Women Hiking Wisconsin: October Recap + November Hikes

Wisconsin Adventure Family women's hiking group on a wooden lookout tower above peak fall foliage

“Keep close to Nature’s heart, and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.”
John Muir

Hey friend,

October showed up for us. And so did you.

Before we roll into November, I need to say thank you to every woman who laced up, carpooled, packed snacks, and said yes this past month. You made October one of my favorite months on Wisconsin trails. Ever.

October, You Were Good to Us

Riverhouse kickoff. We opened the month camping and kayaking at the Riverhouse. Quiet water, a fire at night, and women who arrived as strangers and left as friends.

Group of women kayaking together on a calm Wisconsin river during the Riverhouse retreat — Paddling out together at the Riverhouse.

Women gathered around a campfire at night at the Riverhouse in Waushara County, Wisconsin — The best conversations happen around the fire.

The Mammoth Hike Challenge. Then we took on the Ice Age Trail Alliance’s Mammoth Hike Challenge: 46 miles of Ice Age Trail and three trail communities in one month. It’s one of the best challenges out there because it doesn’t ask anything fancy from you. No speed goal. No pressure. You just get outside. And the real highlight? The conversations. New faces every week, real stories, and a lot of laughing on the climbs.

Women's hiking group at the Ice Age National Scenic Trail sign during the Mammoth Hike Challenge — Kicking off the Mammoth Hike Challenge on the Ice Age Trail.

Women hikers celebrating the Mammoth Hike Challenge with a mammoth mascot on a fall Ice Age Trail hike in Wisconsin — Mammoth Challenge done right.

Women hikers with a mammoth during the 2026 Mammoth Hike Challenge on the Ice Age Trail in Wisconsin — New faces every week. That’s the whole point.

Marinette County waterfalls. We wrapped up in one of my favorite corners of Wisconsin. Five women joined me for a weekend of chasing waterfalls under blue skies, with the fall color doing its thing. If you need a road trip this fall, this is it. Go. You will not regret it.

Women on a Marinette County waterfalls road trip posing on a bridge over a rushing river — Five women, one road trip, and rushing water everywhere we turned in Marinette County.

Want to go on your own? I put everything into one guide: 15+ waterfalls, a loop map, GPS points, and a ready-made itinerary. Bring the kids, bring the dog, and let the guide do the planning. Download the Marinette County Waterfall Guide for $4.99

Marinette County Waterfall Weekend Guide for Wisconsin waterfalls road trips

And the little moments. Like the day we found giant puffball mushrooms on the trail and couldn’t stop laughing. This is why we go.

Women hikers holding giant puffball mushrooms found on a fall hike in Wisconsin

Women sitting around a campfire under a cloudy night sky in the Wisconsin woods

Trail of the Week: Lodi

This is the trail you need right now. Training for something big? Climb it. Just need fresh air? Walk it. It’s about 30 minutes from Madison, so there’s no excuse. Rolling hills, quiet woods, and views that make you stop and breathe. Go once and you’ll be back. One heads up: hunters use this area in the fall, so go before deer season starts on November 21 and wear blaze orange.

Hike With Us This Weekend

Friday, Nov 6: Blue Mound State Park
9:00 AM start | 5 to 6 miles | Meet at the parking area on Mounds Park Rd

Saturday, Nov 7: Devil’s Lake Segment, Ice Age Trail
8:00 AM start | 10 to 12 miles | Meet at Roznos Meadow Trailhead Lot

Come to one, or come to both. If you’re training for a trip, or you’ve been “meaning to” join us for months, this is your weekend.

Two women hikers and a dog on a rocky overlook above Wisconsin fall colors — Views like this are waiting for you. Come find them with us.

Bring water, snacks, and layers
Waterproof shoes, especially this time of year
Dogs welcome on a leash
A Wisconsin state park vehicle pass is needed for parking

New to the area? Arrive early so you have time to park and use the bathroom. We start on time so we finish on time. No RSVP needed. Just show up. Questions? Text me at 608 515 6472 before hike day. I won’t have signal on the trail.

Gear of the Week: My Trekking Poles

I get asked about poles every single week, so let’s settle it. Yes, you need them. And this is about more than hiking. It’s about protecting your body so you can keep doing this for years.

5 reasons we recommend trekking poles:

They save your knees. Poles take some of the load off your knees and hips on the way down, which is where most of the strain happens.
Better balance. Wet leaves, loose rocks, muddy climbs, icy patches. Two extra points of contact keep you on your feet.
More power on the climbs. Your arms finally get to help. You push up hills with your whole body instead of just your legs.
Less fatigue. When the work is shared, you go farther and finish stronger. Mile ten feels a lot more like mile five.
Better posture and rhythm. Poles keep you upright and help you find a steady pace, which is good for your back and your breathing.

My pair came with me to the Dolomites. They carried me through high elevation, summer heat, and the steep ups and downs on that mountain. Then they flew with me to South Africa, and now they’re on every one of our weekly hikes. They fold down small and pack easily, so they go everywhere I go. I can’t wait to see where they take me next.

Get the trekking poles I use

Heads Up: Hunting Season Is Here

Let me be direct. We hiked in Lodi a few times this fall while pheasant hunters were out. And Wisconsin’s nine-day gun deer season runs November 21 to 29. You will never catch me on the trails during deer season. Never.

If you’re a big fall hiker, do your research. Don’t just get up and head into the woods. We live in Wisconsin, and the hunters will be out there. Many state parks and trail segments are open to hunting this time of year.

There are so many places to hike safely in Wisconsin. Just be aware. Before you leave your house, check whether hunting is allowed where you’re going, wear blaze orange, and put a bright vest on your dog.

Think before you leave home. Do your research.

Worth Checking Out: Family Nature Day at the Arboretum

Looking for something safe, free, and outdoors with the kids this month? Put this one on the calendar.

Family Nature Program: Turkey Time
Sunday, November 15 | 1:30 to 3:30 PM
UW–Madison Arboretum, meet at the Visitor Center

It starts with a naturalist-led walk from 1:30 to 2:30, then hands-on nature activities until 3:30. It’s made for families with kids elementary age and younger, and adults stay with their kids. It’s free and there’s no registration. Just show up.

This is exactly why I wrote my books. Get the little ones outside, let them ask questions, and let them get curious about the world right outside the door. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes.

See the Arboretum events calendar

Wait, Who Is Dini?

A lot of you follow me but don’t actually know what I do. Fair! Here’s the short version.

I was born in South Africa’s Free State, near the Drakensberg mountains. I’ve been exploring Wisconsin for almost 10 years, including all 50 state parks and the corners most people think are out of reach. I host weekly women’s hikes, lead international trips for women, and I write children’s books.

Dini Dowd of Wisconsin Adventure Family hiking with her dog on a golden fall trail in Wisconsin — Me and my hiking buddy, doing what we love most.

My books. I wrote my hiking and camping series to get kids outside, curious, and a little muddy. If you have a little explorer at home (or a holiday list to fill), start here: Shop the books

The Wisconsin State Parks Scratch-Off Poster. All 50 parks on one poster. Visit a park, scratch it off, watch your map fill up. It’s the push I wish I’d had when I started. It also makes a great holiday gift. Get your poster

We All Need Somebody

Here’s why I keep showing up every week. My goal is to get as many women as I can into nature. Life is already hard. We all need somebody, and we all need to stay healthy, body and mind. So surround yourself with people who make life lighter, not heavier.

November brings shorter days, and that can hit hard. My challenge for you: get 20 minutes outside in daylight, every day this month. A walk around the block counts. A hike with us counts double.

International Trips: Why We Plan So Far Ahead

I want to be honest with you about how these trips come together. We usually plan our international trips about 10 months ahead. These trips are a big investment, and with everything going on in the world, I’m watching flight prices climb higher and higher. Planning early gives you time to pay in pieces and hunt for affordable flights.

But it’s about more than money. The journey starts the moment you say yes. The planning calls, the group chats, the women you meet before you ever board a plane. Those women are the reason planning ahead matters so much.

Because so many of you said yes early, every one of our trips is full except one. Thank you!

Drakensberg, South Africa | March 18 to 27, 2027
This one is personal. I was born near these mountains, and I’m so excited to finally show off my home. We’ll hike to Tugela Falls, the second tallest waterfall in the world, and spend big days in the mountains I grew up next to.

Only 2 spots left. Registration closes December 1.
See the full Drakensberg trip details
Ready? Pay your deposit and claim one of the last 2 spots

Already dreaming about 2028? So are we. We’re already talking about the next trips. When they go live, this newsletter is the first place you’ll hear about it. If you’re not seeing me on the weekly hikes, this is how you stay in the loop. Take a peek at our 2028 trips

Share the Love

I hope this newsletter is worth staying for. If it is, please don’t unsubscribe. Forward it to a friend instead. It’s free, and that one email might be the push another woman needs to get outside. Share the love and invite another woman to be part of this adventure.