The most scenic views of the park are along the Doughboys’ Nature Trail. Along that thick, wooded trail, you get great views of the deep gorges and park’s largest waterfalls.

There are also some smaller waterfalls, such as the ones along the Red Granite Falls Trail, a more secluded hiking trail.

Hiking the main trail also brings you down to the edges of the Bad River, where the views are almost as spectacular as they are from above.

Greentree Chapel Hills Park is about three blocks from my place, and gave me some great photo opportunities.

The below shot with the picnic shelter is my favorite of this bunch.

And finally back to my condo.

I don’t think you could ask for a more beautiful Christmas Eve.

I’ve mentioned that trail before — it’s my favorite hiking trail in the state. While hiking there, you’ll walk through a thick boreal forest, a bog, a plantation of century-old pine trees, and along the lake shore. You’ll see (and hear) loons and other birds, and if you’re lucky you might get a glimpse of a bald eagle. Beautiful views can be seen all along the trail, but there is none better than the Black Lagoon.

The Star Lake Nature trail is located off of Hwy K, about a mile west of the intersection with Hwy N in Vilas County. Map

Parfrey’s Glen is a small but dramatic gorge, created by centuries of a creek carving its way through the area’s sandstone.

The very first of Wisconsin’s State Natural Areas, Parfrey’s Glen was designated so in 1952.

At the end of the trail, a small waterfall. This little creek caused all this?

As I’ve probably mentioned before, the beauty of this area makes it one of my favorite places to visit.

There is virtually an endless supply of gorgeous scenery there.

The below two photos were taken along the Lumberjack Hiking Trail. You come upon these scenes of the Manitowish River after about a 15-20 minute hike through the woods.

When you emerge from the woods and see this, it’s one of those “oh wow” moments.

I spent a lot of time biking the very nice trails in the area, including the Plum Lake Bike Trail above.

The last two pictures (of Plum Lake) were taken along the trail as the sun was going down.

The above view of Queen’s Buff is your reward after about a mile hike through the woods. My jaw just dropped as I emerged from the forest and saw the spectacular scene.

Looking away from the river (below), the rolling hills made for some beautiful scenery as well.

I decided these looked much better in black and white — an homage to Ansel Adams.

Located about 40 miles southwest of Madison, Yellowstone Lake State Park has some scenic vistas, good hiking trails, and a very nice campground.

While hiking along the aptly named Wildlife Loop Trail, I saw a lot of water fowl, including blue herons, and what I think were trumpeter swans.

I did see about a dozen of the the large, white birds. I was fortunate to catch two swans in flight above another one wading in the lake.

What a nice park! And only about 45 minutes away from home. I’m definitely coming back.

The views I saw from the bluffs overlooking Cox Hollow Lake (above) were well worth it. Although most of the leaves had fallen from the trees, there was still a little color to be seen.

Late in the afternoon, as the sun started to go down, I came upon the following scene.

With all of those leaves on the ground, the day ending, and cooler, rainy weather in the forecast, I figured out what I was really looking at: The road to Winter.