Hike up to Mt Ashwabay

  

On a cool and beautiful morning, June 3, 2026, Birchlegger Ted May led a trip from the Bayfield (or Les Voigt State) Fish Hatchery up the Pileated Woodpecker Trail to Mt Ashwabay / Big Top Chautauqua and back.

 

Two Birchleggers (Connie Meek and Jeff Commisford) joined Ted on the 6-mile hike, enjoying the wide variety of wildflowers, trees and birds along the trail. This 50-ft crosses the creek to access the Boardwalk through the rich Ostrich Ferns and other lush growth adjacent to the creek.trail up to Mt Ashwabay.

 

The trail was put in two years ago to provide additional hiking opportunities for people living 
or visiting the Bayfield area. The three of us reflected on the active lifestyle that allows us to continue enjoying such activities (along with the Birkebeiner) into our 70s and beyond. Helping with trails is a nice volunteer opportunity for Birchleggers wherever they live.

The Big Top Chautauqua lies at the jumping off point for a network of close to 50-km of trails in the Mt Ashwabay trail system.