Florence County Forest
Nature preserve
3,871 acres8.2 mi of trail
Washburn Falls Trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
Fern School · Photo: TheCatalyst31 · CC0–Not graded
Outdoors in Fern
More than half of Fern’s land is conserved: 58%
58% of Fern’s land is conserved, about 12,550 acres. The biggest trail networks: Florence County Forest (8.2 mi). 6,041 acres are parks and preserves, 28,494 per 1,000 residents.
Conserved land
58%
12,550 acres · of 33.6 sq mi of land
Trails
25 mi
0.7 per sq mi of land
Park land
6,041 ac
28,494 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
65%
of residents within ½ mile
Lakes & rivers
11
1 boat launch
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Florence County Forest, with 8.2 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Pine-Popple Wild Rivers
Managed by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
636 acres0.1 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yet
Who protects it
12,550 conserved acres
58% of Fern’s land. Who manages Fern’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
State natural resources8,878 ac
Private owners6,479 ac
County3,746 ac
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service1 ac
State Conservation Area · 6,552 acForest Stewardship Easement · 6,479 acLocal Conservation Area · 3,746 acState Park · 2,253 acState Recreation Area · 72 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 4 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Legacy Program State Conservation Area | Private owners | 6,479 | Restricted |
| Florence County Forest Local Conservation Area | County | 3,746 | Open |
| Pine-Popple Wild Rivers State Park | State natural resources | 2,253 | Open |
| Woods Creek State Habitat Area State Recreation Area | State natural resources | 72 | Open |
| Statewide Habitat Areas State Conservation Area | State natural resources | 72 | Closed |
| State Owned Islands State Conservation Area | State natural resources | 1 | Open |
| State Owned Islands - Nw State Resource Management Area | State natural resources | 1 | Open |
Things to do
3 places to go in Fern
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Boat launches in Fern
1 boat launch without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Waterfalls in Fern
Jennings Falls
DirectionsWashburn FallsIn Florence County Forest
DirectionsTrails & water
2 named trails and 11 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Jennings Falls Trail0.2 mi
Washburn Falls Trail0.1 mi
History along the way
History →1 place on the National Register
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service).
Fern SchoolBuilding · listed 1981
About itWhen to get out
The best walking months in Fern: May and August
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.0 | 10.3 | 11.8 | 13.5 | 14.9 | 15.7 | 15.4 | 14.1 | 12.5 | 10.8 | 9.4 | 8.7 |
| High (°F) | 22 | 27 | 39 | 52 | 66 | 75 | 79 | 77 | 68 | 54 | 39 | 28 |
| Rain (in) | 1.2 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 2.7 | 3.3 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 3.2 | 3.5 | 3.2 | 1.9 | 1.5 |
February is the driest month (1.0 in) and July the warmest (highs of 79 °F). 3.7 inches fall in June, the wettest month. The climate in Fern →
Next door
Fern and its neighbors
Tap a town to see its outdoors.
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fern | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Florence | 59% | 1.2 | 3,120 | 41% | A |
| Commonwealth | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Fence | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Fern
Where can I hike in Fern?
The longest trail networks: Florence County Forest, 8.2 miles; Pine-Popple Wild Rivers, 0.1 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Are dogs allowed on Fern’s trails?
Florence County Forest and Pine-Popple Wild Rivers don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Is there public land near Fern?
120,627 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Fern or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 6,041 of them inside the town line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Fern neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →