dusk.

While paddleboarding is my favorite activity at Wazee Lake, it also offers beautiful hiking and biking trails, abundant wildlife, and breathtaking panoramic views.

This site was once home to the Jackson County Iron Company, which operated from 1968 to 1982. Many families relocated to Jackson County because of the booming iron mine. I'm proud to say my dad worked there for a few short years, and visiting always brings me closer to him.

In the 1990's, a group of visionaries reclaimed the site and transformed it into this beautiful park, home to the deepest lake in Wisconsin—at an impressive 355 feet. Its crystal-clear waters attract divers and freshwater snorkelers from all over the United States.

On a busy summer day, you might struggle to find a parking spot at the beach. But as you bike past all the sunbathers, you realize the only place better than the trails is in the middle of the lake on your paddleboard.

I prefer to picture this sacred land as the Natives once did. With its pristine fields, meandering streams, and towering pines—just as the name Wazee means in Ho-Chunk.

The picture collage is from the hundreds of trips I’ve taken there—the countless self-therapy nature sessions I’ve embraced. The walks, hikes, bike rides, paddles, and even snowshoeing. Like I said, it’s one of my favorite places. Closer to Dad, closer to Mother Earth, and closer to myself.

I hope you enjoy.

Love & Light,

Lori